| |  | | Using Progesterone Cream for Peri-Menopause
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Amy
Posted on: November 25, 2006
I am peri-menopausal. I am using wild yam cream before my periods but I feel very thirsty. Before my period I have neck and back pain and I have very heavy periods.
Do check with your doctor or gynecologist about your heavy periods. Although heavy periods are a normal symptom of decreasing hormones, especially progesterone, in peri-menopause, they can be a symptom of other health problems, such as fibroids, ovarian cysts, polyps or cancer.
When these health problems have been eliminated as possible causes, check that you are using the correct type and dose of progesterone cream. Wild yam itself cannot be converted in the body to progesterone. It must be chemically altered in a laboratory to produce progesterone. There are no documented reports on hormonal benefits of any wild yam cream that does not contain progesterone. The cream should contain at least 2% progesterone. This will appear on the label. The normal dose is 1/4 teaspoon rubbed into the body anywhere, once daily. Some people require higher doses.
As a peri-menopausal women should begin using progesterone cream 7 days after the start of your period, and continue for 20 days or until your period starts again.
The herb chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) is also useful for balancing hormones. This is used as a tincture, 10 – 20 drops, first thing in the morning, for the same time period of days as the cream.
Zinc is necessary for the production of progesterone. Make sure that you are getting sufficient zinc in your diet by ensuring sufficient daily protein (meat, fish or a combination of rice and legumes) and including a handful of sunflower seeds once or twice daily. Coffee, alcohol, fried food and wheat products inhibit the absorption of zinc, so should be avoided. Vitamin C, such as in citrus fruits, increases the absorption of zinc.
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