Progesterone Cream, Progesterone Suppositories and Their Use
There are many reasons to use progesterone cream products. These include regulating menstruation, reducing the risk of certain cancers, relief from unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause, combating infertility, and having a successful pregnancy.
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There are two main types of progesterone cream and other products on the market, both natural and synthetic.
Natural progesterone is derived from diosgenin, which comes from natural sources, such as yams. It is most often available in over the counter creams. Synthetic progesterones are usually produced from natural sources, but modified to control such things as the level of dosage and the speed the body metabolizes them. Synthetic progesterone is used for such things as menstrual regulation and birth-control pills.
There are many ways these two types of progesterone products can be applied. The most common applications are:
• Creams: Natural progesterone cream is available without a prescription. It allows small amounts of natural progesterone to absorb through the skin, which some women find to be a milder alternative to the side effects associated with injections and pills. They are used to treat symptoms of PMS, menopause & perimenopause, and endometriosis. Usually, dosage is about 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon twice per day, applied to soft parts of the skin, such as the inner wrist or thigh. The progesterone found in creams usually take four hours to reach their peak, and are cleared within 24 hours. It is recommended to discontinue the use of progesterone creams during pregnancy and breastfeeding, except as ordered by a physician. A good dosage is about 400 mg of progesterone per ounce.
• Suppositories: Progesterone suppositories are usually a small dose of progesterone mixed with cocoa butter prepared by a qualified pharmacist. The body warms the cocoa butter base, releasing the progesterone into the vaginal walls. Suppositories directly target the uterine system and bypass being metabolized by the liver. They typically peak within four hours of insertion and are cleared within 24 hours. Some women find this method a little too messy, however.
• Shots: The progesterone found in shots is usually a synthetic suspended in an oil and injected intramuscularly. A well-known application is Depo-Provera, commonly used as a birth control method. However, progesterone injections can also be used to regulate an irregular period. These usually take 12 hours to peak, and are cleared in 48 or more hours.
• Oral Progesterone: Oral progesterone refers to progesterone pills that can be used to regulate the menstrual cycle or as birth control. The dosage of these pills varies as is needed throughout the menstrual cycle. Recently, it has been thought that while oral progesterone increases the overall serum progesterone level in the body, it may not be as effective as once thought in raising the level of progesterone in the uterus. This may be cause by liver metabolism, which can cause side effects like dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. Usually, absorption is improved by taking the oral supplement with food.
When using a progesterone supplement, it is always best to consult a health care professional on the one that would work best for you, since a normal progesterone level can vary so drastically from person to person.
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