Natural progesterone for PMS
I am nursing two daughters (3 and a half and 21 months) and I'm experiencing severe PMS depression. My doctor suggested Prozac, but she agreed to let me try natural Progesterone first. The information I have been able to locate says that the side effects of natural progesterone are not as great as those from synthetic progesterone.
Do you have any information on natural progesterone and the effect it may have on nursing children?
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
Progesterone is one of two primary hormones produced by the female body. Estrogen is the dominant hormone during the first two weeks of a woman's menstrual cycle. When ovulation occurs, around day 14, estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise (maintaining the lining of the uterus, and helping to sustain a fertilized ovum). If the ovum is not fertilized, the menstrual cycle begins about 2 days after progesterone levels again drop.
Dr. John R. Lee, an expert in the field of natural hormone therapy, and author of Natural Progesterone: the Multiple Roles of a Remarkable Hormone, 1993, states, "women with PMS tend to have lower progesterone than normal at that time in their cycle when progesterone is supposed to be dominant, so that estrogen is dominant instead." Dr. Lee's patients have seen great improvement in the symptoms of PMS, resulting from this hormone imbalance, by regular use of a natural progesterone cream (containing extracts from the wild Mexican yam).
According to the literature on natural progesterone, side-effects are minimal compared to synthetic progesterone. I have seen no mention of the use of natural progesterone while breastfeeding, so can not advise as to the amount excreted into human milk, or possible effects on the nursing baby. (In general, less than 1% of most medications reach mother's milk, and then are ingested by the baby.) Some women are reported to experience lightheadedness or drowsiness, or temporary spotting. Thyroid activity may also increase. If using thyroid medication, it would be wise to periodically recheck levels. Natural progesterone has not been reported to interfere with prescription or over-the-counter medications. It is short-acting, and needs to be used on a regular basis to maintain adequate blood levels. (Short-acting medications typically enter human milk in lower levels. It is generally recommended that to reduce a baby's exposure to a shorter-acting drug, the mother nurse prior to administration, and wait at least 2 to 3 hours after use to nurse.) It is thought to be well absorbed into the bloodstream, by way of the fat cells. (As a rule, as the level of a drug in the maternal bloodstream rises, so does the concentration in her milk.)
Note: Since I have found nothing written regarding use of natural progesterone in any breastfeeding reference, the assumptions above are made, based solely on generalizations. Most natural/alternative methods are poorly referenced in the traditional medical texts, including any possible side-effects and drug interactions. I would recommend working with a professional knowledgeable about breastfeeding, and skilled in the use of alternative therapies.
A transdermal cream, such as Pro-Gest, contains 480 mg of natural progesterone per ounce. (Dr. Lee recommends using a cream that contain at least 400 milligrams of USP natural progesterone per ounce.) For PMS, it is rubbed into the thinner skinned or fatty areas of your body, such as the stomach, inner thighs, inner arms and neck. For PMS, starting dosage (in Pro-Gest's literature) is two applications each day, using 1/8 teaspoon from days 14 through 18, 1/4 teaspoon days 18 through 23, and 1/2 teaspoon from day 23 until the start of your menstrual period. It may take two to three months to reach optimal levels. Best wishes for good health!
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