Women are different from men (believe it or not!). Some of that difference is related to different levels of messengers called hormones. Two of the hormones–estrogen and progesterone–communicate different things to the same organ. To make matters more complicated, their levels change, depending on the time of month or stage of life.
The Reproductive Years (About age 11 to 45 to 50)
During the reproductive years, most women have regular periods. Part of the purpose of menstruation is to prepare the uterus and body for pregnancy. Of the two hormones I mentioned in the previous paragraph, estrogen levels change very little during the month. Your body’s hormones are always talking to various tissues. Progesterone levels are quite low, from the start of the period until the egg is released from the ovary (ovulation). The scar tissue (corpus luteum) generated where the egg leaves the ovary produces high levels of progesterone until a day or two before the next period starts.
In the uterus, estrogen tells the inside of the uterus (the lining) to produce more cells. When progesterone is produced, it tells the newly produced cells to develop or mature to get ready for a fertilized egg. The fertilized egg loves the newly developed cells, burrows in and starts to divide and divide, becoming a new human being 9 months later.
If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum stops producing progesterone. It tells the uterine cells to remove themselves from the uterus (through the menstrual cycle) and starts the whole process over again.
Estrogen and progesterone talk to nine other organs, and for the most part they confuse the organs by giving them opposing directions.
In the ovary, estrogen stimulates the maturation of the egg. Estrogen tells the egg to move toward the outside of the ovary as it matures. Meanwhile, progesterone suppresses further egg release. If these two hormones were not giving conflicting information, twins and triplets would be much more common.
Balance and Counterbalance
Here are some other fascinating ways that estrogen and progesterone balance and counterbalance in the body:
- In the breasts, estrogen stimulates tissue growth, occasionally so much that it causes discomfort. Progesterone provides protection from cancer. Because of high progesterone levels during pregnancy, women with multiple pregnancies have a reduced rate of breast cancer.
- In the bones, estrogen slows bone loss. When estrogen levels drop at menopause, bone loss (osteoporosis) accelerates as the FSH level (follicular stimulating hormone, another hormone messenger that talks to the ovary) rises. Progesterone stimulates new bone growth.
- In the thyroid, estrogen interferes with the thyroid hormones, while progesterone talks to the thyroid gland and improves its function.
- In the brain, estrogen stimulates function and improves mental sharpness. Progesterone helps to calm the brain and acts almost like an anti-depressant.
- Estrogen increases deposition of fat, especially on the hips and thighs. (Testosterone tends to put fat in the abdomen.) Progesterone tells the fat to break down.
- Estrogen tells the cells to make more progesterone receptors, while progesterone up-regulates estrogen receptors.
- Estrogen increases retention of water, including helping to hydrate the skin. Progesterone acts as a natural diuretic.
- Estrogen decreases libido, while progesterone increases it.
Estrogen speaks exclusively to two organs, without counter-talk from progesterone:
First, it communicates a need to support the lining in the blood vessels.
Second, estrogen increases collagen production. Collagen is the connective tissue in the body. Faster healing and softer, more elastic skin take place when estrogen speaks to the connective tissue.
What happens when estrogen levels are too high, compared to progesterone levels?
When estrogen talks too loudly, and progesterone influence is minimized, it is called estrogen dominance. This condition causes some classic symptoms:
- Water retention
- Breast tenderness, lumps, cysts
- Moodiness, emotionally labile, anxiety, depression
- Decreased libido
- Heavy bleeding, clotting, and/or cramping
- Fibroids, endometriosis
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
What Happens When Estrogen (and Progesterone) Levels Drop?
When neither estrogen nor progesterone talks to the body, some women have no problems, while others are incapacitated. This time of life is called menopause, and may happen naturally or after surgical removal of the ovaries.
The following difficulties may arise with onset of menopause:
- Mental fog, forgetfulness
- Anxious, depressed, mood change
- Hot flashes, night sweats
- Dry eyes, skin, vagina
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Pain and stiffness
- Palpitations, (racing heart)
- Headaches
- Feeling bloated
Is There Any Help?
Yes, there is help, if it is needed.
First, however, let me state that I am opposed to synthetic, chemically changed forms of estrogen. These forms of treatment include a chemical group(s) that has been added to the chemical structure of estrogen the body makes, so it can be patented and sold as a pharmaceutical.
Unfortunately, that extra chemical has caused unwanted side effects. This causes a number of problems, which come from communicating to the wrong organ in the wrong way:
- Blood vessel clots, causing heart attack, stroke
- Endometrial and breast cancer
- Double the risk of dementia
- Double the chance of surgery to remove the gall bladder
If there is a reason to treat hormonal issues, my first choice is to choose herbs and natural products that function as phytoestrogens and support, or speak to the ovaries.
Some of these include:
- Angelica sinensis
- Blessed thistle
- Licorice root
- Wild yam
- Motherwort herb
- Black cohosh
- Cramp bark
- Dong quai
Although these natural products may not be as strong as bio-identical estrogen and progesterone, they may talk to your organs well enough to solve the problem.
Bone Density
Bone loss around the time of menopause is a reason to be aggressive with reducing the FSH level. In treating patients with bone loss, I typically start with progesterone, to see if stimulating the estrogen receptors is enough to solve the problem. If not, then bio-identical estrogen is usually needed.
If, on the other hand, estrogen is talking too loudly in your body (dominating), then bio-identical progesterone is usually needed. I generally prefer that a local compounding pharmacist formulate the progesterone, rather than a pharmaceutical firm, which tends to use unnecessary fillers. Unfortunately, insurance companies tend to pay for pharmaceuticals, rather than healthier, more natural products. When that issue presents a dilemma, I ask, “who is in charge of our body and its health? Our selves or our insurance companies?”
When neither estrogen nor progesterone is communicating with your body, and you need help (sometimes desperately!), I always start with a natural product. If that is insufficient, the next step is progesterone. Everyone likes progesterone—just look at what it does to the body. If more is still needed, I pay attention to symptoms and response to what has been added, and then add bio-identical estrogen until the symptoms resolve.
To your dynamic health and energy,
Dr. Stan Gardner
Dr. Stan Gardner, M.D., CNS, is a certified nutrition specialist who understands how to help people become well on a cellular level. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Gardner’s philosophies, visit his website at keystohealing.net. His office number in Sandy, Utah is (801) 302-5397.
SharoanNovember 12, 2015
Thank you for this informative (and really lovely!) article. ^_^ All I would ask in addition is this: when the ovaries have been removed, are your suggestions for stimulating hormone production any different?