When to Stop Bioidentical Progesterone?
Bioidentical progesterone is used in fertility treatments to bring on a natural menstrual cycle in women who have low progesterone. It is also used to balance hormones in menopausal women. A course of pills, injections, or cream is taken to raise the progesterone level; when the medication is stopped, the hormone's absence signals that no pregnancy is present and that the uterine lining may shed. Since there are different reasons for using this medication, when to stop bioidentical progesterone depends on the situation.
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Progesterone and Menstruation
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Bioidentical progesterone pills, suppositories and injections are a common part of gynecological treatments, particularly in women with irregular menstrual cycles or who have low natural progesterone levels. It is often given to bring on a menstrual period before commencing the use of contraceptives. For women who are being treated in this fashion, bioidentical progesterone should be stopped before the menstrual period is desired. The decrease in progesterone levels in the body will signal the start of menstruation.
Progesterone and Fertility
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Progesterone is produced naturally by the body during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The high level of progesterone during this phase prevents the uterine lining from shedding before the successful implantation of a fertilized egg. Women whose luteal phase is shorter than 10 days may be unable to get pregnant. This is called a luteal phase defect. Progesterone is used to lengthen the luteal phase by supplementing the natural hormone levels. Bioidentical progesterone used for luteal phase defects should be used until pregnancy is confirmed, or as instructed by a doctor.
Progesterone and Menopause
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Women who are undergoing menopause may look to balance their hormone levels by using progesterone. This counteracts a high level of estrogen and may provide relief of some menopause symptoms such as stress and bloating. Bioidentical progesterone is a holistic remedy which is available over the counter. While some types of this progesterone are FDA approved, they should still be taken under the supervision of a medical professional to avoid side effects.
Types
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Bioidentical progesterone simply means that the progesterone in the medication is exactly identical to the progesterone produced by the body. Medications such as Prometrium are considered to be bioidentical progesterone. It is synthesized from a chemical called diosgenin, which is found in plants such as the wild yam and certain types of soybean.
Side Effects and Risks
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Reported side effects of using bioidentical progesterone include headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, dizziness, chest pain and diarrhea. These side effects occur due to the balancing of hormones in the reproductive system, which is why they are similar to those of premenstrual syndrome or early pregnancy. Certain types of progesterone, such as prometrium, should not be used by women with allergies to peanuts, as they can contain peanut oil. Hormone therapy should be monitored by a doctor through bloodwork to avoid adverse side effects and irregular menstrual cycles.
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