As a general rule of thumb, you should administer the lowest dose and the simplest treatment first. This is just a guide. Your situation could be different. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication or before discontinuing any medication you are already taking.

Premature Menopause/PMS

The number of women suffering from these conditions is increasing. It is influenced by excess stress, poor diet, environmental factors, and drug use, including taking birth control pills. Typical person suffering from this condition is in the early to late thirties to early forties. They may have generally regular periods but still suffer from symptoms associated with menopause.

In the case of PMS, many of the symptoms associated with it (such as bloating, headaches, anxiety, etc.) are the same as what is labeled for older women close to the cessation of menstruation "estrogen dominance.'

Take a progesterone cream or oral micronized progesterone. The most common prescription is 25 to 100 milligrams.

Take this as follows:

Starting on day 14 of your menstrual cycle (or the day after ovulation), apply

1/8 teaspoon of cream on days 14 to 17

then ¼ teaspoon on days 18 to 22

then 1/2 teaspoon of progesterone cream until the start of the menses

and then stop.

Start again next month at the same time.

The cream may be applied on your wrists, inner arms, stomach, thighs, or neck. After three, and usually within six, months of regular use you will notice that your symptoms are less pronounced.

You can then start your progesterone treatment when your first symptoms come at any time in the month. Usually, by this time they are less severe and less frequent, if not completely gone.

If symptoms disappear completely, stop treatment and use again if they return.

Basic Protocol for Premature Menopause

Take this as follows:

Starting on day 14 of your menstrual cycle (or the day after ovulation), apply

1/8 teaspoon of cream on days 14 to 17,

Then ¼ teaspoon on days 18 to 22,

Then 1/2 teaspoon of progesterone cream until the start of the menses,

And then stop.

Start again next month at the same time.

The cream may be applied on your wrists, inner arms, stomach, thighs, or neck. After three, and usually within six, months of regular use you will notice that your symptoms are less pronounced.

You can then start your progesterone treatment when your first symptoms come at any time in the month. Usually, by this time they are less severe and less frequent, if not completely gone.

If symptoms disappear completely, stop treatment and use again if they return.

Given time, the herbal products combined with supplements are often sufficient, and progesterone can be added during times of added stress. Because the herbal regime takes effect more slowly, those women who want relief more quickly can turn directly to the natural progesterone.

Peri-Menopause

An average women go through a stage called perimenopause between age forty-five to forty-niners. This stage is characterized by wildly fluctuating estrogen levels. Their symptoms can be similar to those of menopausal women, but they are still menstruating. The focus on whether or not to replace estrogen as the sole criteria for treatment creates a blindness to other factors causing 'menopausal' symptoms, and because standard practitioners don't usually have herbal remedies and tonics in their cabinets, the peri-menopausal woman frequently slips through the cracks of standard treatment.

Atypical example os a perimenopausal woman is described by Marcus Laux in his book ‘Natural Woman, Natural Menopause:

The case of Ellen D. is typical. In her mid-forties and still menstruating, she was having very distressing symptoms: sudden weight gain, mood swings, zero interest in sex, occasional hot flashes, insomnia, and depression. Her doctor measured her estrogen levels--which were deemed "normal'--and declared it "too soon" for HRT. However, this peri-menopause period is one of so-called estrogen dominance, when a woman's body may be producing smaller amounts of progesterone in relation to her estrogen. Ellen's doctor didn't check her progesterone levels, or look for an underlying cause for the symptoms. He just sent her home and told her to live with it. She is just "that age."

So Ellen tried to help herself the best she could. She dieted strenuously to combat the weight gain, which didn't go away. She took sleeping pills for the insomnia. Still, she felt awful. Her frustrating search went on for several years; it was only when she began to use a progesterone cream under Dr. Laux's care that she was able to deal with what were symptoms of estrogen dominance-wild fluctuations of estrogen in relation to unbalanced progesterone levels.

Some of these women may also be prescribed estrogen unnecessarily. Giving estrogen to these women can only add to their symptoms of "estrogen dominance." They should be treated with progesterone to which they respond very well. The progesterone balances the estrogen's effect. And, as a pre- cursor hormone, progesterone can convert to estrogen in a woman's body over time, if there is a need for it. For the peri- menopausal woman this can definitely be the best first line of treatment.

Surgical Menopause

If you have had a complete hysterectomy, then you need to have a complete panel of tests to determine your hormonal needs. This includes estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone. These hormones affects functions of the body other than just your sex function. An example is brain function. The objective here is to provide a complete hormonal balancing.

A thorough hormone replenishment program can improve the energy, memory, sex drive, and overall immunity. The common practice is to give these women just estrogen. The logic is that since they don’t have their ovaries, they do not need progesterone. Many doctors, however, feel that this is not s sound practice. They point out that these women sometimes undergo severe side reactions that can be relived by adding progesterone to their hormones. Natural progesterone has protective and balancing effects throughout the body. For example, it can limit water retention and weight gain, enhance the functions of your central nervous system, and help protect your breasts from cell changes that can lead to cancer.

Basic Protocol

Estradiol and progesterone (oral): 0.5 milligram E2/25 to 100 milligrams progesterone two times a day, morning and evening. After approximately one year, you can gradually move to a tri-est and progesterone formula.

Tri-est and progesterone: 1.5 to 2.50 milligrams total estrogen. A dose of 3/4 teaspoon of tri-est cream plus progesterone equals 2 milligrams total estrogen (1.6 milligrams estriol, 0.2 milligram estrone, 0.2 milligram estradiol) and 25 to 100 milligrams progesterone. Apply this dose twice daily, morning and evening, throughout the month. You can use this for twenty-five days on and five days off, or you may use it continuously, straight through the month.

Testosterone: 2.5 to 5.0 milligrams daily, orally or in a transdermal cream. Use the lowest possible dose.

Optional:

DHEA: 5 to 50 milligrams 1 or 2 times daily, orally or in a transdermal cream, divided doses, twice a day. Because of complications from the use of DHEA, we do not recommend its use unless it is absolutely necessary.

Menopause

Women using natural progesterone may experience some temporary spotting, which in almost all cases clears up within a few months.

Basic Protocol

Black Cohosh Herbal standardized extract

Other herbal products

Use as directed on the package or by your doctor.

Progesterone: Alone, 25 to 100 milligrams--orally or equivalent dose in a transdermal cream, in divided doses twice a day.

The tri-est combination will work for most women, but for women who need to use the strongest estrogen, at least temporarily use the following:

Estradiol (E2) and progesterone: 0.5 milligram estradiol, 25 to 100 milligrams progesterone. After six rnonths try switching to a tri-est formula to lower the estrogen-stimulating effect of taking just E2 and get the protective effects of estfiol E3.

Women at High Risk for Cancer, and Breast Cancer Survivors

Here the use of estriol and progesterone can be of great benefit. Progesterone and estriol have been shown to be potentially protective against breast cancer. By monitoring serum or saliva progesterone levels and urinary estriol levels, a doctor could determine whether a woman would benefit from this protocol.

Basic Protocol

Estriol and progesterone: 2 to 5 milligrams (equivalent in strength to 0.6 to 1.25 milligrams of Premarin) and 25 to 100 milligrams of progesterone, 2 times a day, morning and evening.

Post-Menopause

Some women may escape the ravages of menopause completely. But they find that they need to go for HRT because of complications from osteoporosis. At this point, estrogen will be prescribed by a doctor in the form of Premarin/Provera. However, in addition to the increased risk of cancer and other side effects, this type of prescription commonly brings on the return of menstruation. Many get quite upset over the fact that they have started bleeding again every month in their sixties. In addition, this course of treatment is not the most effective. Many of these women can do very well on progesterone, diet, exercise, and supplements.

Since both estrogen and progesterone may be needed, a test to determine hormone levels, followed by regular monitoring, is recommended.

Basic Protocol

Progesterone: 25 to 200 milligrams, in divided doses, morning and evening.

or:

Tri-est and progesterone: 1.5 to 2.5 milligrams total estrogen and 25 to 100 milligrams progesterone twice a day, morning and evening. Any spotting on this regime will be temporary.

Topical Preparations