Estrogen and progesterone together thicken the lining of the uterus, preparing it for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg. Estrogen also influences how the body uses calcium, an important mineral in the building of bones, and helps maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood. Estrogen also keeps the vagina healthy. menopause nears, the ovaries reduce most of their production of these hormones.

Estrogen is known as a 'female hormone' and plays a key role in shaping the female body. One of estrogen's primary roles is to promote the growth of cells in the breast and uterus and estrogen affects many aspects of women's physical and emotional health. Progesterone is the second most important female hormone. Progesterone is primarily responsible for regulating the reproductive cycle.

Before menopause, your ovaries make most of your estrogen. But your body can make estrogen in another way. Your adrenal glands, which are located above your kidneys, make hormones called androgens. An enzyme in your body called aromatase turns androgens into estrogen. That is why you can still have estrogen in your body, even if you no longer have periods.

During the first 2 weeks of a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen is the dominant hormone. In response to ovulation around day 14 of the cycle, estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise and assume dominance for the final two weeks of the month. When progesterone levels drop the next menstrual cycle begins in about 48 hours.

The risks of not taking hormone replacement therapy may include elevated cholesterol, increased risk of heart disease, strokes, osteoporosis, tooth loss, depression, Alzheimer Disease, and menopausal symptoms. The side effects of the synthetic hormones such as bleeding, swelling, weight gain and breast cancer can be ameliorated by using the bio-identical estrogen and progesterone instead.

a woman approaches menopause, her production of estrogen and progesterone (the precursor to estrogen) decreases which causes the menstrual cycles to subside. Dr. Lee explains, "The doctors are just using estrogen. Ray Peat was up there saying, 'Look, I have a list of 250 references and they show that progesterone is a very important hormone,' and he lists all these important things - It's available over the counter - It's absorbed through the skin.

Progesterone is the hormone which, during a woman's fertile years, is produced by the ovaries and has effects which are in some ways opposite to those of oestrogens. During the menstrual cycle, oestrogens build up the uterine lining (called the endometrium), but if the egg is not fertilised the lining is not required; it is progesterone which stimulates the lining to shed, causing a period. Progesterone is included in hormone replacement therapy in a synthetic form called progestin.

The estrogen contained in VAGIFEM® is identical to the estrogen produced normally in the body before menopause.

quot;The body makes this (Progesterone) out of cholesterol, Dr. Lee explains, "The body uses this as a precursor for all the other hormones. So, throughout the book I show how this happens. You can't see this, but this is cholesterol, pregnelone and progesterone. From progesterone you start making all the cortisone's and you end up making all the estrogens, you make testosterone, but without it you can't do that. So it has a million different roles.

Estrogen dominance (a term first proposed by Dr. John R. Lee) is a situation in which there is too much estrogen in relation to progesterone. When a woman fails to ovulate, progesterone cannot reach the optimum 20 - 25 mg. during the final two weeks of a woman's monthly cycle. This allows estrogen to go unopposed the entire month and upsets the normal progesterone/estrogen balance. During his 30 years clinical practice, Dr.

Progesterone is capable of transforming itself into estrogen and adrenal steroids. (Adrenal steroids get used up during stress reactions.) It also regulates other vital organ functions, including thyroid performance, glucose metabolism, and mineral mechanisms.

Precursors (sterols) to progesterone and estrogen are found in wild yams and soy but the human body does not have the ability to convert these sterols to hormones. Through a simple process (hydrolysis) these chemicals are converted into Bio-identical Progesterone, Estriol, Estrone, Estradiol and Testosterone. They are considered "natural" because they are identical to the hormones biologically made in the body and because they are derived from a natural supply.

Definitely not. It is very important that natural progesterone be used with any form of estrogen. Estrogen without progesterone can cause endometrial and vaginal carcinomas. Estrogen blocks thyroid production and causes water retention; and it can cause fibrocystic breast disease and even fibroid tumors and cysts in the ovary area.

These are two hormones produced by a woman's ovaries. Together, the rise and fall of these two hormones help prepare your body for pregnancy or bring about your menstrual cycle. For women with PMDD, these hormonal changes can trigger severe emotional and physical symptoms.

The ADA (American Dietetic Association), National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society recommends fibre consumption between 25 to 35 gm per day or 10 to 13 gm fibre per 1000 kcal each day. For example, if someone needs 2000 kcal of food substances per day, then his daily fibre needs is between 20 to 26 gm. According to ADA (American Dietic Association) recommendation, one's fibre needs is equal to his age (in years) plus 5 gm of fibre per day.