PROGESTERONE VS ESTROGEN

A DYNAMIC BALANCE OUT OF BALANCE

Progesterone's most important role in the woman's body is to balance her hormone levels, by opposing estrogen. Progesterone prevents PMS and menopause symptoms while boosting female libido. Some of the main effects of progesterone vs. estrogen are listed below.

ESTROGEN	PROGESTERONE
Causes breast fibrocycts	Protects against breast fibrocycts
Increases body fat	Helps use fat for energy
Salt & fluid retention	Natural Diuretic
Depression and headaches	Natural anti-depressant
Impairs blood sugar control	Normalizes blood sugar levels
Increased blood clotting	Normalizes blood clotting
Decreases libido	Increases libido
Reduced oxygen levels in all cells	Restores proper cell oxygen levels
Causes endometrical cancer	Prevents endometrical cancer
Increases risk of breast cancer	Helps prevent breast cancer
Reduces vascular tone	Improves vascular tone

Comparison of effects indicates a perfect balance between progesterone and estrogen. Natural progesterone is essential to counter-act the negative effects of estrogen.

PROGESTERONE DEFICIENCY

Prior to ovulation, the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, progesterone levels are higher than estrogen levels. After ovulation, the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, estrogen levels are higher than progesterone levels and continue to climb until hitting the estrogen spike-which sets off menses. After menses estrogen levels pummel and progesterone levels are again higher then estrogen levels. This is the expected or normal rhythm of the female menstrual cycle.

Progesterone deficiency can occur during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle when estrogen levels are elevated over and above normal, and/or when progesterone levels are lower than normal during this phase of the cycle.

Diet is often a major factor in women suffering progesterone deficiency. A diet high in fatty foods and sugar starves the body of the vitamins and minerals necessary for the ovaries to produce needed progesterone. Lack of exercise and chronic stress have been proven to cause women to produce less than the desired or necessary levels of progesterone.

Low progesterone levels in women results in estrogen dominance, PMS, early perimenopause onset, low libido, excessively heavy bleeding during a period, weight-gain, migraine like headaches, primary dysmenorrhea or cramps, increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

The condition where a woman has deficient, normal, or excessive estrogen but little or no progesterone to balance its effects in her body. Even a woman with low estrogen levels can suffer from estrogen dominance if she doesn?t have proper levels of progesterone. The causes of estrogen dominance are many and varied.

Progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance is epidemic among women in industrialized countries.

PMS, PERIMENOPAUSE, OR ESTROGEN DOMINANT?

Perimenopause is neither natural nor inevitable; it has been created by changing lifestyles and environment. Excess estrogen has led to estrogen dominance; causing hormonal imbalance in women at an ever-earlier age and to a significantly greater degree then has ever been known.

Prior to menopause when estrogen and progesterone levels begin to drop, menstrual cycles become irregular. Doctors now refer to this transitional period as perimenopause. Scientific and empirical evidence leaves no doubt that estrogen dominance induces and speeds the onset of perimenopause.

During this transitional period women are subjected to a bewildering number of physical and emotional symptoms, some of which are PMS-like in nature, others more typical of the post-menopausal woman.

How does a woman tell whether she has PMS, is perimenopausal, or is estrogen dominant?

PMS symptoms onset after ovulation, increase in number and intensity until menstruation. After menses, the symptoms will subside. With ovulation, once again symptoms return and increase greatly in intensity. This cycle recurs over and over in women that suffer from classic PMS.

After menses progesterone levels are higher then estrogen levels. In women that are estrogen dominant the reverse is true. Estrogen is dominant in these women all the time. This estrogen activity causes symptoms to be continually present, and their symptoms do not subside with menses. These women are truly estrogen dominant and this condition causes perimenopausal symptoms.

This is a simplified explanation of a very complex problem. The truth is that it is difficult to tell where PMS symptoms end and perimenopausal conditions begin. The conditions tend to overlap and it is nearly impossible to tell whether a woman suffers from one condition exclusive of the other.

NATURAL PROGESTERONE CREAM

Provera is a progestin or synthetic product. It is not natural progesterone. Synthetic progesterone does not provide the protection against estrogen dominance "natural" progesterone does.

Natural progesterone is extracted from many different plant sources and vegetable oils and is bio-identical to progesterone produced by the female ovaries.

Most companies, especially on the Internet, claim their product contains ?real progesterone.? Checking the ingredient list reveals they are using Wild Mexican Yam, or Mexican Wild Yam Root Extract, or pharmaceutical grade or pharmaceutical quality progesterone. These are all code words for Diosgenin.

There is progesterone within Diosgenin, but the human body does not produce the enzymes necessary to convert Diosgenin into progesterone. Diosgenin does not increase progesterone levels in the human only. Only USP progesterone powder is bio-identical in every way to progesterone produced by the corpus luteum.

Companies use Diosgenin because it?s less than half the cost of real progesterone, and it?s not necessary to have a drug license or NDC number to use it. Diosgenin, by any name, is not progesterone, it won?t turn into progesterone in your body, and cannot provide the benefits of progesterone.

Renaissance is the only progesterone cream on the market containing 100% pure micronized USP progesterone powder in a topical cream using lipoceutical encapsulation. There is no other cream on the market that can possibly provide the benefits of real natural progesterone cream.

ORAL VS. TOPICAL

Taken orally progesterone is transported to the liver where 80 to 90% of it is removed from the body. Only 10 to 20% of orally dosed progesterone gets into the body. Transdermal creams are the safest and effective way to get the proper physiologic dose of progesterone.

LIPOCEUTICAL ENCAPSULATION

Using conventional delivery systems such as creams, gels, ointments, and lotions, no more then 30% of the active ingredient can permeate the skin. Penetration does not exceed 10-12 layers deep in the skin.

Liposomes are microscopic vesicles composed of membrane-like lipid bilayers separated by an aqueous layers. By encapsulating active ingredients within multi-layers of lipid spheres, liposomes penetrate 25-30 layers deep in the skin. Increasing the concentration in the epidermis and dermis, providing a prolonged time-release action throughout the entire day.

Renaissance is the one and only progesterone cream on the market that contains 100% pure micronzied USP progesterone powder in a topical cream using lipoceutical encapsulation. Renaissance natural progesterone cream corrects low progesterone levels and counters the negative effects of estrogen dominance, relieving and preventing symptoms of PMS, perimenopause, and menopause.

DOSAGE FREQUENCY

There are those who recommend application of progesterone be suspended for a period of time each month, usually 7 to 10 days. Failing to administer progesterone when a woman is estrogen dominant will simply lead to greater estrogen dominance. Listen to your body. Apply Renaissance as often as necessary to rid yourself of unwanted symptoms. For many women this means applying Renaissance every single day.

NEED TO SELF-DOS

Any woman's hormone levels fluctuate by the hour. It?s impossible to prescribe a universal dosage that will work for all woman. Dosage varies from woman to woman, must be monitored, and often adjusted.

Each pump of the Renaissance dispenser contains approximately 32mg. of natural progesterone. Women must become aware of their symptoms and their patterns and dose accordingly. Progesterone does help to induce sleep and for this reason the applications during the day are lighter, with a heavier application made at night to realize a good nights sleep.

APPLICATION

Renaissance is best applied to the back of the elbows and knees, flat of the stomach, neck, and face. Best results are achieved when applied 2 or 3 times a day, spread over a larger surface then a smaller surface.

INGREDIENTS

Renaissance contains 2976 mg. of natural USP FDA approved micronzied progesterone powder in a 3.5 oz. convenient pump dispenser, highest allowed by the FDA, encapsulated in liposomes.

Natural progesterone is free of any untoward teratogenic, metabolic, or hemodynamic effects. Heavy doses of progesterone cream will reduce wakefulness and induce sleep.

PMS & PROGESTERONE

Progesterone is often necessary, but it is not sufficient to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of PMS or perimenopause. Ultravite is an all-natural multi-mineral, multi-vitamin supplement specifically formulated to relieve and prevent the symptoms of PMS and perimenopause.

To completely eliminate all the underlying causes of PMS and perimenopausal symptoms, Renaissance may be used as an adjunct to, but cannot replace the need for Ultravite.

PROGESTERONE PREVENTS PMS CRAMPS

Lower progesterone levels cause a rise in the production of prostaglandin production. Women with primary dysmenorrhea, or cramps, have 8 to 13 times more prostaglandins in their blood stream than women who do not suffer cramps. Progesterone cream is essential to prevent painful PMS cramps.

PROGESTERONE & ANXIETY

When women are under stress the adrenal gland produces cortisol. Cortisol causes anxiety and increases stress levels. Progesterone is antagonistic to cortisol and counter-acts the negative effects of cortisol.

PROGESTERONE & OVULATION

Declining levels of progesterone signal the uterus to shed its endometrial lining. This results in a shortening of the menstrual cycle, resulting in anovulatory and irregular cycles, and early onset of perimenopause. Progesterone supplementation is necessary to prevent this unnatural event.

PROGESTERONE & MISCARRIAGE

Progesterone transforms the lining of the uterus into the endometrium. Soft, spongy, rich in blood vessels and glandular tissue, the endometrium forms a perfect bed for the egg. Progesterone also relaxes the uterus to give the egg a better chance to implant itself into the endometrium. Progesterone is essential to insure implantation and to prevent rejection of the developing embryo. Without necessary levels of progesterone the endometrium cannot sustain and will naturally abort the embryo.

PROGESTERONE & MENOPAUSE

Progesterone is absolutely necessary for post-menopausal women to help alleviate the aggravating symptoms of menopause and to restore libido. Without a doubt the greatest danger of menopause is osteoporosis. Progesterone helps prevent osteoporosis by making new bone growth possible, however, progesterone does not create new bone growth. Progesterone is necessary, but not sufficient for new bone formation.

Scientific and clinical studies leave no doubt bone growth can only be achieved with calcium/magnesium supplementation in conjunction with Vitamin D and Vitamin K.

To completely eliminate all the underlying causes of menopausal symptoms and to prevent osteoporosis, Renaissance may be used as an adjunct to, but cannot replace the need for GynoFem.

WHAT IS ESTROGEN?

Horse urine.

Premarin, the number one selling estrogen product, is an acronym for pregnant mares? urine. Factory farmed horses are impregnated then confined from the 4^th month through the end of their 11-month pregnancy so their urine can be collected. Their foals are slaughtered for sale. The urine is manufactured into HRT and birth control pills.

EFFECTS OF ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

Scientific and clinical studies have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt estrogen, in any form, produces an assortment of adverse side effects in women.

WEIGHT GAIN

Androstenedione, a form of estrogen, is available in high concentration in the fatty tissue in a woman?s body. Cholesterol, which is in high concentration in fatty tissues, provides a great store of estrone. Estrone converts the androstenedione into endogenous estrogen, which is estrogen manufactured from the body tissue rather than estrogen produced by the ovaries.

The result is a constant supply of estrogen augmenting the estrogen produced by the ovaries. This excess estrogen is stored in the form of adipose, or fat, which is deposited in the breast, buttocks and hip areas in women. Exercise and diet will not result in weight loss as long as the woman remains estrogen dominate.

SYMPTOMATIC EFFECTS

Include bloating, breast tenderness, cramping, irritability, depression, and bleeding.

LONG TERM EFFECTS

Include hypertension, exacerbation of liver disease, venous thrombosis or blood clotting, increase in heart attack and stroke risk, endometrical cancer, cancer of the uterus, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.

WHAT CAUSES ESTROGEN DOMINANCE?

ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES

Active ingredient in any birth control pill is synthetic estrogen. The entire basis for the FDA approving estrogen for birth control was the result of a single clinical study conducted on 132 Puerto Rican women who had taken the pill for a period of one year. Five of those women died during the study.

The is no valid scientific proof that estrogen is a safe contraceptive. Scientifically speaking, taking birth control pills can only elevate estrogen beyond levels it would otherwise be.

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

Like birth control pills, the active ingredient in HRT is synthetic estrogen. There is not a single study to date that even suggests HRT will prevent osteoporosis or heart disease. Estrogen slows down the bone-rebuilding process, making bones more brittle and susceptible to fracture. Even the American Heart Association now takes the position that HRT does not prevent hearty disease, and in fact may increase the incidence of heart attacks in women.

Taking estrogen, in any form, in any dosage, unnaturally increases the body?s estrogen levels.

AGING PROCESS

Sometime in their mid-30?s both estrogen and progesterone levels begin to drop in women. Estrogen levels drop by 40 to 60%; progesterone levels drop to where a woman is producing near zero, leaving the woman severely deficient in progesterone. When women stop producing progesterone naturally, estrogen is left unopposed, leaving the woman?s body out of hormonal balance.

MINERAL-VITAMIN DEFICIENCY

Magnesium is an important hormone transporting mineral intimately connected with the ability of the woman?s body to maintain hormone balance. Estrogen depletes magnesium levels; while magnesium counter-acts the effects of estrogen.

Estrogen excites the brain causing nervousness, agitation, insomnia, and arteries to spas, inducing migraine headaches. Magnesium has a calming effect, induces sleeps, and keeps arteries and blood vessels open.

Estrogen is processed through the liver; vitamin B6 deficiency causes decreased liver metabolism of estrogen, causing an excess of estrogen. Refining flour eliminates the B vitamins altogether. Vitamin B6 is also destroyed in cooking and canning, and when foods are packaged. Pregnancy and birth control pills also lead to B6 deficiency. Vitamin B6 deficiency is a major contributing factor to estrogen dominance.

Vitamin E promotes progesterone production, while estrogen depletes vitamin E. Vitamin E is destroyed by processing and light. Without necessary levels of vitamin E estrogen dominance increases dramatically.

STRESS

Under stress the adrenal gland produces cortisol. Cortisol is antagonistic to progesterone; cortisol counter-acts the positive effects of progesterone, which leads to adrenal exhaustion, increasing estrogen dominance.

ENVIRONMENT

Xenohormones, or xenobiotics, are synthetic chemicals such as pesticides and plastics, which have estrogenic effects. They have become so pervasive in our environment estrogen levels are elevated to the point where they are suppressing the woman?s LH (luteinizing hormone), the pituitary hormone that signals the ovaries to release the egg and make progesterone.

Xenohormones combine with estrogen receptor sites to: (1) activate estrogenic action: (2) induce extra estrogen receptors; (3) inhibit the ability of the liver to excrete estrogen; and (4) inhibit the effects of progesterone.

Our environment is so flooded with estrogen men as well as women suffer form estrogen dominance. In men there has been a 50% decrease in sperm count since 1938 and increased incidence of testicular and prostate cancer due to estrogen dominance.

NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Decongestants, and analgesics like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) have a negative effect on nutrient levels. NSAIDS contain liver-damaging toxins that result in vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B2, and beta-carotene deficiencies.

ANOVULATORY CYCLES

In her early 20?s a woman may not ovulate during her monthly menstrual cycle. Ovulation is the primary method by which a woman?s body makes progesterone. Failing to ovulate leads to a significant drop in progesterone levels, leaving estrogen unopposed, allowing the gap between progesterone and estrogen to grow.

MEDICAL CULTURE

Doctors receive much of their medical education from the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry is in the business of selling patented drugs; not the business of educating the public in regards to effective, non-patented natural medicines.

Few doctors understand how to correct the problem of estrogen dominance. Conventional doctors prescribe more estrogen and when estrogen makes matters worse they prescribe anti-depressants, or worse, recommend surgery.