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Can progesterone help reduce or get rid of Fibroids?Fibroids are benign, usually painless, tumours found in the uterus, made of muscle and connective tissue. The cause is unknown. Starting as microscopic bodies, they can grow to the size of a grapefruit or larger, sometimes filling the entire uterus. Pregnancy reduces the risk of new ones forming. The high level of progesterone in pregnancy is the probable reason pregnancy is protective. Progesterone does help reduce fibroid growth by inhibiting both the hormone oestrogen and the enzyme metalloproteinase. Oestrogen stimulates the lining of the uterus to build up, it also stimulates fibroids to grow. However, with the low level of progesterone which accompanies fibroids, the oestrogen, which is not being inhibited, continues building up the lining. There is an enzyme in the body called metalloproteinase which is designed to break down any protein. In the uterus it comes into play when progesterone levels drop at the end of the cycle and breaks down the lining of the uterus, hence the period we have. Progesterone inhibits this enzyme too, but with a permanently low progesterone level, there is nothing to inhibit it. This ensures the lining continues to break down, but at the same time it is being built up by oestrogen, so a vicious cycle is started. Very heavy bleeding, clots, very long periods, with a short break in between are the hallmark of fibroids. To break this cycle progesterone should be used initially in high doses, about 200mg/day. It does take time of course, as the fibroid has taken time to grow. Some women experience 'oestrogen dominance' symptoms when first starting using progesterone (more on this below). All the studies done on progesterone showing successful results used between 100mg to 200mg per day. This equates to 3ml to 6ml of Natpro per day. Some go as high as 400-600mg/day. The cream is best applied twice a day, to keep levels up. From 15 to 20% of reproductive women develop fibroids. But they occur most frequently in women from the mid thirties on, affecting 30 to 40%. This is a time when oestrogen levels are high but progesterone levels are declining. They often cause heavy, irregular, sometimes painful periods. It is known that after menopause with the drop in the oestrogen level they disappear. Supplemental progesterone, by suppressing both oestrogen and MMP's, is often affective at reducing fibroids. If not too large, they are gradually absorbed back into the body, taking from three to twelve months to do so. Progesterone therapy often helps to prevent the heavy bleeding and pain if present. Current medical treatment is a hysterectomy, uterine artery embolisation (UAE) or laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) to remove them, or anti-inflammatory drugs for the pain and oral contraceptives to control the heavy bleeding. Some symptoms are: fullness or pressure in the abdomen, pain with periods, gas, frequent urination, heavy bleeding, often with clots. Additional information Progesterone: Use 100-200mg of progesterone per day. This is equivalent to 3-6ml of Natpro. Nutrients: Take daily: 400-1000mg vitamin E; 5-10ml Omega 3 fish oil or 15-60ml flax oil; 10000-25000 IU vitamin A; vitamin B complex as directed on label; 1000-5000-mg vitamin C; 1000mg bioflavonoids; 15-50mg zinc; 500mg L-arginine; 500mg L-lysine. If anaemic an organic form of iron should be taken. There are many natural pain killers which have no adverse side effects which could be used to help: 2.5gm-10gm MSM (methyl sulphonyl methane); 500-1000mg DL phenylalanine. (Do not take supplemental phenylalanine if you are pregnant, suffer from phenylketonuria, diabetes or taking MAO inhibitor drugs.) The following herbs also help: astragalus, dong quai, garlic, red clover and nettle. The following essential oils can help: lavender, frankincense, peppermint, rose, rosemary and thyme. Add one drop of oil to 5ml (1tsp) of carrier oil and rub over painful areas. Diet: Food should be natural, unprocessed and if possible organic and include both protein and fibre. The Metabolic Typing Diet is an excellent means of obtaining lasting health. The diet is the product of many years of detailed research and looks at the many ways the body metabolises food. It is based on the obvious but hitherto little understood fact that each individual has a unique metabolism. 'Metabolic Typing', as the name suggests, is an analytical process that defines each individual's unique nutritional requirements by determining how they metabolise food and categorising a person according to their needs. If you really want to pursue this path as fully as possible I cannot recommend strongly enough that you seek out a qualified Metabolic Typing practitioner for a consultation and hair analysis. The hair analysis will give you insights into who you are as a physical being that will likely revolutionize your views on health in general and nutrition in particular.
Small frequent meals are often a help for blood sugar imbalances. After a large meal there is a temporary drop in the level of progesterone, due to an increased metabolic clearance rate of that hormone, so symptoms can become worse for a while. Food should be natural, unprocessed and if possible organic and include both protein and fibre, particularly the gel forming fibre such as apple pectin, guar gum and oat bran as these have been shown to stabilise blood sugar, as has unrefined buckwheat. As a substitute for sugar use xylitol, isomalt or stevia. Stevia is a natural extract from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, a member of the daisy family, native to Paraguay. The extract is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar, but has none of the drawbacks and does not affect blood sugar in any way. The fresh or dried leaves are easier to use and taste better. Xylitol and isomalt are sugar alcohols, which look and taste like sugar, but are metabolized by the body at a much slower rate, they have respectively 2.4 and 2.1 calories per gram. A beneficial affect is their ability to reduce pathogenic bacteria and to act as a prebiotic for the good bacteria, a drawback is the high cost. If used in large quantities they can cause flatulence and have a laxative affect. Avoid: All forms of oestrogens, as this may stimulate fibroid growth; sugar and artificial sweeteners; all forms of processed foods containing sugar; refined grains, particularly wheat; carbonated drinks, including the 'diet' drinks; fruit juices; biscuits; cakes; white breads; canned foods; sauces; sweets; large meals; oxidised fats, (ie margarine, refined oils, saturated fats and fried foods, in particular fried animal protein); pasteurised, homogenised milk; stimulants such as alcohol, coffee, black tea. References... Journal Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (CMLS) Nature 174 , 839 - 840 (30 October 1954); doi:10.1038/174839a0 Nature 177 , 478 - 479 (10 March 1956); doi:10.1038/177478b0 J. Clin. Invest. Volume 99, Number 12, June 1997, 2851-2857 Carcinogenesis, Vol. 22, No. 12, 2049-2052, December 2001 The Internet Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics TM 2002. Volume1 Number 2. Epidemiology.14(2):247-250, March 2003. Gynecological Endocrinology, Volume 23, Issue 9 Sept 2007, pages 541 - 546
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Although this web site is not intended to be prescriptive, it is intended, and hoped, that it will induce in you a sufficient level of scepticism about some health care practices to impel you to seek out medical advice that is not captive to purely commercial interests, or blinded by academic and institutional hubris. You are encouraged to refer any health problem to a health care practitioner and, in reference to any information contained in this web site, preferably one with specific knowledge of progesterone therapy.
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