By the time a woman is in her mid thirties, her progesterone levels start dropping considerably. What does this mean? Fatigue, mood swings, low libido, insomnia, just to name a few!

Men too can suffer unwanted reactions from very low progesterone levels.

Progesterone is called the ‘mother hormone’ in that it is a precursor to other hormones in women as well as in men. It is responsible for the production of estrogen in women, and testosterone in  men. Although women produce a much larger amount of this hormone since it is absolutely essential for reproduction, men require sufficient quantities as well.

In women, progesterone is produced by the ovaries, placenta and the adrenal glands. In men it is produced by the testes and the adrenal glands. Women produce and require twice as much progesterone as men.

Due to stress and exposure to chemicals, most women suffer from progesterone deficiencies. Low levels of progesterone is one of the first signs of peri-menopause. In order to raise progesterone levels, a woman has one of two choices.

• She can take progestin (synthetic progesterone), or
• She can take natural progesterone.

Progestins (synthetic progesterone).

These do not really resemble the body’s natural progesterone, and generally lead to many undesirable side effects – weight gain, bloating, mood swings, depression, and many more. They can also cause bleeding or spotting after menopause.

Natural Progesterone

Natural Progesterone is the better, smarter choice. When used according to a doctor’s advice, it has only one side effect and that is drowsiness. This can be solved by taking the dose at bed time.

Natural progesterone is manufactured in specially made oral capsules since otherwise it can be very easily destroyed by stomach acid. Or, if preferred, it can be taken via vaginal suppository, or a progesterone cream formulation.

Natural progesterone is used as treatment for infertility, PMS, irregular menstruation, menopausal symptoms, endometriosis, fibroids and much more. And it increases libido! Along with natural estrogen it is used to prevent a loss in bone density after menopause.

Plus progesterone is a natural diuretic and a natural antidepressant. It helps keep the thyroid healthy, helps maintain blood sugar levels, and increases ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL). It can even protect against breast and uterine cancer.

If you feel you are at an age and stage in your life where you might have low progesterone levels, get a hormone test, and ask your doctor about natural progesterone. See for yourself what a big difference this ‘feel good’ hormone makes to the quality of your life!

To your good health!

Sonia.

Is it Bacterial Vaginosis, or is it a Vaginal Yeast Infection?
Almost all women have experienced these undesirable symptoms from time to time; smelly vaginal discharge, itching around the vaginal area, at times a burning sensation. So, how can we tell whether it is a vaginal yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis, since both conditions have similar symptoms, yet require different medications to treat?

Vaginal Yeast Infection:
A yeast infection is a fungal infection. Yeast or Candida as it is referred to, is a fungus that is present in human skin, especially in moist areas such as the mouth and the vagina. All women have a small amount of yeast in the vaginal area; but when this amount of yeast increases substantially, you can get a yeast infection. Vaginal yeast infection is also known as Vaginal Candidiasis. It can be caused when the normal protective bacteria in the vagina are destroyed by antibiotics, or as a result of chemotherapy, or as a result of certain cortisone based medications, or oral contraceptives. It can be caused by eating large quantities of sugar. Badly controlled diabetes or having HIV/AIDS can lead to a yeast infection as well. And stress can also cause this infection. The most common symptom of a yeast infection is extreme itching around the vaginal area. This is accompanied by a thick discharge without any bad smell. A rash, swelling and burning in the vaginal area is quite common, along with pain while passing urine and during sex.
Yeast infections are treated with topical anti-fungal creams, and if necessary anti-fungal medicines that are to be taken orally. Anti-fungals used to treat a vaginal yeast infection include Clotrimazole (cream or oral), Miconazole (cream or oral), Terconazole (cream or oral), Flucanazole (oral), and Nystatin (oral).

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV):
Bacterial Vaginosis or BV is caused by bacteria. All healthy women have different kinds of bacteria and organisms in their vagina. Most of these are the ‘good’ bacteria, and some are ‘bad’. But when this balance is upset, and the bad bacteria become larger in number than the good, the result is Bacterial Vaginosis. It is not properly known what exactly causes BV. Any woman can get BV. Some of the things that can contribute towards an imbalance in the vaginal bacteria include using an IUD for birth control, douching, and having multiple sexual partners, or consecutively new partners. Many women who get BV may not have any signs or symptoms. Women with BV may have an extremely stinky vaginal discharge. It has a very strong fishy odour, especially after intercourse. Discharge if present is usually grey or white. BV may also cause itching around the vaginal area, and a burning sensation while passing urine.
Although BV can clear up without any treatment, it is always recommended that the condition be treated with medication to avoid further complications. Treatment is especially important for pregnant women, and for women undergoing a hysterectomy or an abortion. Since BV is a bacterial infection, it is treated with antibiotics. The two most commonly prescribed antibiotics are Metronidazole and Clindamycin. BV can recur even after treatment, and may need another course of antibiotics.

So, to sum up, while both Yeast Infections and Bacterial Vaginosis do have a lot of common symptoms, they are two different conditions requiring different kinds of treatment. Yeast Infections are caused by an overgrowth of yeast, which is a fungus, and are treated with anti-fungal medicines. BV on the other hand, is a bacterial infection and is treated with antibiotics. It is always important for a woman to have some knowledge of the issues affecting her health. After all, who knows your body as well as you do?