progesterone

Progesterone is the hormone women make after ovulation and is important not just for fertility but also to help to prevent osteoporosis, stroke, dementia, heart disease, and breast cancer. Regular ovulatory cycles are beneficial for general health. Progesterone can also be taken in the form of micronized progesterone to relieve heavy periods and the symptoms of perimenopause.

What Is Bioidentical or Body-Identical Hormone Therapy?

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Bioidentical hormones

Bioidentical or body-identical hormones are estradiol and progesterone, which are molecularly identical to human hormones. Most (not all) modern menopause hormone therapy is bioidentical. Keep reading for a list of brands.

The difference between “bioidentical” and “body-identical” is that body-identical is the preferred conventional term, while bioidentical is the term traditionally applied to customised hormone formulas dispensed by a compounding pharmacist when compounding was the only way to obtain such hormones.

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Is It PCOS or Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (Undereating)?

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PCOS versus hypothalamic amenorrhea.

What is the difference between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothalamic amenorrhea?

PCOS is the condition of androgen excess when all other causes of androgen excess have been ruled out. It’s often associated with irregular periods or no periods.

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) is irregular periods (or no periods) due to undereating or other stressors. It can also present with mild acne, facial hair, and polycystic ovaries.

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Are You Eating Enough to Get a Period?

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Keto period or amenorrhea

Lost your period? You might just need to eat more. A lot more. Losing your period to undereating is called hypothalamic amenorrhea and is common, especially in women under thirty.

Unfortunately, hypothalamic amenorrhea can sometimes be misdiagnosed as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) because both hypothalamic amenorrhea and PCOS can have “polycystic ovaries” on a pelvic ultrasound exam.

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Natural Treatment of Hormonal Migraines

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menstrual migraines

According to a Lancet review, migraines tend to occur during the premenstrual phase due to prostaglandins, histamine, and the steep decline in estrogen (aka “estrogen withdrawal”) leading up to the period.

Body-identical progesterone can shelter the brain from that estrogen withdrawal and reduce the frequency and intensity of menstrual migraines.

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