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Is supplementing with Estrogen ever a good idea?

by Lesley White
(UK)

My doctor is very open to prescribing Bio-identical Progesterone to his patients but on a recent visit he suggested that I use a little Bio-identical Estrogen as well. He said that it will help with my thinning hair and skin and not all Estrogen is the same and the one he will prescribe will not cause breast cancer. I am really confused. What he says makes sense but the feeling I get from this website is that supplementing with other hormones, besides Progesterone, just causes other problems.

Can anyone give me some advice please? Thanks.

Comments for Is supplementing with Estrogen ever a good idea?

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Jun 14, 2018
 Is supplementing with Estrogen ever a good idea?
by: Joy

Hi Lesley

As the website suggests, no woman should take extra estrogen. There are well over 100 estrogen mimics in our Environment as it is. They all add to Estrogen Dominance symtoms.

Between 100mg-200mg is needed, more if symptoms are severe. It can take between 2-6 months before positive signs are felt. Please read the How to use Progesterone cream page. The Hair Loss page may also help you. Many things can cause it.

Vitamin D3 is also very important as a deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone. Optimal range is between 70-100ng/mL and nothing less than 5,000iu's of vitamin D3 is needed. Co-factors are also needed when taking D3, magnesium and vitamin K2 with no soy are is needed.
Jun 14, 2018
 Hello
by: Anonymous

It would be a great idea to have a urine test done if you can. We call it a DUTCH test here. It’s supposed to show what your body is actually making. Blood and saliva tests are very inaccurate! I’m 32 and I had a test done and I am not even making progesterone at all!.
So it’s possible you might need a little estrogen, but t it’s hard to say without certainty.
Jun 14, 2018
 Supplementing estrogen
by: Rachel

I’m going against the grain here, but I supplemented with progesterone (Natpro, and loads of it) for 3 years, adamant that estrogen was an evil I didn’t need. My hair thinned, my skin dried up and I developed vaginal atrophy and pelvic floor dysfunction. We need estrogen and progesterone in balance. Lots of women suffer estrogen dominance and therefore require progesterone to counteract it. But when your estrogen plummets, you will feel horrible.

I wish my doctor was like yours. Bio identical hormones are your friends. As long as you are hormonally balanced, you’ll be ok. I use estrogen and progesterone. There are lots of estrogen in our environment, true! But your vagina, your pelvis, your brain function and your nervous system suffer if your estrogen levels plummet as they will as you age. If you want to see the damage lack of estrogen can do, join any of the vaginal atrophy Facebook pages. Plus, your bladder needs estrogen, as does your brain and your bones! I was horribly depressed and looked about ten years older than my years before I started supplementing. If your doctor is willing to help, let him!
Kind regards,
Rachel
Jun 15, 2018
 supplementing with estrogen
by: Anonymous

To the previous comment, I am curious when you began adding the estrogen back into your hormone protocol and have the issues you were concerned about been resolved? It may be a mater of time when the estrogen begins to become more dominant than the progesterone, I don't know. If balance was mother nature's intention, why did Mother Nature sadly decrease our progesterone and women experience the plethora of problems associated with estrogen dominance? I don't think we have perfect answers. One has to do what they personally feel is best for them. It sounds like that is what you have done for yourself and that is fine.
Jun 16, 2018
 Supplementing estrogen
by: Rachel

Yes, I am slowly improving. My hair and skin have improved, and I am no longer storing weight on my belly. I can sleep through the night and my chronic sweats have gone altogether. My progesterone never plummeted! I had what I thought was estrogen dominance but it wasn’t, I was estrogen deficient, so that’s why the previous comment here about getting our hormones checked is absolutely right.
I have vagina atrophy which I am treating with estrogen and it is responding but I understand it will take time. I am certainly not telling anyone here not to use Natpro by the way! It is an excellent P cream and I use it. My point is, we need estrogen too. But always always get your own levels checked to see what is happening. But if your estrogen levels are low, don’t be afraid of using a hormone supplement, preferably bio-identical.
Regards,
Rachel
Jun 19, 2018
 Finally!
by: Pam

Thank you, Rachel. I have been scouring this website for information on estrogen replacement therapy. Yes, 100-200 mg of progesterone is saving me from estrogen dominance, but I have had too many positive things happen with estrogen replacement. I will continue taking it now. I buy my bi-est cream on Amazon, and will continue taking 1-2 mg per day.
Jun 19, 2018
 Supplementing with estrogen
by: Rachel

Hi Pam. Google bio identical hormone therapy and search for features about the importance of estrogen. But please get your levels checked often if you don’t already.
Regards,
Rachel
Jun 19, 2018
 Is supplementing with Estrogen ever a good idea?
by: Lesley White

Thanks so much to everyone for their comments. I will definitely carry on using 200mg of Progesterone Cream every day, but may just add some Bi-Est Cream.

I think testing levels is difficult and still doesn't tell you how much to use. Is it symptom based? I just don't want to end up with other issues. 2mg is a very small amount. And that works for what symptoms?

Thanks for the help :).
Jun 20, 2018
 Supplementing with estrogen
by: Rachel

This is a good read if you doubt whether we need estrogen.
http://bladder-help.com/role-hormones-bladder-health/
Jun 21, 2018
 Be informed
by: Justine

Hello

I just need to step in here to give you some pages to read so that you can inform yourself on hormone terms, production, balance and functions.

The link provided in the previous comment does not provide a well researched view on hormonal production and is misleading, for example with it's statement that, "The two main female hormones are oestrogen and progesterone."

Please read this page on Progesterone for clarification.

Quote from referenced page:
"This vital hormone plays a major role in the body. It is not exclusively a female hormone nor is it a 'sex' hormone. It plays no part in the secondary sexual characteristics which develop at puberty. It is the precursor to the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone.

It is secreted primarily by the ovaries in females and the testes in men. Smaller amounts are produced by the adrenal glands, the brain and glial cells in both sexes."

Please see this informative page on Hormone balance

This Steroidogenic pathway chart from Genova diagnostics gives a clear diagram of the process the body goes through to make the different hormones.

Information on Progesterone levels in the body.

Clearing up Progesterone misconceptions

The facts about Estrogen dominance.

I am not advocating anything here, you must do what works for you, I have just submitted this comment so that you can inform yourself with well researched and concise information.

Happy Journey!
Jun 21, 2018
 Hormone testing
by: Ann

Hello,
I would love to know more about the urine test that has been mentioned.
Can you share more details?

I'm on progesterone but afraid to use the higher doses recommended, I'm afraid things will get worse.
I kinda regret messing with my hormones but now that I have I've gotta get this right.

Thanks for any information you can provide.
Jun 22, 2018
 Supplementing with estrogen
by: Rachel

Hello. Find yourself a functional practitioner or a hormone specialist, or an endocrinologist and ask if they will do the DUTCH test. Are you in the UK or US, or somewhere else?
If you google DUTCH test or DUTCH Plus, You can learn more.
Regards,
Rachel
Jun 30, 2018
 Is supplementing with Estrogen ever a good idea?
by: Lesley White

I am still quite confused about using Bio-identical Estrogen Cream. Will it help my body pain (or is that caused by something else like Thyroid issues? I have terrible neck and shoulder pain) and thinning hair and how much should I use? An amount the size of a pea? And twice a day like I use Progesterone Cream? Where is the best place to apply it? Do I increase or decrease according to symptoms? Even if I do hormone testing it won't tell me how much to use?
Please advise.
Jul 03, 2018
 Estrogen supplement
by: Rachel

I would never just advise anyone to start slapping on estrogen cream without first having blood tests to determine your current hormone levels, and never use estrogen without progesterone. I would only ever advise you to supplement estrogen and progesterone if you are deficient.
Jan 13, 2019
 Using both estrogen and progesterone
by: Anonymous

I have been using estro life since early December and added progesterone 2 weeks later. 2mg a day est and about 100mg a day prog. My labs showed I had next to no estrogen. I had a hysterectomy 2 years years ago. My hot flashes were my main issue and are now gone. However I've put on at least 10 pounds in a month! I'm horrified! I eat great and exercise a lot. On this site, it seems I may need more progesterone? I'm going to also check my vit D. I'm afraid to make things worse.
Any suggestions?

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