All are in pill form. I decided yesterday that I am going to find a pharmacy will will do bioidentical hormones. This ND/MD seems to think I "need" to be having a period. I am a little irked now that I have investigated this and the doctor didn't even test my hormones before putting me on this stuff. Here is an answer I got on realthyroidhelp.com and now I think I am going to insist that all my levels be tested. My FSH was almost 42 and that's why I think he put me on HRT. Here's that reply:
Now, since your periods have stopped for a few months and your FSH is so high, it's very likely you are in menopause. You may be very progesterone deficient at this point due to the fact that you've been progesterone deficient all through premenopause. It would be unlikely that you wouldn't have progesterone deficiency. Of course, I'd still recommend testing to see where you are at, but perhaps that has been done already?
Your estrogen levels may still be normal and this is not unusual for a woman recently entering menopause. However, at some point, they may drop. They only drop down to about 60% in some women, and some women, therefore, never need to supplement estrogen. However, progesterone supplementation is a good idea for them. Now, you may already know your levels here and know whether or not your ratio between progesterone and estrogen is good. If you don't, I'd suggest testing, but I suspect your doctor has already done this. What's always important with these hormones is not where they fall in the range, but the ratio between them.
Here are the various symptoms of progesterone deficiency:
http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/ ... nance.html
If you still have plenty of estrogen, but you're deficient in progesterone, at this point in your life, you are at a higher risk of developing breast or uterine cancer. As you probably know, we often see breast cancer and/or uterine cancer occurring in woman of premenopausal or perimenopausal age. This is because progesterone is the anti-estrogen, which turns off cell proliferation. Without sufficient progesterone, estrogen is not balanced and abnormal cell proliferation in the breasts and uterus continues. As it continues beyond a normal shut off point, mutation can easily occur, which can then lead to cancer developing. You might also want to read this if you have a history of breast cancer in your family, especially:
http://www.project-aware.org/Health/Bre ... gest.shtml
Progesterone also serves a role in keeping brain cells healthy, and deficiency has been linked to Alzheimer's Disease, in part. It's also involved in myelin development, which is the sheath around nerve cells, so deficiency can result in aches and pains, and worsen MS. It's involved in hydration of the skin, so a deficiency can be involved in premature wrinkling and dry skin. And it's a natural anti-depressant, so it can help a woman feel better. It's also used in bone development, so a deficiency can lead to osteoporosis. Estrogen is also beneficial to bones as it reduces the bone breakdown, but it's progesterone that stimulates new bone growth. Studies have shown that progesterone supplementation in postmenopausal women can dramatically slow down bone loss and increase bone density.
Not sure I am liking HRT
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