The hormonal test that you will find free on the site santedesfemmes.com can help you target your needs in order to regain your hormonal balance. You will receive a response quickly within a few days after completing and sending it.

The saliva test has several advantages: samples can be collected at home, multiple samples can be collected during the day and samples can be mailed to the laboratory. A wider range of hormones is present in saliva than in blood or serum. The saliva test measures the hormones which are available to the tissues, that is to say the bioavailable hormones.

Soon available on the Women’s Health website!

For more details, the books of Dr. John R. Lee, M.D. have helped countless women navigate menopause “naturally” and maintain good health and vitality that allows them to enjoy life and age gracefully!

Hormonal balance and natural progesterone

Everything you need to know about premenopause

Also visit the site www.santedesfemmes.com for a multitude of information on hormonal balance.

Our body produces three main estrogens: estradiol, estrone and estriol. The first two are very stimulating for cell multiplication. Estradiol, in particular, produces such rapid cell multiplication that within two weeks, during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, the endometrium thickens in preparation for possible pregnancy. For its part, estrone has been called the estrogen of menopause, because it is estrogen that is produced by the action of the aromatase enzyme on the body’s fat cells.

However, this estrogen is stimulating enough to pose some cancer risks. This is why excess weight in women is considered a risk factor for breast cancer. As for estriol, it mainly comes from the metabolism by the liver of the other two estrogens, which greatly reduces its stimulating effect on cells. However, recent research on estrogen reveals the useful role it can play in treating vaginal dryness, helping to relieve menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, and maintaining bone health.

For more details about estriol, see the website santedesfemmes.com: Could estriol be the elixir for menopausal women?

Men and women produce the same steroid hormones: estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, etc. The difference between the sexes comes from the amount of estrogen and testosterone that is produced. Beyond the role of chromosomes in the sexual differentiation of the fetus, it is these two hormones that produce the sexual characteristics that are seen at puberty, such as body shape, hair growth, muscle mass, etc.

Women produce little testosterone, but this hormone still plays a key role in maintaining muscle mass and bone health, as well as energy levels and endurance. Before menopause, testosterone in women is produced mainly by the ovaries. With the cessation of ovulation at menopause, many women have problems with libido, lack of energy, loss of muscle and bone mass due to the drop in testosterone levels. This is why more and more doctors are prescribing testosterone to women as part of hormone replacement therapy.

On the other hand, any intake of pharmaceutical testosterone by women requires fairly constant monitoring, because excess testosterone can quickly produce facial hair and other masculinizing effects.

There are homeopathic formulations and various herbs that can be very helpful in obtaining the benefits of testosterone without the risk of side effects.

When talking about hormones, the terms “natural”, “bioidentical” or “micronized” are often used synonymously. “Bioidentical” simply means that the hormone is identical to the one our body produces, therefore in every way similar to human hormones. The term “bioidentical” is more precise than “natural”, because the latter can lead to confusion with “plant hormones”, which are in reality simple plant extracts. It is important to understand that these plant extracts with hormonal effects (e.g. phytoestrogens) are not bioidentical – they are not human hormones. Not only are they not bioidentical, but they also do not serve as precursors or raw materials for the manufacture of steroid hormones in our body. Their hormonal effect is explained by the fact that certain substances present in plants, such as isoflavones, have the capacity to activate estrogen receptors, thus acting like estrogens on our cells, without being human estrogens.

It should be noted that bioidentical hormones are made in the laboratory from plant sterols, mainly extracted from yam (or wild yam) and soybeans. For more information, consult the column available on santedesfemmes.com: What you need to know about natural hormones to successfully manage menopause.

When asked this question at a conference, Dr. John Lee replied, “As long as you need it.” » And he reminded the audience that progesterone plays multiple roles in the human body in particular to maintain bone health and that this lasts throughout life. In his books, he says he prescribed it to patients aged 90 and over as a treatment for osteoporosis! However, when it comes to relieving the discomforts of menopause, the time required can range from a few weeks to several months, and may not work at all if other factors (e.g. stress, lifestyle, diet, endocrine disruptors) come into play.

For the relief of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), in the case of adolescents and young women, a few months is usually enough to provide a long-lasting solution. If PMS is due to hormonal disruptions of pre-menopause, longer term use should be expected, usually three to five years. In the case of fibroids, if they are small fibroids, plan to use them for six months to a year. However, when fibroids reach a certain size, progesterone becomes powerless to reduce their size, but can help slow their growth. For endometriosis or polycystic ovaries, progesterone should be used as part of a holistic approach in consultation with a health care practitioner and the time required to resolve this type of problem can vary from a few months to a few years.

When talking about hormones, the terms “natural”, “bioidentical” or “micronized” are often used synonymously. “Bioidentical” simply means that the hormone is identical to the one our body produces, therefore in every way similar to human hormones. The term “bioidentical” is more precise than “natural”, because the latter can lead to confusion with “plant hormones”, which are in reality simple plant extracts. It is important to understand that these plant extracts with hormonal effects (e.g. phytoestrogens) are not bioidentical – they are not human hormones. Not only are they not bioidentical, but they also do not serve as precursors or raw materials for the manufacture of steroid hormones in our body. Their hormonal effect is explained by the fact that certain substances present in plants, such as isoflavones, have the capacity to activate estrogen receptors, thus acting like estrogens on our cells, without being human estrogens.

It should be noted that bioidentical hormones are made in the laboratory from plant sterols, mainly extracted from yam (or wild yam) and soybeans. For more information, consult the column available on santedesfemmes.com: What you need to know about natural hormones to successfully manage menopause.

When asked this question at a conference, Dr. John Lee replied, “As long as you need it.” » And he reminded the audience that progesterone plays multiple roles in the human body in particular to maintain bone health and that this lasts throughout life. In his books, he says he prescribed it to patients aged 90 and over as a treatment for osteoporosis! However, when it comes to relieving the discomforts of menopause, the time required can range from a few weeks to several months, and may not work at all if other factors (e.g. stress, lifestyle, diet, endocrine disruptors) come into play.

For the relief of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), in the case of adolescents and young women, a few months is usually enough to provide a long-lasting solution. If PMS is due to hormonal disruptions of pre-menopause, longer term use should be expected, usually three to five years. In the case of fibroids, if they are small fibroids, plan to use them for six months to a year. However, when fibroids reach a certain size, progesterone becomes powerless to reduce their size, but can help slow their growth. For endometriosis or polycystic ovaries, progesterone should be used as part of a holistic approach in consultation with a health care practitioner and the time required to resolve this type of problem can vary from a few months to a few years.

It was a scientist named Russell Marker who discovered in 1938 how to obtain bioidentical hormones by modifying the molecular configuration of certain plant sterols with the help of enzymes. However, bioidentical hormones are safe not because of this manufacturing process, but because the message they bring to our cells is the same as that of our endogenous hormones. Therefore, our cells recognize these substances and know how to react to them according to the programming that nature has inscribed in cellular intelligence, which is not the case for non-bioidentical hormones such as Premarin® and Provera®. If bioidentical hormones are administered transdermally (cream or gel) to respect the way nature circulates hormones in our body, this minimizes certain dangers inherent in the first passage through the liver (this is a problem related to taking hormones orally, including oral contraceptives).

In addition, if the dosages correspond to normal hormone levels for our age and the balance is maintained between estrogen and progesterone, “organic” hormonal therapy is, according to more and more doctors and experts, the safest approach to hormonal replacement therapy.

See the following column on the site santedesfemmes.com entitled: More effective and safer hormone therapy is possible!

Bioidentical progesterone creams have been on the American market for over 35 years and their effectiveness has been amply demonstrated by the experience of millions of users. However, after two or three years of use, there may be a reduction in the effectiveness of the creams due to accumulation in the tissues. Users then have the following options:

• Stop using the cream for two or three months to allow cell receptors to become resensitized to exogenous hormones;

• Apply progesterone to the perineum (labia majora) as suggested by Dr. Jonathan Wright and other well-known physicians;

• Change product, e.g. ex. use a percutaneous lotion that can absorb better;

Use a product combining progesterone and estriol. These two hormones work synergistically and a combination product often gives better results.

If you’re switching from Bio-Equilibrium to ClearPatch lotion, here’s what to consider:

Bio-Equilibrium contains 20mg of progesterone per pump pressure. So it requires pump pressure to get the required daily dose of 20-25mg per day suggested by Dr. Lee. The Bio-Equilibrium pump contains 100ml and each press of the pump gives 1ml of cream. There are therefore 100 applications of 20mg of progesterone in this pump.

ClearPatch Progesterone Lotion contains 1.4mg of progesterone per drop for an application of 25mg per day, you will need 17 drops per day. According to information provided by ClearPatch, each bottle of lotion contains 1,000 drops. This therefore gives 58 applications of 24 mg.

Warning for women who want to change hormonal products:

It is advisable to do this gradually rather than overnight. For a certain time, use both products (one in the morning and the other in the evening) then use less and less of the product you want to eliminate.

It was a scientist named Russell Marker who discovered in 1938 how to obtain bioidentical hormones by modifying the molecular configuration of certain plant sterols with the help of enzymes. However, bioidentical hormones are safe not because of this manufacturing process, but because the message they bring to our cells is the same as that of our endogenous hormones. Therefore, our cells recognize these substances and know how to react to them according to the programming that nature has inscribed in cellular intelligence, which is not the case for non-bioidentical hormones such as Premarin® and Provera®. If bioidentical hormones are administered transdermally (cream or gel) to respect the way nature circulates hormones in our body, this minimizes certain dangers inherent in the first passage through the liver (this is a problem related to taking hormones orally, including oral contraceptives).

In addition, if the dosages correspond to normal hormone levels for our age and the balance is maintained between estrogen and progesterone, “organic” hormonal therapy is, according to more and more doctors and experts, the safest approach to hormonal replacement therapy.

See the following column on the site santedesfemmes.com entitled: More effective and safer hormone therapy is possible!

Bioidentical progesterone creams have been on the American market for over 35 years and their effectiveness has been amply demonstrated by the experience of millions of users. However, after two or three years of use, there may be a reduction in the effectiveness of the creams due to accumulation in the tissues. Users then have the following options:

• Stop using the cream for two or three months to allow cell receptors to become resensitized to exogenous hormones;

• Apply progesterone to the perineum (labia majora) as suggested by Dr. Jonathan Wright and other well-known physicians;

• Change product, e.g. ex. use a percutaneous lotion that can absorb better;

Use a product combining progesterone and estriol. These two hormones work synergistically and a combination product often gives better results.

If you’re switching from Bio-Equilibrium to ClearPatch lotion, here’s what to consider:

Bio-Equilibrium contains 20mg of progesterone per pump pressure. So it requires pump pressure to get the required daily dose of 20-25mg per day suggested by Dr. Lee. The Bio-Equilibrium pump contains 100ml and each press of the pump gives 1ml of cream. There are therefore 100 applications of 20mg of progesterone in this pump.

ClearPatch Progesterone Lotion contains 1.4mg of progesterone per drop for an application of 25mg per day, you will need 17 drops per day. According to information provided by ClearPatch, each bottle of lotion contains 1,000 drops. This therefore gives 58 applications of 24 mg.

Warning for women who want to change hormonal products:

It is advisable to do this gradually rather than overnight. For a certain time, use both products (one in the morning and the other in the evening) then use less and less of the product you want to eliminate.

As a general rule, it is wise to follow the instructions for use suggested by the product manufacturer. However, in the case of progesterone, use and dosages may vary depending on age, hormonal state (pre or post menopause), the problem to be corrected (premenstrual syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, etc.), and metabolic response to treatment (some women see the effects more quickly or strongly than others).

According to Dr. John Lee, women who still have menstrual cycles only need progesterone, because the presence of menstruation is a very obvious sign that the ovaries are still producing enough estrogen to cause endometrial stimulation. So, for cases of PMS or pre-menopausal dysmenorrhea, Dr. Lee recommended a bioidentical progesterone supplement only (e.g. Bio-Equilibrium).

In cases of amenorrhea (e.g. absent periods after stopping the pill)

Dr. Lee recommends using a phytoestrogen or estriol (a weak estrogen) for two weeks, and progesterone only for the next two weeks. Many women manage to restart their cycle this way.

At pre-menopause

Women who have heavy or irregular bleeding only need progesterone. Postmenopause women with a body mass index of more than 24 only need progesterone, because body fat is a veritable factory of estrogen. Thinner women often have good results with combination progesterone and phytoestrogen creams (e.g. Bio-Equilibrum Plus), as they generally need supplemental estrogen to avoid vaginal dryness and other symptoms of estrogen deficiency. Moreover, progesterone works better in synergy with estrogen and vice versa. If vaginal dryness is already present, Dr. Lee recommends an estriol cream applied intravaginally (EMP).

Progesterone dosage of hormonal creams

There are a large number of hormonal creams on the market that contain bioidentical progesterone, but they can vary greatly in progesterone dosage. Dr. Lee recommended a progesterone concentration within the following limits: minimum 480 mg per ounce/28 g and maximum 600 mg per ounce/28 g. It is certain that the lower the dose of progesterone in the cream, the more it will be necessary to increase the daily dose to obtain the desired quantity of progesterone.

Progesterone creams combined with other hormones or phytoestrogens

There are creams where progesterone is combined with other hormones, e.g. ex. estriol or estradiol. When these estrogens are found in an over-the-counter cream in the United States, it is because the amount is very minimal, especially if it is estradiol. We can therefore say that these creams do not constitute an estradiol supplement. On the other hand, for creams that contain only estriol (no progesterone or other hormones), the quantity is sufficient to have a local effect, particularly for vaginal dryness, but it is likely that the systemic effect of this weak estrogen will not greatly exceed what can be obtained with progesterone creams combined with phytoestrogens. The presence of plants such as soy extracts, red clover, chasteberry, dong quai, diogenin extracted from wild yam, etc. indicate a cream that combines progesterone with phytoestrogens and therefore will have a more balanced effect on the hormonal system. However, as indicated above, not all women need creams combined with phytoestrogens. Please also note that progesterone/phytoestrogen combination creams vary in their content of active botanical ingredients and therefore the estrogenic effects of these creams will vary greatly.

Support ingredients: Note that more than 95% of the volume of a hormonal cream is made up of inert ingredients, also called excipients, which serve to help hormones pass through the skin and the subcutaneous fat layer and enter the bloodstream. All hormonal creams also contain antimicrobial and antioxidant ingredients. This is why they are called “carrier ingredients”. The diversity of these inactive ingredients from one cream to another may explain why some users may have better results with one cream over another. This may also explain why skin reactions may occur with one cream and not the other. Note that the active ingredients, either progesterone or bioidentical estrogens, except for their concentration, do not change from one cream to another — they are all produced according to the same standards by one or two laboratories specially authorized in the United States to produce these bioidentical hormones. The numerous manufacturers of hormonal creams on the market, including compounding pharmacists, all obtain their supplies from these same laboratories.

These two hormonal creams complement each other perfectly. However, you should know that progesterone can be used alone, but estrogen must always be combined with progesterone even if you only use it 3 days a week. Estriol is more potent than phytoestrogens, but less potent than estradiol. It is safer and protective than any other form of estrogen.

You can store your extra hormonal creams in the refrigerator until needed. When it comes to pump creams, since the latter is hermetically sealed, there is no problem in keeping the pump that you commonly use in your bathroom.

There are two ways to see if the product has been affected: the consistency of the product (has the fatty substances separated?) and the homogeneity (is the product grainy?). Dr Lee points out that it is mainly the grittiness that will prevent the product from being effective, because it will not penetrate the skin, which is an essential condition for the cream to work. This can happen for various reasons.

We have previously had grainy products that had not been exposed to cold or heat so it was a problem with the laboratory that made the cream. This can also happen with prescription creams from the pharmacy, which have never been exposed to temperature extremes either.

If the fatty substances have separated, most of the time mixing the cream with a small spoon will restore homogeneity.

Impact for the cold

Hormonal creams are less sensitive to cold than to extreme heat, in which case the fatty substances in the cream can separate. If the cream does not separate and change consistency when defrosting, there is no problem. Progesterone itself will not be affected by the gel — only the fatty substances that serve as progesterone carriers.

Impact for heat

If the cream does not separate or change consistency, there is no problem. Progesterone itself will not be affected by heat — only the fats that serve as progesterone carriers.

Thirty minutes is sufficient for swimming or showering after applying a hormonal cream. Maybe take an extra minute when applying to fully penetrate the cream.

Applying the cream to the perineum area (labia majora) makes absorption almost instantaneous, as there is no subcutaneous fat in these tissues. This would therefore be an interesting alternative when you plan to bathe after applying your cream.