With the recent studies that point to more and more dangers of using artificial hormones to treat conditions such as premenstrual syndrome, perimenopause and menopause, many women are turning to bioidentical hormone creams to address their hormonal balance issues.
Bio-identical Hormone Creams
Bio-identical hormone creams use hormones, usually estrogen or progesterone, from natural substances such as soy and wild yam to help replace hormones that a woman’s body is no longer producing in large-enough quantities. These creams are applied topically, usually to the neck, chest or arms daily or twice a day during specific time periods of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle to address various hormonal balance issues.
Bio-identical Progesterone Cream
Bio-identical progesterone cream is used by women who are still menstruating but may be entering premenopause or who are experiencing symptoms of premenstrual stress syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Women who experience these conditions often suffer from a lack of progesterone, leading to a variety of symptoms prior to and during menstruation.
To use bio-identical progesterone cream, begin with an application of 1/4 tsp. to your chest, neck or arms twice daily starting one week after the first day of your period (some users prefer to rotate locations). Continue applying the cream twice daily until the first day of your period. Repeat the process each month. Many women report significant relief of PMS and PMDD symptoms within the first two to three months of use.
Bio-identical Estrogen Cream
For women who are experiencing menopause or who have completed menopause, bio-identical estrogen cream is often recommended to help alleviate their physical and mental symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Bio-identical estrogen cream uses phytoestrogens, natural estrogen compounds found in plants, especially soybean plants. It is known to have few side effects and is available in a variety of cream bases.
To use bio-identical estrogen cream, apply 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. of the cream twice daily to the neck, arms or chest. For women who are still menstruating occasionally, use the estrogen cream during the second half of the menstrual cycle (14 days before the next period). For women who have stopped menstruating entirely, daily use may be needed to help alleviate menopause symptoms.
Natural Testosterone Cream
A third natural hormone cream available is natural testosterone cream. Natural testosterone cream is recommended for perimenopausal and menopausal women who are experiencing specific sexual side effects including lack of desire. However, any testosterone supplement is not recommended until other natural hormone treatments have been tried and have failed to alleviate symptoms.
If you decide to try natural testosterone cream, follow the dosage instructions on the packaging exactly. Then gradually lessen the dose until you find the lowest possible amount that will achieve the desire effects. Because most extra testosterone present in a woman’s body is converted to estrogen, overdose of a testosterone cream can create additional hormone-imbalance problems.