How to use progesterone for vaginal dryness relief

Vaginal atrophy is a common symptom of menopause that can hinder your ability to enjoy a healthy sex life or even to function normally in everyday life. The thinning and weakening of the vaginal walls can lead to an overall dryness of the tissues found in and around the vagina. The severity of this problem covers a wide range. Some women experience pain only during sex while others find that it makes even wearing certain types of underwear uncomfortable.

How can I make the best decision about how and when to use progesterone cream?

Progesterone cream has been recommended as a treatment for vaginal dryness. Before you make a decision on progesterone cream, here are the facts that you should know.

Distinguish between progesterone and progestin

Progesterone is an extract taken from plants such as wild yam or soy and manipulated to closely resemble the progesterone that your body produces. Progestin is entirely fabricated in a lab and has the same molecular structure as the progesterone that your body produces. Although progesterone is sometimes referred to as “natural” or “bioidentical,” both of these forms are essentially man-made hormones. While they have been useful in helping some women with vaginal dryness and other menopause symptoms, it is important to know how they are produced before beginning a regimen.

Know how to balance

Some women take progesterone as an alternative to estrogen-based medicines because they fear the potentially harmful side effects of estrogen. Taking estrogen alone can upset your body’s hormone balance even further and may result in conditions like endometriosis and some reproductive cancers. However, in some cases, your doctor may recommend taking the two hormones together, as opposed to taking just estrogen.

Know how much to use

If you’re using progesterone in a cream form specifically, it’s best to start with the smallest dose possible and then adjust it to your body’s needs. Many women only need to use a dab the size of a small pea to do the job. By comparison, this “pea-sized” drop would yield about 10 milligrams of progesterone from a cream that has about 500 milligrams in a single ounce.

Adjust

If you find that this standard amount is too much, you can always mix the progesterone cream with another cream to reduce it. Be cautious of which creams you are using, however, because many moisturizers contain harsh chemical compounds that do more harm than good.

Watch for side effects

Sometimes taking supplemental hormones can cause uncomfortable side effects such as swelling and tenderness in the breast and abdominal area. Monitor these side effects closely. Also, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor if they persist and/or get worse.

More information about progesterone for vaginal dryness relief

In addition to relieving vaginal dryness, progesterone has also shown favorable results for reducing hot flashes in menopausal women. Some evidence also suggests that progesterone may stop or slow bone density loss in women who are at risk of post-menopausal osteoporosis.