Estrogen vs. progesterone side effects

1. Anybody with any anecdotal information on the above topic? Preparing a lecture on CONTRACEPTION (also, any good sources of information that you can recommend to me).
   THANX
2. 

   About VickyRN

   Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 12,037; Likes: 6,467
   Nurse Educator; from US
   Specialty: 16 year(s) of experience in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds

   5 Comments

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3. 
   Aug 31, '02

   Joined: Sep '01; Posts: 16,606; Likes: 680

   Hi VickyRN
   
   Can you expound a little more on what you are looking for with these two hormones? Each one varies in levels according to a woman's age group, whether she is pregnant or not, middle of the cylcle hormone fluctuations, menopausal changes cause a great deal of fluctuations in those two hormones, and post-menopausal women may or may not need a healthy balance of hormone replacements with those two hormones. So...is there a specific group of women you are targeting in relation to the side effects?
   
   As for myself...at age 50...I still get the once a month moodswings mid-month when my progesterone levels are skyrocketing off the wall. My breasts are tender and sore.....can't stand to have them touched by clothing, hubby, or me for that matter. And, my moods are all over the place. Those are my progesterone side-effects.
   
   With estrogen......I am not experiencing an estrogen loss as yet, but I hear that when a woman is in active menopause, she begins to experience vaginal dryness.....many lubricants are on the market for that, so no big deal there. That's one side effect.
   
   Other side effects of estrogen: lack of estrogen in the woman effects the heart, the bones, the sex drive, etc.
   
   I hope these things are what you are wanting. If not, feel free to let me know, and I'll try to answer your question more definitively. :kiss
4. 
   Aug 31, '02

   Occupation: Nurse Educator Specialty: 16 year(s) of experience in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds ; From: US ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 12,037; Likes: 6,467

   Thanks for your thoughtful response, Renee. I guess what I'm trying to ask is: Anybody know of any scholarly source listing the side effects of estrogen and the side effects of progesterone? (side by side comparison). I have been researching this subject and have come up with so much conflicting information, especially on the internet. In teaching the students about hormonal contraceptives, I am thinking a good backdrop will be a comparison of these two hormones, since so many forms of BC are based on either one or the other or a combination of both. For instance, estrogen increases the chance of thromoembolic events, breast cancer; progesterone--weight gain, menstrual or bleeding irregularities.
5. 
   Aug 31, '02

   Occupation: Registered Nurse Joined: Aug '01; Posts: 997; Likes: 23

   These are side effects in relation to Combination Oral Contraceptives
   
   Estrogen excess symptoms:
   nausea, bloating
   cervical mucorrhea
   chloasma
   headaches
   breast fullness, tenderness
   edema
   hypertension
   
   Estrogen deficiency symptoms:
   early or midcycle breakthrough bleeding
   increased spotting
   hypomenorrhea
   
   Progestin Excess symptoms:
   increased appetite/weight gain
   tiredness, fatigue
   acne, oily scalp, hirsuitism (androgenic effect)
   depression
   breast regression
   
   progestin deficiency symptoms:
   late breakthrough bleeding
   amenorrhea
   
   Herfindal, E.T. & Gourley, D.R. (2000). Textbook of Therapeutics: Drug and Disease Management. Lippincott, Williams, Wilkins publishers.
   
   Hope this helps
   
   Linda
6. 
   Sep 1, '02

   Occupation: Nurse Educator Specialty: 16 year(s) of experience in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds ; From: US ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 12,037; Likes: 6,467

   Thank you very much for the lead. I will look this book up. Thank you, Renee, also, for the anecdotal information. It is all very much appreciated
7. 
   Sep 1, '02

   Joined: Sep '01; Posts: 16,606; Likes: 680

   You're very welcome, VickyRN! :kiss
   
   Good luck with your class, too. I know you are a great teacher because you are a great woman...inside and out. :kiss

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