Estrogen vs. progesterone side effects

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

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

[live4today, RN]

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 lady partsl 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

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

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.

[WashYaHands]

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

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

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 :)

[live4today, RN]

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