Why I Prescribe Iodine for Breast Pain, Ovarian Cysts, and Premenstrual Mood Symptoms

iodine for women's health

Iodine has beneficial anti-estrogenic effects that can relieve breast pain, ovulation pain, and premenstrual mood symptoms. It may also help prevent ovarian cysts by promoting healthy estrogen metabolism, down-regulating estrogen receptors, and stabilizing estrogen-sensitive tissue.

That makes iodine one of the best treatments for estrogen excess or so-called “estrogen dominance”—although I don’t use that term.

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What Estrogen Does in Your 40s (and How Progesterone Can Help)

Estrogen rollercoaster of perimenopause

Night sweats, mood swings, and crazy heavy periods. Is this menopause already? And you’re only 42? No, menopause could still be a decade away. This is perimenopause or second puberty, which is the decade or so before your final period.

Perimenopause is different from menopause (or post-menopause), which is the life phase that begins one year after your final period.

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Why Progesterone Is Both Good and Bad for Mood (and How to Treat PMDD)

Mood effects of progesterone.

Progesterone is usually soothing to mood but can sometimes cause anxiety.

A negative mood reaction to changing levels of progesterone is called neurosteroid change sensitivity or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and affects about one in twenty women.

Also, see Top 6 natural treatments for premenstrual mood symptoms.

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The Right Way to Test Progesterone with the Menstrual Cycle

testing progesterone

The next time your doctor orders a progesterone test, ask yourself: “When is the right day to do this test?”

Forget “day 21 progesterone.” There’s no reason to test progesterone until you are approximately one week before your period. That will depend on how long your cycle actually is.

Here’s what you need to know about progesterone testing.

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