Female Reproductive Disorders 203
ductive cycle. It also imbalances the autonomic nervous system, which
regulates all the organ systems—including the female reproductive
organs. Thus a balance between estrogen and progesterone is vital for
overall well-being as well as for normal functioning of the female
reproductive system.Infertility and Heavy Periods
When estrogen lowers energy levels by destroying oxygen, the pitu-
itary can’t produce the follicle-stimulating hormone and, as a result,
follicles are not produced. When not encased in a follicle, egg cells can-
not be released. And when ovulation doesn’t occur, not only is preg-
nancy impossible but there is a buildup of the uterine lining that causes
heavier and more frequent periods. Failure to ovulate is a sign that
progesterone levels have dropped to zero.
Dr. Ben C. Campbell and Dr. Peter T. Ellison of Harvard University
reported on a study of eighteen premenstrual women that revealed
excess estrogen as the main cause of a drop in progesterone. Progester-
one levels were checked in the middle of the menstrual cycle.^9 It was
found that seven of the eighteen women in the study did not ovulate.
While the numbers in this study are too small to draw any fi rm conclu-
sions about progesterone defi ciency, the prevalence of premenstrual
symptoms in the female population is a sure sign of a progesterone
shortage. The symptoms of PMS—water retention, fi brocystic breasts,
depression, wrinkled skin, vaginal dryness, irregular and heavy periods—
are the result of estrogen dominance over progesterone. The natural
decrease of progesterone with age doesn’t help matters. It drops to
nearly zero at menopause, whereas estrogen simply decreases—any-
where from 40 percent to 60 percent. When the ovaries stop producing
progesterone with the result that estrogen levels rise, there is a greater
danger of getting heart disease and cancer.Endometriosis
The lowering of ox ygen levels by excess est rogen in t he uter us increases
acidity. The sharp acid crystals irritate and infl ame the lining of the
uterus. If oxygen deprivation is sustained, it results in endometriosis,