What happens in women hormonally in the 2-3 days prior to period?

[THeMaCHinE]

I do the very same thing.

..sigh


Edited to add I though you said 2-3 weeks not days...



So I do the same thing 2-3 weeks before...







I've offically lost it.

lol ... Time for some Calgon ...

 

[spatts]

This is what I've noticed in me. Oh, and right before the ol' cycle is that "you've got that mating feeling..." (sung to the tune of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling")....big time. *snicker*

Now see, I've always had that insatiable thing EXACLTY when I'm ovulating. I always thought it was natures way of making sure we fill the earth.

Damn nature.

 

[Nonerz]

insatiable...that's what Nate always calls me...

 

[MS]

In the second half of a normal menstrual cycle, progesterone levels rise. Progesterone binds to its specific receptor, but also to the mineralocorticoid receptor; thus progesterone acts as a mineralocorticoid antagonist. For this reason, sodium loss is slightly enhanced in the luteal phase, and, as a reflection of the negative sodium balance, plasma renin and aldosterone rise by 20-50%. This rise is of a compensatory nature, and prevents further sodium losses. It's all about feedback baby. So now your body is feeling slightly inclined to retain sodium and then suddenly WHAM your progesterone levels plummet leaving you totally stranded with elevated sodium-retention hormones and no compensatory progesterone. The other side of the coin is estrogens which strongly stimulate the production of renin substrate, leading to increased levels of angiotensin and aldosterone, and sodium retention.

The problem with many of the combined oral contraceptives is the progestogens are not identical to natural progesterone and thus are unable to counteract the sodium-retaining effect of the estrogen component. As well as this, OCs are a lot higher dose than what your body would naturally produce, thus shutting down your own feedback systems. As a consequence, these drugs may increase fluid retention, and body weight gain throughout the month. I can easily imagine how hitting the sugar pills would cause all hell to break lose. Your own hormones are very low, the OC is outta your system, and fluid/sodium retaining hormones are sky high. BTW the progestogen component of the pill is to protect the uterus from the hormonal onslaught of unopposed estrogen at high doses, as well as to trick your body into thinking it's pregnant.

There are some modern OCs that have better progestogens....ones that also bind to the mineralcorticoid receptor and reduce fluid retention.

 

[THeMaCHinE]

There are some modern OCs that have better progestogens....ones that also bind to the mineralcorticoid receptor and reduce fluid retention.

Do you happen to know the generic or brand names? Thanks for the info.

Also, theoretically, if the progesterone is to protect against estrogen, the progesterone could be dropped if estrogen was inhibited?

 

[MS]

The generic name is drospirenone.

"Also, theoretically, if the progesterone is to protect against estrogen, the progesterone could be dropped if estrogen was inhibited?"..............................I don't understand the question. Are you talking about oral contraceptives?? Oral contraceptives will naturally inhibit natural estrogen AND progesterone production. But if you don't have superphysiological levels of these hormones, you won't have an effective oral contraceptive. Why would you want to drop the progesterone/progestogens??? Sounds to me like you're talking about a women with little or no female hormones in circulation.....a lot like post menopause. This is not healthy and I don't think a woman would feel very good without any sex hormones floating around!

 

[THeMaCHinE]

The generic name is drospirenone.

"Also, theoretically, if the progesterone is to protect against estrogen, the progesterone could be dropped if estrogen was inhibited?"..............................I don't understand the question. Are you talking about oral contraceptives?? Oral contraceptives will naturally inhibit natural estrogen AND progesterone production. But if you don't have superphysiological levels of these hormones, you won't have an effective oral contraceptive. Why would you want to drop the progesterone/progestogens??? Sounds to me like you're talking about a women with little or no female hormones in circulation.....a lot like post menopause. This is not healthy and I don't think a woman would feel very good without any sex hormones floating around!

Thanks MS. I didn't really understand how oral bc works, hence the question. Crystal clear now -- I apppreciate your insight.

 

[fawnmarie]

Like spatts, I dump my water on day 1.

Both estrogen and progesterone drop right before, but estrogen is REALLY high (still higher than progesterone) and the drop may account for the water loss.

Also, my experience is that it may be minerally-based too. I get magnesium drops right before - enough to cause hard muscular spasms that clear right up with some supplemental magnesium. I haven't bothered to look into why this is happening, but I get a serious deficiency right prior to and magnesium is heavily involved in hydraulic systems.

Fawn

 

[spatts]

Fawn, how do you know it's magnesium and not potassium?

You said it goes away if you take mag, but what happens if you take potassium?

 

[fawnmarie]

Spatts,

It could be potassium, but it's just one of those "personal experience" things. When I don't get enough potassium I feel washed out and weak. When I don't get enough sodium, I get light-headed. When I don't get enough magnesium I get muscle spasms in my back and neck. When I don't get enough calcium, I get charlie horses in my feet and calves.

One of the nicer things about being this old is developing a keener sense of exactly what part of you is falling apart and why.




Fawn