Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

July 05, 2025

• Most ovarian cysts are harmless and disappear naturally, but some cause severe complications like rupture or twisting the ovary, requiring emergency surgery
  
• Vegetable oils like canola and sunflower act as fake estrogens, damaging ovarian tissue and fueling cyst formation due to linoleic acid content
  
• PCOS drives recurring cysts through hormonal chaos, particularly insulin resistance and elevated estrogen that disrupts normal ovarian function and cycles
  
• Natural pain relief includes heat therapy, massage, and gentle movement, while chamomile and ginger teas help reduce inflammation and balance hormones
  
• Prevention focuses on eliminating vegetable oils, addressing insulin resistance and considering natural progesterone to restore hormonal balance and stop cyst recurrence

Ovarian cysts are among the most common gynecological findings, yet they often strike without warning. These fluid-filled sacs grow on or inside the ovaries and are typically harmless. But when they rupture, twist the ovary or grow too large, they trigger sudden, severe pain, disrupt your hormones, and even threaten fertility. In rare cases, they signal ovarian cancer. Most women don't even know they have a cyst until an ultrasound reveals it. That's a concerning gap in awareness, especially considering the risk of complications. Pain in your lower abdomen, bloating, irregular periods, pain during sex, and changes in urination or bowel habits are common signs of an ovarian cyst. But depending on its size and type, some women feel nothing at all.

While about two-thirds of cysts disappear on their own, some do not.1 In some cases, cysts even cut off blood flow, requiring immediate surgery to save the organ. The concern isn't just the cyst, however — it's the conditions that create them. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is one major culprit. Characterized by irregular periods, facial hair, weight gain, and multiple small cysts, PCOS is also linked to infertility and insulin resistance.

Left unmanaged, it opens the door to long-term hormonal chaos. Understanding what kind of cyst you have and what caused it, is the key to avoiding unnecessary treatment, managing your symptoms and preserving your reproductive health. That's where the first set of findings comes in.

Some Cysts Vanish on Their Own, While Others Send You Straight to the ER

Ovarian cysts are not always a cause for alarm, as many are part of a woman's normal cycle. Speaking with TIME, ob-gyn Dr. Mary Jane Minkin of Yale Medicine explains that ovulation itself often produces what's called a "functional cyst."2 This happens when a follicle, the small sac that holds your egg, swells up with fluid during the release process. These types of cysts usually dissolve on their own without causing problems.

But some cysts don't disappear — and that's when trouble begins — If a cyst grows too large, ruptures or causes ovarian torsion (twisting of the ovary), it often becomes a medical emergency. If torsion cuts off blood flow to the ovary, it risks permanent damage. Symptoms like intense pain, nausea and vomiting are red flags that demand immediate care.

Transvaginal ultrasound remains the gold standard for evaluating ovarian cysts. Radiologists look at shape, size, fluid content and blood flow. These details help determine whether the growth is benign or needs further attention.

Size, content, and structure guide your next steps — Cysts filled only with fluid and under about 5 centimeters are often left alone. But if they have "solid components" or fingerlike projections, or if they keep growing, doctors often order blood tests such as cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) to check for cancer-related proteins.

You may not need surgery even if you're over 50 — One study followed women over 50 who had stable ovarian cysts and found their risk of developing ovarian cancer was just 0.27% over 3.5 years.3 That means many postmenopausal cysts are still safe to monitor rather than remove immediately.

Ovarian preservation is part of the strategy — Even when surgical removal is necessary, doctors try to avoid removing the entire ovary whenever possible. Preserving hormonal function is key to protecting your heart, bones and brain long- term, especially if you're still menstruating.

Ovarian Cysts Form for Many Reasons — and Not All Cysts Are Harmless
According to the Cleveland Clinic, while most ovarian cysts are classified as "functional" and develop as part of ovulation, other types like dermoid cysts, cystadenomas and endometriomas don't follow this pattern.4 These growths form due to abnormal cell reproduction or endometriosis and need more monitoring to ensure they don't lead to complications.

Some cysts don't cause symptoms, but others press on organs — Depending on their size and location, these growths may trigger pain in your back or pelvis, frequent urges to urinate or even pain during sex. Large cysts often create pressure and discomfort in the lower abdomen, especially if they start pressing against your bladder or bowel.
Hormonal disorders raise your odds of getting more cysts — If you've ever had a cyst before, your chances of getting another are higher. But conditions like endometriosis or PCOS significantly raise the risk by disrupting your hormonal balance. Medications used to stimulate ovulation, like Clomid, also increase cyst formation.

Cysts don't always stay small — when they grow, the risks climb — While many shrink and disappear within a few menstrual cycles, some keep growing. Once a cyst crosses the 10-centimeter mark (nearly 4 inches), doctors often recommend surgical removal. This is especially true if the cyst starts causing pain or shows signs of abnormal structure on ultrasound.

Ovarian cysts are rarely cancerous, but some are — Fewer than 1% of ovarian cysts turn out to be cancer. However, the odds increase if you're postmenopausal. If the cyst is complex or solid in appearance, or if blood tests show high CA-125 levels, your doctor may refer you for a deeper evaluation.

Prevention isn't always possible, but tracking your symptoms helps — Most cysts don't require treatment. But if you feel bloated, notice changes in your period or have pelvic pain that won't go away, bring it up. Keeping track of symptoms gives your provider better insight into whether you need imaging or follow-up care.

Vegetable Oils Act Like Fake Estrogens and Damage Your Ovaries
In a study published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, researchers tested common vegetable oils on female rats over a 28-day period and found they harmed ovarian function.5 The oils tested included genetically modified (GM) canola, GM maize and sunflower.

Even without affecting basic hormone levels, these oils caused visible ovarian damage — The study found no major changes in lipid profiles or in the main reproductive hormones, but serum estradiol levels spiked in both the canola and sunflower oil groups.

Estradiol is a form of estrogen, and elevated levels of it are known to fuel cyst formation and disrupt ovarian function. Rats fed these oils developed ovarian atrophy, meaning the ovaries began to shrink and weaken structurally.

• Sunflower oil caused the most severe ovarian changes — While all oil-fed rats showed some form of ovarian toxicity, the sunflower group displayed the worst damage. Researchers observed severe congestion of ovarian blood vessels and numerous follicular cysts — fluid-filled sacs that distort normal ovary function. This mirrors the type of cystic development often seen in PCOS and other reproductive disorders.
  
• Canola oil triggered similar ovarian degeneration — The canola group also experienced atrophied ovaries and elevated estradiol levels. Although the structural damage wasn't as extreme as in the sunflower-fed rats, it still indicated hormonal disruption and tissue breakdown. The presence of secondary and simple cysts pointed to interference with the ovulation process and follicular development.
  
• PUFs act like xenoestrogens inside the body — Bioenergetic researcher Georgi Dinkov emphasized that polyunsaturated fats (PUFs) like linoleic acid (LA), found in these oils, behave like endocrine-disrupting chemicals.6
  That puts them in the same category as compounds like phthalates, parabens, and bisphenols. These substances mimic estrogen and hijack normal hormone signaling, leading to overstimulation of estrogen receptors in reproductive organs.
  Unlike synthetic chemicals, which are increasingly regulated or avoided by health- conscious consumers, PUFs from vegetable oils are still consumed in massive quantities. They're marketed as healthy, yet this study showed they have a direct toxic impact on ovarian structure — without the protections or warnings given to more notorious hormone disruptors.
  
• Estrogen overload from dietary oils fuels cyst formation — The mechanism is clear: elevated estrogen, triggered by LA-rich vegetable oils and other endocrine disruptors, increases the likelihood of abnormal follicle growth and cyst development. When your ovaries receive repeated, estrogen-like signals from environmental sources, they lose the ability to maintain balanced hormone cycles, setting the stage for dysfunction.

If you're struggling with irregular cycles, ovarian cysts or PCOS symptoms, eliminating canola, sunflower and other vegetable oils is a key step. These oils actively interfere with your reproductive health on a cellular level. Awareness and dietary changes give you a powerful way to start reversing the damage.

Natural Therapies Help Ease Symptoms

While most home remedies won't shrink cysts, they do ease your discomfort. At-home strategies like heat therapy and stretching help relieve pressure and reduce pain from ovarian cysts. These are symptom-focused tools, not treatments for the cyst itself. Still, if you're in pain, these methods help you feel more in control and less anxious.

• Pain relief is more effective when you target tight muscles — Ovarian cyst pain often leads to muscle tension in your lower back, stomach or thighs. Massaging these areas reduces the surrounding tightness and improves your comfort.7 Other options include warm compresses or alternating heat and ice packs to loosen muscles and improve blood flow, both of which reduce the perception of pain.
  
• Movement is medicine, especially if your cysts are linked to PCOS — A systematic review found that regular exercise, especially when combined with dietary changes, had a stronger impact on PCOS symptom relief than diet alone.8 Daily walking is important, and yoga is another good place to start. It reduces stress hormones, increases flexibility, and supports hormonal regulation, all of which help if your cysts are tied to hormonal imbalance.
  
• Relaxation techniques go a long way toward managing pain — Stress amplifies pain, and cyst-related anxiety makes everything feel worse. Gentle exercises like slow breathing, guided meditation and yoga movements help interrupt pain signals and calm your nervous system.
• Chamomile and ginger tea help your hormones — Chamomile helps reduce menstrual cramps and inflammation. It also lowers testosterone levels, which are often elevated in women with PCOS.9,10 Ginger supports this process by reducing inflammation and helping balance reproductive hormones.11 These herbal teas help support hormonal recovery at the root level.

How to Support Your Ovaries and Stop Cysts from Coming Back

If you've been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, or if you're dealing with recurring ones, the next step isn't just managing the pain. You need to focus on the root cause. Whether your cysts are tied to hormone imbalance, diet or environmental exposures, the goal is to create a body environment where those cysts don't keep forming.

I want to help you take back control by giving you practical, no-nonsense steps that target what's really going on under the surface. To begin rebuilding your hormonal foundation from the inside out, here's where I recommend you start:

1. Eliminate vegetable oils from your diet — Stop eating LA in vegetable oils like canola, sunflower, corn, soybean, and grapeseed oil. These oils are marketed as healthy, but they act like synthetic estrogens inside your body.

They overstimulate your ovaries and fuel cyst development, even causing atrophy and congestion in ovarian tissue. Stop cooking with them. Stop eating processed foods made with them. Swap them out for saturated fats like tallow, ghee or grass fed butter.

2. If you have PCOS, fix the root issue — don't just manage the symptoms — PCOS is driven by hormonal chaos, especially insulin resistance and excess androgens like testosterone. To start correcting it, you'll need to move your body regularly — walking, stretching, and strength training all count.

You'll also want to eliminate endocrine-disrupting chemicals and foods from your routine. That means cutting out plastic containers, personal care products with phthalates, and anything containing seed oils.

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are also common among PCOS patients. Get regular daily sunlight to optimize your vitamin D — but avoid peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) until you've cut back on LA for at least six months. These changes will reduce cyst formation and help bring your hormones back into balance.

3. Consider using natural progesterone to restore balance — If your cysts are tied to hormone imbalances, especially high estrogen, natural progesterone offers a powerful, targeted solution. Progesterone directly counteracts the effects of excess estrogen and helps normalize your cycle.

A 2020 study found that "cyclic progesterone for PCOS lowers androgens and restores estradiol-progesterone balance."12 Used correctly, natural progesterone supports ovulation, reduces cyst formation and brings your hormones back into sync, without the side effects of synthetic options.

4. Take the guesswork out of your insulin status — If your cysts are connected to PCOS, there's a good chance you're insulin resistant, even if your blood sugar looks normal. Ask your practitioner for a test called HOMA-IR, short for Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance.

This test looks at both fasting insulin and glucose to show how well your body is processing sugar. If your score is above 1.0, it's time to clean up your carb quality, lower LA intake and focus on blood sugar stability.

5. Use pain relief and movement to stay consistent while you heal — If your cyst is causing you pain, don't wait it out in bed. Use a warm compress on your abdomen to increase blood flow. Massage the surrounding areas, especially your lower back and thighs.

Gentle yoga or walking helps keep your hormones moving in the right direction and stops muscle tension from making things worse. The goal is to stay active and consistent, not push through unbearable pain.

FAQs About Ovarian Cysts
Q: What causes ovarian cysts, and are they dangerous?

A: Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that often form during ovulation. Most are harmless and resolve on their own. However, some cysts grow large, rupture or twist the ovary, which causes intense pain and requires emergency surgery. In rare cases, complex cysts, especially those with solid components, are a sign of ovarian cancer.

Q: Do vegetable oils really affect your ovaries?

A: Yes. Research shows that vegetable oils high in LA, such as canola and sunflower oil, act like xenoestrogens — compounds that mimic estrogen in your body. These oils trigger ovarian atrophy, hormonal disruption and the development of cysts, even without raising conventional hormone markers. Eliminating these oils is a key first step in protecting ovarian health.

Q: What's the link between PCOS and ovarian cysts?

A: PCOS is a hormonal disorder that causes irregular periods, high androgens (like testosterone), insulin resistance and the formation of multiple small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS is a root cause of recurring cysts and is strongly influenced by lifestyle factors like diet, movement and exposure to environmental toxins.

Q: Are there natural ways to relieve cyst-related pain and symptoms?

A: Yes. Heat therapy, massage, and gentle movement like yoga ease pelvic pressure and reduce pain. Herbal teas like chamomile and ginger help lower inflammation and balance hormones. These remedies won't shrink the cyst itself but do improve your comfort and support hormonal healing while you address the root cause.

Q: What's the best way to stop ovarian cysts from coming back?

A: Start by removing dietary sources of linoleic acid (vegetable oils), addressing insulin resistance through a blood test like HOMA-IR and cleaning up environmental hormone disruptors. If you have PCOS, support your body with regular movement, consider natural progesterone and focus on hormone-friendly habits like drinking herbal teas and managing stress.

Sources and References

1, 2 TIME May 13, 2025
3 Gynecology October 2024, Volume 231, Issue 4, P440.E1-440.E7
4 Cleveland Clinic, Ovarian Cysts
5 Environmental Science and Pollution Research February 2022;29(6):9153-9163
6 To Extract Knowledge from Matter
7, 9 Medical News Today, Home remedies for ovarian cyst symptoms
8 Syst Rev. 2019 Feb 12;8:51
10 J Res Med Sci. 2018 Apr 26;23:33
11 Front Nutr. 2022 Nov 29;9:1071515
12 Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models, Volume 32, Part B, Winter 2020, Pages 71-82, Highlights

From https://greenmedinfo.com/content/infertility-miracle-study-shows-100-success-rate-pennies-day-magnesium-and-sel

A landmark study published in Magnesium Research in 1994 delivered stunning results: 100% of women with unexplained infertility who participated in the trial conceived and delivered healthy babies after normalizing their red blood cell (RBC) magnesium levels. The intervention involved 600 mg of magnesium daily, and in cases where RBC levels remained low, an additional 200 mcg of selenium was added. No IVF. No pharmaceutical interventions. Just mineral repletion restoring natural fertility.[1&91;

What makes this study so revolutionary is not just its success rate--it's that it required no invasive procedures, no patentable drugs, and no advanced diagnostics. It offered a low-cost, universally accessible solution to a medical mystery, making it all the more ironic that it has remained largely overlooked for decades.

How It Worked: Study Design and Results

Participants initially received magnesium supplementation. For those who failed to achieve adequate intracellular magnesium, selenium was introduced. This synergistic approach led to full normalization of magnesium status, after which every woman in the study conceived within eight months. All pregnancies led to healthy births--an astonishing outcome in any fertility trial.

The trial's strength lies in its design: the researchers measured RBC magnesium, a more accurate marker of long-term intracellular levels than the commonly used serum test. By focusing on functional mineral sufficiency rather than arbitrary clinical cut-offs, they achieved results that pharmaceuticals and procedures often fail to deliver.

Why You Haven't Heard of This Before

Despite its extraordinary implications, this study has received little attention. Why? Its simplicity and affordability pose a direct challenge to a fertility industry worth billions. Unlike IVF and pharmaceutical regimens, magnesium and selenium are inexpensive, unpatentable, and not promoted by medical conglomerates. In a system driven by profit margins, such findings are often quietly shelved.

This phenomenon is not isolated to fertility. Across healthcare, interventions that cannot be monetized at scale are ignored or dismissed, regardless of efficacy. The 1994 magnesium study represents not only a scientific breakthrough but a sobering critique of a system that places profit above prevention.

Action Plan: A Simple, Low-Risk Fertility Protocol

For practitioners and patients alike, the steps are straightforward:

• Conduct RBC magnesium testing
• Begin 600 mg daily magnesium supplementation
• Reevaluate after four months
• If needed, add 200 mcg selenium
• Continue until optimal levels are reached and conception occurs

This is not a silver bullet, but a systems-based approach. It recognizes that fertility emerges from health, not manipulation. When the terrain is supported, the body remembers how to heal and conceive.

References

1. R. F. Picciano et al., "Magnesium and selenium in unexplained female infertility: a pilot study," Magnesium Research, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 49-57, 1994. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8054261/

2. Piovesan, D., et al. "3,751 magnesium binding sites have been detected on human proteins." BMC Bioinformatics(2012). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3565133/

3. "7 Reasons to Get More Magnesium," GreenMedInfo. www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/7-reasons-get-more-magnesium

4. "Magnesium - Research Dashboard," GreenMedInfo. www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/magnesium

The European Union restricts ingredients linked to cancer and infertility that remain legal in US personal care products

By NuNu Japaridze , Rich Edson Fox News

Published July 31, 2025 4:15pm EDT

Toxic chemicals in everyday products cause alarm amid minimal U.S. regulation

From shampoo and sunscreen to tampons, many personal care products on American shelves contain chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, and hormone disruption—ingredients that are banned or restricted in the European Union and other countries. Despite these alarming associations, no federal law in the U.S. requires companies to disclose potentially harmful ingredients. Only California mandates limited transparency, leaving most Americans in the dark about what they’re putting on—and absorbing into—their bodies.

For Tiah Tomlin-Harris, a two-time survivor of triple-negative breast cancer, that lack of transparency was a wake-up call. Diagnosed before age 40 with no genetic predisposition, Tomlin-Harris began asking hard questions: Where is this coming from? Genetic testing came back negative, placing her among the 80–90% of breast cancer patients whose illness isn’t linked to family history. Her background as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry gave her a unique perspective—and a critical eye for labels.

The Yuka app, pictured here, rates products for chemical safety—filling a regulatory gap that leaves most Americans in the dark. (Fox News Digital)

"I started to dig into the causations," she told FOX. "The first thing I did was remove every single product in my house—from hair care to dish detergent. I went back to grandma’s remedies—baking soda, vinegar—because I didn’t know what was safe anymore." As she researched, she realized just how many widely used beauty and hygiene products are packed with potentially harmful chemicals.

While Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pushed for the removal of toxic additives in processed foods, he has yet to tackle the personal care industry. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary admits the agency is in a "deregulatory mindset," saying, "[We’ve&91; been regulating too much."

Mobile tools are giving shoppers more control in the grocery aisle - especially as concerns mount over hidden chemical exposures. (Getty)

"That mindset has led to an explosion of consumer-driven tools like Yuka and Clearya, apps that scan barcodes and analyze ingredient safety. "Most people are shocked," said Julie Chapon, Yuka’s co-founder. "They assume green packaging means safety."

Tomlin-Harris emphasized the disproportionate impact on women of color, particularly Black women. "We spend nine times more on beauty products than any other demographic, yet these products often contain the most harmful ingredients—parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, benzene. These aren’t just linked to cancer. They’re weakening chemotherapy drugs. They’re disrupting hormones. They’re impacting fertility—for men and women."

A Consumer Reports investigation found carcinogens in 10 of the top braiding hair brands, many of which are marketed to Black women and girls.

American consumers are taking product safety into their own hands, one barcode at a time. (Wavebreakmedia)

Janet Nudelman, Director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, agrees that consumers are often left choosing "between protecting against skin cancer versus increasing their risk of breast cancer" because of harmful ingredients. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, whose studies highlight the health hazards of common chemicals, called the current system "rigged to produce chemical exposures that are toxic to our hormones." The consequences, he warns, are societal: higher healthcare costs and lifelong reproductive and developmental health problems.

The federal government is slowly responding. The Safer Beauty Bill package, reintroduced in Congress, seeks to ban toxic ingredients, increase ingredient disclosure and protect vulnerable populations like hairstylists, nail technicians, and women of color. But for now, consumers are largely left to protect themselves.

FDA Commissioner Makary insists change is coming: "We're doing an inventory of all chemicals in the food supply to see how we can make it safer." Still, advocacy groups say the U.S. is far behind the EU in regulating cosmetic safety.

Industry representatives push back. The Personal Care Products Council asserts: "PCPC and our member companies are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of safety, quality and transparency."

From produce to personal care, advocates like Tiah Tomlin-Harris say it’s time for full-label transparency in the U.S. (iStock)

But for advocates like Tomlin-Harris, promises aren’t enough. "This isn’t just a women’s issue," she said. "It’s a people’s issue. Men are affected. Children are affected. Our entire population is being exposed to chemicals we didn’t consent to, and we’re paying the price."

Her message is clear: "We need transparency. We need regulation. And we need accountability from the companies creating these products. It’s time to detox our routines, demand safer alternatives and prioritize our health."

• The documentary "Pretty Toxic" highlights real-life cases of severe health consequences from using seemingly harmless personal care products, emphasizing the need for stronger safety regulations
• The U.S. cosmetics industry operates under minimal regulation, with outdated laws from 1938 and no FDA authority to recall dangerous products, posing health risks to consumers
• Common ingredients in personal care products, such as phthalates, parabens and formaldehyde, have been linked to serious health issues including cancer, reproductive problems and hormone disruption
• Environmental concerns arise from personal care product chemicals entering water systems, with sunscreen pollution significantly impacting marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs
• Consumers can make informed choices using resources like EWG's Skin Deep database, while supporting companies prioritizing safety and transparency, and advocating for stronger regulations and green chemistry education.

See the video:

• One scientist believes up to 40% of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures may be unnecessary if a woman's low progesterone levels are treated. In response to her own struggle with miscarriages, Amy Galliher-Beckley, Ph.D., designed a urine test for progesterone metabolites she believes will help women avoid IVF
• Progesterone and estrogen are two important hormones that affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant and support a pregnancy. Beckley found she could conduct a simple urine test to evaluate the presence of progesterone metabolites, necessary to develop a healthy uterine lining
• When there isn't enough progesterone produced and secreted the condition is called Luteal Phase Defect, which affects the menstrual cycle after ovulation and until pregnancy or menstruation. Progesterone may be affected by anorexia, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome and high levels of exercise
• Factors over which a woman has control include smoking, eating well and avoiding excessive alcohol. One factor affecting fertility over which a woman does not have control is sperm count, which has declined by up to 60% in North America since 1973

Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published September 18, 2019.

Your entire body takes direction from your hormones. Hormones are secreted by your endocrine system and are responsible for telling your organs what to do and when to do it.1 They are essentially chemical messengers that travel throughout your bloodstream, working slowly over time to affect processes like growth and development, metabolism and reproduction.

Sometimes, these chemical messengers may get out of balance, and this leads to chronic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes, weak bones and infertility.2 Hormones may be secreted by your adrenal glands, endocrine-related organs, hypothalamus, sex glands and other organs.3

Progesterone is important to fertility and supporting a pregnancy. It’s a steroid hormone secreted by the corpus luteum and then by the placenta if you become pregnant.4 In some cases, when couples suffer from infertility, they choose in vitro fertilization (IVF).

This is a complex series of procedures in which eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilized by sperm in a lab and then transferred into the uterus.5 One full cycle can take up to three weeks6 and cost $12,000.7 In response to her struggles with infertility, Amy Galliher-Beckley, Ph.D.,8 co-founded MFB Fertility and the progesterone test Proov.9

The Estrogen and Progesterone Relationship

Each of your bodily systems maintains a balance to help you maintain optimal health. Your reproductive system is no different. For a woman, there are several hormones affecting a complex system to mature an egg follicle and release an egg where it travels to the uterus. If fertilized, the egg must implant into the uterus, called the endometrium, where it begins to develop into a baby.

These events are controlled by hormones secreted from several sources in the body. The ovaries produce the eggs and are the main source of estrogen. The adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney and also make a small amount. Estrogen plays a role in physical changes during puberty; it also controls the menstrual cycle, protects bone health and affects your mood.10

The second hormone essential to fertility is progesterone, a steroid hormone that is first secreted by the corpus luteum. After the egg is released, the corpus luteum is left attached to the ovary, which functions as a temporary gland.11 These two hormones are controlled by the release of other hormones.

During the menstrual cycle gonadotropin-releasing hormone is secreted from the hypothalamus, triggering the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland.12 This begins follicle development and triggers a rise in estrogen.

Luteinizing hormone (LH), also secreted by the pituitary gland, supports the maturation of the follicle and a trigger to cause the egg to be released. When estrogen levels get sufficiently high it signals a sudden release of LH, around mid-cycle, which triggers a set of events that ultimately release the mature egg from the follicle.13

Once released, the empty follicle becomes the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. The release of progesterone triggers the uterus to develop a highly vascularized bed suitable for implantation of a fertilized egg.

Without fertilization, the corpus luteum begins to degenerate, the secretion of progesterone drops off and menstruation occurs. If pregnancy occurs then the corpus luteum produces progesterone for the first 10 weeks until production is taken over by the placenta.14,15

Not About Getting Pregnant, but Staying Pregnant

As Beckley explains in her interview with Forbes magazine,16 her test is not about getting pregnant, but rather staying pregnant. Progesterone not only prepares the uterus for the egg to implant; it also protects the endometrium from degeneration and menstruation. While the body is producing high levels of progesterone during a pregnancy, a second egg will not mature.17

In order to maintain a pregnancy, the corpus luteum must continue to secrete progesterone. This maintains the blood vessels in the endometrium to feed the growing baby. It is in these early weeks that women with low levels of progesterone may have difficulty, both conceiving and developing the right environment for a fertilized egg to grow.

Some women who do get pregnant are at a high risk for miscarriage.18 The test Beckley developed comes with sticks used in much the same way ovulation and pregnancy tests are used. These sticks measure the amount of progesterone metabolites excreted in the urine. To date, this is the first at-home, over-the-counter test used to evaluate a woman's ability to produce progesterone.19 Beckley explains:20

"Low progesterone is the number one cause of unexplained infertility. Women who go through IVF protocols all are offered progesterone. If you are not going through IVF, most doctors don't talk about progesterone, they don't offer progesterone, they don't test for progesterone. When your progesterone crashes too quickly, it is called a luteal phase defect."

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Luteal Phase Defect Increases Chances of Miscarriage

The luteal phase in a woman's cycle begins after ovulation and represents the second half of the menstrual cycle. The luteal phase is named after the corpus luteum. Luteal Phase Defect (LPD) results in an abnormal endometrial growth that may not support a pregnancy.21,22

While researchers struggle to identify the underlying dysfunction and efficacy of LPD in supporting fertility, experts report women undergoing IVF always have LPD present.23 LPD is marked with a luteal phase less than 11 days. However, not all physicians believe the condition exists; reliable tests are lacking.24

Beckley developed the Proov urine test to help women identify a reduction in progesterone during their cycle. According to Beckley,25 her test gives women more knowledge about how their body works and provides a foundation for asking their infertility doctors better questions.

The test measures the presence of metabolites in the urine that should increase and remain elevated after ovulation. It may be used to confirm ovulation and confirm levels of progesterone afterward. A single negative test before ovulation followed by a single positive test will confirm ovulation for women trying to get pregnant.26

For women trying to conceive, the test is recommended four days after peak fertility and then for continued testing 10 days past ovulation.27 When questions arise about levels of progesterone to maintain a pregnancy, they recommend testing six days after peak fertility and as needed during the pregnancy since the test should remain positive.

Other Functions of Progesterone

Although LPD has a significant impact on a woman's ability to carry a pregnancy, it is the subject of debate.28 In some cases, the ovaries release enough progesterone but the uterine lining does not respond.29 LPD has been linked to other health conditions, including:30

In some circumstances, when these conditions are treated, the LPD resolves.31 Later in life, if levels of progesterone decline, a woman’s period may become irregular, heavier and longer,32 increasing her chance of experiencing anemia, depending on the amount and length of her period.33

Variations in hormone levels after menopause may also influence cognition and mood.34 In a study of 643 healthy postmenopausal women, researchers found that while estrogen had little effect on tests of executive function or global cognition, progesterone concentrations were associated with verbal memory. The researchers suggest this positive association merits additional study.

Bioidentical progesterone, also known as micronized progesterone in the oral form, has been successful in helping relieve hot flashes and night sweats during menopause. Dr. Jerilynn Prior from the University of British Columbia Vancouver presented her study at an endocrine society meeting during which she compared the use of progesterone to placebo.35

The study assigned 114 postmenopausal women into one of two groups, a placebo group and another who took 300 mg of micronized oral progesterone daily. To be eligible for the study, the women had to be off hormone therapy for at least six months.36

At the end of the 12-week study, researchers found that the group taking micronized progesterone demonstrated a 56% decrease in a score reflecting the number and intensity of symptoms, while the women taking the placebo reported a 28% decrease.37

Age Does Affect Hormone Balance

As is borne out by the number of women struggling with hormonal imbalances as they age and those requiring fertility assistance to become pregnant after 40,38 Beckley is vocal about the difficulty women may have supporting a pregnancy after she turns 40.39

Beckley says,40 “The closer a woman gets to menopause, the least likely her body is going to be able to support a pregnancy.” Much of this is related to the imbalance of hormones required to successfully support a pregnancy that occurs as women age.

Her research in designing the progesterone urine test led Beckley to believe 30% to 40% of women who undergo IVF treatment to become pregnant ultimately do not need IVF.41 Instead, they may require progesterone to develop a healthy endometrial lining and support early pregnancy.

Overall Fertility Is on the Decline

Couples experience infertility for a number of reasons. In a study42 released in 2017, researchers evaluated 38 years of information and found sperm counts declined significantly between 1973 and 2011. The sperm counts declined 52% to 59% in men located in North America, Europe and Australia.

The Australian Department of Health reports 1 in every 6 Australian couples suffers from fertility problems, which they attribute to the decision to have children later in life as well as declining sperm count. Quality and lifestyle factors such as smoking, not eating healthfully, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol and not having a healthy BMI also affect fertility.43

In May 2019, the Pew Research Center reported that for the fourth year in a row, key fertility indicators for U.S. couples declined, reaching a record low.44 Two of the three indicators used to determine fertility reflected a decline in numbers.

The total fertility rate, or the estimation of the number of children a woman would have in her lifetime, was 1.73 children in 2018. This was lower than the estimate of 1.74 from the mid-1970s.45 Research suggests men’s fertility is affected by environmental toxins and chemicals you may find in your own home.

Additionally, statistics from the CDC show the number of new births was down 2% in 2018 as compared to 2017, but the number of premature births was rising. Infertility and pregnancy are complex conditions that likely need a comprehensive approach to experience a successful outcome.

• 1,2 Hormone Health Network
• 3 Hormone Health Network, Glands And Hormones A to Z
• 4,11,17,18 Hormone Health Network, What Is Progesterone?
• 5,6 Mayo Clinic, In Vitro Fertilization
• 7 Forbes Magazine, February 6, 2014
• 8 F6S, Amy Galliher-Beckley
• 9,16,19,20,25,39,40,41 Forbes Magazine, September 3, 2019
• 10 Hormone Health Network, What Is Estrogen?
• 12,13,14 University of California San Francisco
• 15 You and Your Hormones, Placenta
• 21 Resolve, Luteal Phase Defect
• 22,28,29,30 Pacific Fertility Center Los Angeles
• 23 Journal Of Ovarian Research, 2015;8:77
• 24,31 Northeastern Reproductive Medicine
• 26,27 PROOV, How Do Proov Tests Work?
• 32 The North American Menopause Society, Changes in Hormone Levels
• 33 Arizona OBGYN Affiliates
• 34 PNAS, 2013 doi: 10.1073/pnas.1312353110
• 35,36,37 The Endocrine Society June 25, 2010
• 38 Virginia Physicians for Women
• 42 Human Reproduction Update, 2017; 23(6): 646, Outcomes, Wider Implications
• 43 Fertility SA, January 11th, 2018
• 44,45 Pew Research Center, May 22, 2019

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This is perplexing in that lab animal's diets are strictly controlled. The lab animals had no significant change in either activity or diet.

Xenoestrogens, or "FrankenEstrogens" are being implicated in the steady increase of weight of all these animals. Leonardo Trasande at New York University School of Medicine tested BPA levels in the urine in 2,835 American children and teen. High levels of BPA were correlated with a 5 times more likely chance of being obese.

BPA is Bisphenol A. BPA is an additive in plastics and varnishes that prevents breakdown of the plastics. BPA is a xenoestrogens.

Estrogen, in general, tells the body to store up fat for the upcoming pregnancy.

See the article here: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-obesity-era?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Another article on obesity.

Naysayers point out that nanograms are very small.  One nanogram is one billionth of a gram.

However, these chemicals are concerning because they are hormonally active.  Hormones are active at extremely tiny amounts.  For instance, a normal estradiol level in a human female is 0.1 parts per billion or 0.1 ng/mL.  Oxybenzone was found on day 4 after application to be 180 ng/mL.  Thus, the oxybenzone is 1800 times the concentration of estradiol in a woman!!!!

I really can't understand how any naysayer in their right mind can say that this is fine and simply say that the oxybenzone concentration is too small to be considered.  Oxybenzone mimics estrogen.  Oxybenzone is a xenoestrogen.  Oxybenzone is a "Franken" Estrogen.  Is anybody listening?

The oxybenzone is 1800 times the concentration of estradiol in a woman from a routine application of sunscreen that contains oxybenzone.

This is the structure of oxybenzone.  Oxybenzone is a xenoestrogen.

This is the structure of estradiol.  Estradiol is your own native women's hormone that your body produces.

Magaret Schlumpf and her fellow researchers at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at University of Zurich in Switzerland found that many of the active chemicals used in sunscreens act as "Franken" Estrogens.[1&91;  She and her team tested six chemicals commonly used in cosmetics as sunscreens.  Five of the six of them tested positive for mimicking strong estrogen.  They caused cancer cells to grow rapidly in the lab. These chemicals were:

benzophenone-3, homosalate, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate and octyl-dimethyl-PABA

Only one chemical butyl-methoxydibenzoylmethane (B-MDM) did not show any activity. 4-MBC a common ingredient in sunscreen caused a doubling of the rate of uterine growth far before puberty.  The 4-MBC was mixed with olive oil and applied to the rat skin.  Schlumpf was taken aback by this result because these were concentrations that are well within the concentrations allowed for sunscreen.  She commented that 3 out of the 6 chemicals caused developmental aberrations in the animals.

A major cause of infertility in America is endometriosis.  Exposure to excessive estrogen causes endometriosis.  Could sunscreen be contributing to endometriosis?

Here is a more review recent article on the endocrine disruption of different chemicals used in sunscreen.[2&91;

Notes:

1.  Schlumpf , Margaret; Beata Cotton, Marianne Conscience, Vreni Haller, Beate Steinmann, Walter Lichtensteiger. In vitro and in vivo estrogenicity of UV screens. Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 109 (March 2001) pp 239-244.

2. Jiaying Wang, Liumeng Pan, Shenggan Wu, Liping Lu, Yiwen Xu, Yanye Zhu, Ming Guo, and Shulin Zhuang, Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Aug; 13(8): 782.

Published online 2016 Aug 3. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13080782

You can read about the articles here:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7911979/Sunscreen-chemicals-concentrations-blood-360-TIMES-higher-FDA-threshold.html

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-01-21/sunscreen-chemicals-absorbed-into-body-study-finds

Well, it turns out that minute amounts of chemicals found in common sunscreens were acting as hormones that stopped coral from growing.  And these chemicals at the levels that were being used by beach goers in Hawaii were actually impairing the growth of the coral.  So, Hawaii banned those chemicals in sunscreens for the good of the reef.

Palau has followed suit with Hawaii in agreement with the science.  

Palau's President Tommy Remengesau stated: "We have to live and respect the environment because the environment is the nest of life."

Mr Remengesau told the AFP news agency: "When science tells us that a practice is damaging to coral reefs, to fish populations, or to the ocean itself, our people take note and our visitors do too.

"Toxic sunscreen chemicals have been found throughout Palau's critical habitats, and in the tissues of our most famous creatures.

"We don't mind being the first nation to ban these chemicals, and we will do our part to spread the word."

Here is a nice graphic on how Endocrine Disruptors work:

A hormone is simply a "Chemical Messenger".  Normally, normal hormones produced by the human body attach to Hormone Receptors in the cell.  

However, a Hormone Mimic may actually attach to the cell receptors instead.  The Hormone Mimics are the purple diamonds in the picture above.  Note that these Hormone Mimics are NOT the original Normal Hormones.  The Hormone Mimics do NOT appear on the blood or saliva test.  This means that doing a hormone test by saliva or blood canNOT detect Hormone Mimics.

In the third picture, chemicals and herbs may also be Hormone Blockers.  These Hormone Blockers block any Cellular Response of the cell.

Here is a very nice video of an explanation of Endocrine Disruptors in our daily life.