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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Are Prometrium And Progesterone Recommended To Treat Congenital Hearing Loss?

I am a female who is almost 62 years old, and I have taken HRT (Vivelle Dot .05 twice-weekly patch and Prometrium (now, generic Progesterone) 100mg. daily since Nov. 2005; I started taking it because: 1) I have low frequency congenital hearing loss which was first diagnosed by hearing testing at age 31; my hearing stayed the same until I was post-menopausal for several years (around age 53); 2) my eye pressure, which was normal all my life, also started going up (from normal 13/14 in each eye to 20/21 in each eye) and I had to be monitored for possible glaucoma (no family history). Since being on HRT, my eye pressure stabilized and actually went down to 17/18; and my hearing stabilized, too; until the past two years or so. For the past 5 years I took a lower dose of progesterone (about 13 doses monthly) since I had gotten in touch in 2008 with a university researcher (neuroscientist) whose specialty was a correlation between progesterone use and hearing loss. He thought progesterone/progestin (synthetic) causes hearing loss. My prescribing OB/GYN said it was OK (he s now retired). But now that I am older, my hearing has gotten a bit worse in the high-mid-level ranges. My question to you is: since I d taken HRT, in the first place, to stave off both increased hearing loss and increasing eye pressure (it seemed to work); now I am afraid that my progesterone use is causing my hearing loss. It is hard to tell whether my increased hearing difficulties are caused by my genes, old age setting in, and/or the progesterone use - or a combination of all three!! I know it s a hard question, but I d like to know what, if any, other info you might have on hearing loss and HRT progesterone use. It is difficult to find such information, and very few studies have been done. I am sure there are estrogen receptors in the auditory system and the eyes; another researcher as a university said that even a small amount of estrogen for post menopausal women is good for the brain. My OB/GYN told me that he read a study that estrogen staves off macular degeneration. Both hearing lose, glaucoma and macular degernation are all age-related diseases. Thank you for any insight you may be able to give me!
Fri, 14 Mar 2014
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ENT Specialist 's  Response
Hi madam, good question,
Your hearing loss is because of all the 3 reasons which u have mentioned.
Less likely to be because of progesterone.
All these hormonal treatment doesnt csuse hearing loss. It rather keeps the condition of the ear in better way.
Aging and pre existing disease has caused this.
Whst ever may be thd reason using heating aid is yhr wise decision tk prevent from further damage.
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Are Prometrium And Progesterone Recommended To Treat Congenital Hearing Loss?

Hi madam, good question, Your hearing loss is because of all the 3 reasons which u have mentioned. Less likely to be because of progesterone. All these hormonal treatment doesnt csuse hearing loss. It rather keeps the condition of the ear in better way. Aging and pre existing disease has caused this. Whst ever may be thd reason using heating aid is yhr wise decision tk prevent from further damage.