From:Progesterone - the Natural Hormone

[Guest guest]

" Progesterone - the Natural Hormone " JoAnn Guest Jun 28, 2005 18:16 PDT

 

by Kimberley Paterson

 

Progesterone -What its all about

 

Some of the most exciting work in terms of real solutions to health

problems comes from biochemists and scientists who are coming to

grips with the healing power of plants.

 

This new movement understands that nature herself can help without too

much of mankind's tinkering.

 

My 1995 trip to England took me on to Europe where I met a young

Danish biochemist deeply involved in this kind of work, a perfect

example of anenlightened new breed of scientific researcher.

His passion is the power he finds in organically grown plant compounds,

" natural remedies " he takes and enhances with modern technology to

create a whole new gender of natural remedy: a veritable 'super

botanical' for the 21st century.

 

The beauty of his work lies not only in marrying the best of ancient

plant wisdom with the best of our modern age, but in that he is a

scientist with a spiritual consciousness, aware of the profound

impact people like him can have on the future health of humankind.

 

Natural progesterone, too, has its genesis in both worlds:

the diosgnenin plant compound from the wild yam (discorea villosa and

dioscorea mexicana) is converted in a three-stage laboratory process to

a molecule that is " nature identical " .

 

(Disogenin is a " plant sterol " , a substance closely " related " to human

steroid hormones).

Nature identical or " bio-identical " means that the molecule is " exactly "

 

 

the same as the progesterone that is made in the human body.

 

Because natural progesterone is nature identical, the body can use it

and " tolerate " it exactly as it would our own progesterone.

 

Diosgenin from wild yams is also used by the pharmaceutical industry

as the starting block in the " creation " of synthetic oestrogen and

progestogens.

 

What then is the difference between synthetic and nature identical?

Slight " variations " in the structure of the atoms in a molecule.

 

It sounds simple enough;

one set of processing techniques takes you to a nature identical

hormone, the other to a synthetic hormone. One matches the hormone in

our body exactly: the other is " similar " but not the same.

 

These " slight variations " lead to big differences in the effect these

molecules have on our bodies.

 

Every year we learn more and more about hormones and how exquisitely

" fined-tuned " and " sensitive " they are.

We now know that hormones fit into " receptor sites " all over the human

body in a process described as

a 'key fitting into a lock'.

 

When this happens it's as though a cell door swings open and the hormone

 

relays its " chemical message " into

that cell... a master plan at the edges of human understanding all going

 

on without a single thought from us.

 

When you think about the perfect design of the human eco-system, it's

little wonder that " foreign substances " wreak such internal damage.

Most modern 'life-saving' drugs come with lists of " adverse reactions "

and side-effects.

 

Synthetic oestrogens are strongly linked with uterine and breast cancer;

 

synthetic progestogens with blood clots, changes in vision, irregular

bleeding.

 

If nature identical hormones gives such " good results " with few

associated problems, why not just " formulate " natural hormones and be

done with it?

 

'It is a sad commentary on the pursuit of profit over women's

well being that the pharmaceutical companies take perfectly good

natural hormones that our bodies know and can use them,

creating " synthetic compounds " with similar hormonal effects

but " toxic " side-effects.' -

 

Dr John Lee- Well, that's the rub. Pharmaceutical companies are

businesses that exist to return a profit and it doesn't make sound

commercial sense for them to work with " nature identical " hormones.

 

Why not?

 

Because the system we've created means it costs vast sums of money to

put a new drug on the market, literally millions.

 

To expend that kind of money on development,research, manufacturing and

trialing a new product,pharmaceutical companies have to know that they

'own' the " molecular structure " and technology for a certain length of

time so they can get

a return and profit on their investment.

 

That's why patents exist. A new molecule can be 'patented', in effect

owned for a certain number of years so the company can market

and sell it's product without competition.

 

Natural hormones can't be " owned " .

Therefore it doesn't make financial sense for pharmaceutical

companies to expend the huge resources required to create " nature

identical " molecules when, at any time, a competitor could do the same

thing and the money would be lost.

 

That's why HRT and the oral contraceptive pill are so very familiar

to us and to the medical profession (you can be sure that

pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money ensuring doctors know

all about their products).

 

That's why the information about " natural progesterone " comes to us from

 

the very small band of doctors who have been prescribing it and from the

 

women who have been taking it over the past two decades.

 

Natural hormones aren't allocated big advertising budgets, slick

promotions and glossy advertisement campaigns to " inform " the medical

profession about them.

That's why chances are your doctor knows little or nothing about natural

 

progesterone.

 

We are beginning to hear about natural progesterone and the other

" bio-identical " hormones because doctors like Katherina Dalton, Ray Peat

 

and

John Lee spent years in research, trying to understand their

potential and gradually introduce them to their patients.

 

It's good news for us now, but sobering to think how many women have

suffered needlessly - not to mention died - from decades of " adverse

reactions " to synthetic " copies " .

 

" We know that we don't have as many studies on bio-identical

hormones as we have on synthetic hormones.

We know that the whole reason for that is because of patent issues; the

pharmaceutical house has to make a " molecule "

that is not bio-identical.'

 

- Dr Christiane Northrup.

 

=====================================================================

 

Suzanne Somers, Bioidentical Hormones: by John Lee

 

 

http://www.johnleemd.com/store/hormones_somers.html

Some good reading and some misconceptions about natural, " bioidentical "

hormones.

 

In her book The Sexy Years, Suzanne Somers has done a wonderful job

describing the perils of the hormonal imbalances that menopause can

bring, and she has certainly put natural, bioidentical hormones on the

map with media appearances on everything from Home Shopping Network to

the Larry King Show.

 

" The Sexy Years " is a good read, with plenty of personal stories,

helpful descriptions of how hormones work, and some interesting

interviews with physicians who use bioidentical hormones in their

medical practices.

 

In particular, Somers draws from her friend, Dr. Diana Schwarzbein

(author of The Schwarzbein Principle), an endocrinologist who uses

natural, bioidentical hormones.

 

Dr. Schwarzbein has drawn heavily from Dr. Lee’s work over the years,

and they even " borrowed " a slightly altered version of his Three Rules

for Hormone Replacement for Somers’ book, which you can find in the

original on this website

 

(http://www.johnleemd.com/thruforusbih.html).

 

Pregnancy, Hormones and Health

Somers does seem to have some " misconceptions " about a few important

issues. When referring to natural, bioidentical hormones, she states

that,

" These hormones are not available in health food stores or from

naturalists or herbalists. "

 

In truth, estrogen and testosterone are only available by prescription

from a doctor,

 

but progesterone cream is easily available at most health food stores

and on the web.

 

Another statement Somers makes is that,

“Postmenopausal women should not be mimicking pregnancy since the risks

associated with pregnancy (heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and

breast cancer) increase exponentially with age.”

 

Scharwzbein reiterates this in her interview, but unfortunately does not

 

explain her theory.

 

While a few pregnant women are susceptible to gestational diabetes and

eclampsia (high blood pressure), this doesn’t mean that the hormones of

pregnancy directly cause these problems.

 

In fact, the majority of women are radiantly healthy during their last

trimester of pregnancy, when hormones are the highest.

 

Pregnancy hormones may cause a flare-up of a breast cancer tumor that

was already established, but long term, one of the best-established

factors that lowers the risk of breast cancer is pregnancy. In fact, the

 

earlier a woman gets pregnant, and the more pregnancies she has, the

lower her risk of breast cancer.

 

For details on hormones and breast cancer, with extensive

documentation, please read " What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About

Breast Cancer " .

 

You Don’t have to have Periods to Have Postmenopausal Hormone Balance

 

It is very true that postmenopausal women do not want to be mimicking

pregnancy by using high doses of bioidentical hormones continuously,

without a break, and Somers and Schwarzbein make a good case for this in

 

The Sexy Years.

 

As Dr. Lee frequently pointed out, it’s important to take a break from

hormones for a week or so each month. That way, if there is any buildup

of tissue in the uterus, it can be shed in menstruation.

 

On the other hand, it is not necessary for a postmenopausal woman to

have periods if she is using bioidentical hormones properly.

 

When postmenopausal women use small doses of bioidentical hormones,

they rarely, if ever, have periods, nor do they have the risky

" endometrial buildup " in the uterus which is what makes it important to

have periods.

 

Estrogen stimulates the buildup of uterine tissue, but there’s no need

to take " that much " estrogen to feel healthy and balanced.

Since fat cells " create " estrogen, women who are heavy may not even need

 

to use supplemental estrogen.

 

Dr. Lee’s recommendation was always to use 15 to 30 mg of progesterone

daily, and the lowest dose of estrogen that would either clear up

" estrogen deficiency " symptoms or show normal levels on a saliva hormone

 

level test.

 

 

This improves health and well-being, but doesn’t put a postmenopausal

woman back into the same " hormonal milieu " she had when she was

menstruating every month.

 

These misconceptions are undoubtedly due to 1) the use of the oral

(pill) form of progesterone (e.g. Prometrium), and 2) the use of blood

tests to measure hormone levels.

 

When you take progesterone in a " pill " form, most of it goes directly to

 

the liver, where up to 80 percent of it may be dumped, but not before

creating a variety of " byproducts " (metabolites).

Thus, it’s necessary to take 100 mg of progesterone in pill form to get

20 mg into your cells.

 

If your liver happens to be working less efficiently on a given day, and

 

" excretes " less of the progesterone, it’s easy to experience overdose

side effects such as sleepiness and bloating.

 

These side effects often have women running for more estrogen to wake

themselves up again, but what they really need to do is use

" progesterone cream " , which is a much more " efficient " delivery method:

 

if you put 20 mg on your skin, virtually all of that will be in your

bloodstream within a matter of minutes.

=====================================================================

 

Blood Tests vs. Saliva Tests

 

The other misconception is that a standard blood test will give an

accurate " indication " of hormone levels.

 

Standard blood tests measure the amount of hormones in the serum, or

watery part of the blood.

 

However, the majority of hormones found in serum have been inactivated

and are on their way out of the body.

 

Active (bioavailable) hormones are " carried " on the red blood cells and

these are what matters.

Some doctors are now doing hormone testing with red blood cells, but

it’s much easier and less expensive to test saliva hormone levels.

 

Active hormones are filtered into your saliva, and these can be

" accurately " measured with a simple at-home test.

 

Overdosing Creates the Same Old Problems

 

This misconception about measuring hormones has been particularly

" misleading " among those who use bioidentical hormones because one must

take " massive " overdoses of hormones before they’ll show up at all in a

standard blood test.

 

This has led to the practice of using way too high a dosage,

particularly of estrogen and progesterone, and that just creates further

 

" hormone imbalances " .

 

Overdosing, even with bioidentical hormones, is a setup for a long list

of familiar side effects, including weight gain, bloating, insomnia, hot

 

flashes and night sweats.

 

" Excess estrogen " is particularly problematic, not just because it

causes the symptoms above, but also because it’s an “upper,” or

stimulating, and it can, in effect, become addictive.

In excess, estrogen can create a kind of hyper-talkative, restless, even

 

agitated state that passes for increased energy.

The brain gets used to the higher level of “excitement” and when

estrogen levels drop, it can cause depression and fatigue.

 

If you’re leading a stressful life, taking more estrogen to pump up your

 

energy is akin to taking drugs such as speed – it may produce a

temporary high, but there’s always a corresponding low to follow.

 

The wiser strategy is to manage " stress " by eating well, getting plenty

of sleep and exercise, practicing some form of meditation, supporting

adrenal function

(see " What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause " for details),

and creating hormone balance.

 

If you’d like detailed information on how to use natural, bioidentical

hormones in a way that creates balance, and is in tune with your body’s

natural way of doing things, please read the newly updated and revised

edition of " What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause " .

=====================================================================

Post subject: Natural Progesterone Cream List

-

 

http://www.johnleemd.com/store/resource_progesterone.html

 

This is a free list that is updated regularly. It is based on our

knowledge of the companies and their products, but we cannot guarantee

that any of these creams contain Dr. Lee's recommended doses. There are

many good creams available that are not on this list.

 

Dr. Lee never endorsed or recommended any one progesterone cream, nor

did he make money from the sale of any progesterone cream. Companies

that state or imply otherwise on their websites or elsewhere, should be

avoided.

 

AIM International, Inc., 3904 East Flamingo Ave., Nampa, ID 83687, (208)

 

465-5116. Renewed Balance progesterone cream.

 

Alternative Medicine Network, 601 16th St., #C-#105, Golden, CO 80401,

toll-free (877) 753-5424, www.altmednetwork.net, e-mail

sa-. They make Awakening Woman Natural Progesterone

Cream which contains only progesterone as its active ingredient.

 

Arbonne International, Inc., P.O. Box 2488, Laguna Hills, CA 92654,

(800) ARBONNE, web-site www.arbonne.com e-mail

custo-. They make PhytoProlief and Prolief Natural

Balancing Creams.

 

Bio-Nutritional Formulas, 106 E. Jericho Tpke, P.O. Box 311, Mineola, NY

 

11501, (800) 950-8484. Fem-Gest cream.

 

Broadmoore Labs Inc., 3875 Telegraph Road/294, Ventura, CA 93003, (800)

822-3712. Makers of Natra-Gest progesterone creams.

 

Dr. Helen Pensanti's Cream: Helen Pensanti MD,Inc., P.O. Box 7530,

Newport Beach, Ca 92658, 714-542-8333, fax 949-8564573,

in- & or-, www.askdrhelen.com.

 

Dr. Randolph's Natural Progesterone Cream

www.womens-medicine.com

Toll free (866) 628-6337, this is Dr. Randy Randolph's cream, which

contains only progesterone as its active ingredient, and no chemicals.

 

Easy Way International, 5340 Commerce Circle, #E, Indianapolis, IN

46237, (800) 267-4522. They make Gentle Changes progesterone cream.

 

Elan Vitale, P.O. Box 13990, Scottsdale, AZ 85267, (800) 527-5898, (602)

 

483-5650. They make BioBalance progesterone cream.

 

Emerita, Pro-Gest, 621 SW Alder, Ste 900, Portland, OR 97205-3627,

(503)226-1010 or(800) 648-8211. The original natural progesterone cream.

 

A Division of Transitions For Health, Inc., website

www.transitionsforhealth.com and www.progest.com.

 

The Health and Science Research Inst., 661 Beville Rd., Ste. 101,

Daytona Beach, FL 32119, (888) 222-1415, fax (904) 267-9005,

www.health-science.com. Serenity for Women progesterone cream.

 

HM Enterprises, 2622 Bailey Dr., Norcross, GA 30071, (800) 742-4773.

website, www.hmenterprises.com or www.paulbunyan.net/users/mlzeller.

They make Happy PMS progesterone cream.

 

International Health, 8704 E. Mulberry St, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251

Makers of EssPro'Leve Plus Progesterone Cream with Essential Oils.

1-800-481-9987 or (480) 874-1419 Email: nopms@ doitnow.com

 

Kevala, a division of Karuna, 42 Digital Drive #7, Novato, CA 94949 ,

888-749-8643, website, www.health.com, e-mail in-. They make

PureGest Lotion which is free from additional hormones, herbs and

alcohols.

 

Kokoro, LLC., P.O. Box 597, Tustin, CA 92781, (800) 599-9412, (714)

836-7749, website www.kokorohealth.com. They offer Kokoro Women’s

Balance Crème.

 

Life-flo Health Care Products, 8146 N. 23rd Ave., Ste. E, Phoenix, AZ

85021, (888) 999-7440, e-mail ca-, website life-flo.com or

www.sheld.com/lifeflo/. They make Progestacare cream.

 

Matol

www.matol.com

Botanical International, Quebec, Canada, (514) 639-3347, makers of

Botanelle Progesterone Cream.

 

Natural Pause-Natural Menopause Solutions

www.naturalpause.com

11683 Noguera Ave, Ventura, CA 93001 (888) 267-5032, makers of Natural

Pause cream.

 

Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.

www.naturessunshine.com

75 E. 1700 S., Provo, UT. 84606.(800) 223-8225m, e-mail,

que-; Pro-G-Yam 500 Progesterone Cream with wild yam

extract.

 

Neways, 150 E. 400 North, P.O. Box 651, Salem, UT 84653, (801) 423-2800.

 

They make Endau cream.

 

Products of Nature, 54 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877, (800)

665-5952.

www.pronature.com - Connecticut

www.prodnature.com - Texas

Maker of Natural Woman progesterone cream.

 

Pure Essence Labs, Inc.

www.pureessencelabs.com

1999 Whitney Mesa Drive, Suite A, Henderson, NV 89014, (888) 254-8000

Makers of FemCreme. On-line distributors: www.getleaner.com,

www.vitaminlady.com.

 

Restored Balance Inc., 42 Meadowbridge Dr. SW, Cartersville, GA 30120,

(800 ) 865-7499, www.restoredbalanceusa.com, e-mail

resto-. They make Restored Balance PMS/Menopausal

progesterone cream.

 

Springboard, 3115 Stoney Oak Drive, Spring Valley, CA 91978, Toll Free

Phone (866) 882-6868, or (619) 670-3860, fax (619) 670-4149, website

www.springboard4health.com or www.naturalprogesterone.com. They make

ProBalance progesterone cream.

 

Sarati International, Rt. 3, Box 385, Ted Hunt Rd., Los Fresno, TX

78566. (800) 900-0701. They make Natural Progesterone Cream, website

www.sarati.com. Online distributors: www.sunrisewd.com or

www.progestnet.com

 

Vitality Lifechoice, Carson City, NV, (800) 423-8365. They make Balance

Cream.

 

Vitamin Research Products, Inc.

www.advancedmenopauserelief.com

3579 Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701, (775) 884-1300, (800)

877-2447, makers of HerBalance Cream.

--\

------

 

COMPOUNDING PHARMACISTS

www.iacprx.org

If your doctor is interested in natural hormones but hesitant about

prescribing an over-the-counter cream, you can put him/her in touch with

 

a compounding pharmacist skilled in the use of natural hormone

supplements, who can educate your physician and provide dosing

guidelines. For a referral in your area contact IACP (International

Academy of Compounding Pharmacists), (800) 927-4227, ext 300, or go

online to.

 

SALIVA HORMONE TESTING & BLOOD SPOT TESTING

ZRT Laboratory

www.salivatest.com and www.bloodspottesting.com

1815 NW 168th Place, Ste. 5050, Beaverton, OR 97006

Phone (503) 466-2445

fax (503) 466-1636

e-mail in-

--

 

 

 

Post subject: Effects of Progesterone & Estrogen

 

--

 

 

 

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE

 

Estrogen Effects

 

Creates proliferative endometrium

 

Breast cell stimulation (fibrocystic breasts*)

 

Increased body fat and weight gain*

 

Salt and fluid retention

 

Depression, anxiety, and headaches*

 

Cyclical migraines*

 

Poor sleep patterns*

 

Interferes with thyroid hormone function*

 

Impairs blood sugar control*

 

Increased risk of blood clots*

 

Little or no libido effect*

 

Loss of zinc and retention of copper*

 

Reduced oxygen levels in all cells*

 

Causes endometrial cancer*

 

Increased risk of breast cancer*

 

Increased risk of prostate cancer*

--\

---

 

 

Progesterone

 

 

 

Restrains bone loss

 

Reduces vascular tone (dilates blood vessels)

 

Creates progesterone receptors

 

Relieves hot flashes***

 

Prevents vaginal dryness & mucosal atrophy***

 

Improves memory***

 

Improves sleep disorders***

 

Improves health of urinary tract***

 

Relieves night sweats***

 

 

Progesterone Effects

 

Maintains secretory endometrium

 

Protects against breast fibrocysts

 

Helps use fat for energy

 

Natural diuretic

 

Natural anti-depressant & calms anxiety

 

Prevents cyclical migraines

 

Promotes normal sleep patterns

 

Facilitates thyroid hormone function

 

Helps normalize blood sugar levels

 

Normalizes blood clotting

 

Helps restores normal libido

 

Normalizes zinc and copper levels

 

Restores proper cell oxygen levels

 

Prevents endometrial cancer

 

Helps prevent breast cancer1

 

Decreased risk of prostate cancer

 

Stimulates new bone formation

 

Improves vascular tone

 

Prevents autoimmune diseases

 

Increases sensitivity of estrogen receptors

 

Necessary for survival of embryo

 

Precursor of corticosteroid biosynthesis

 

Prevents coronary artery spasm and

 

atherosclerotic plaque.

 

Sleepiness, depression**

 

Digestive problems**

 

 

* Indicates that these effects are caused by estrogen dominance, or an

imbalance of estrogen caused by too little progesterone.

 

** Indicates that these effects are caused by an excess of progesterone.

 

 

*** Indicates that these effects are caused by a deficiency of estrogen.

 

 

 

 

--

 

 

FAQ's About Progesterone Cream

 

 

 

by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins

http://www.johnleemd.com/store/faqs_progest_crm.html

 

Q: What is progesterone?

 

A: Progesterone is a steroid hormone made by the corpus luteum of the

ovary at ovulation, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands.

Progesterone is manufactured in the body from the steroid hormone

pregnenolone, and is a precursor to most of the other steroid hormones,

including cortisol, androstenedione, the estrogens and testosterone.

 

In a normally cycling female, the corpus luteum produces 20 to 30 mg of

progesterone daily during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

 

Q: Why do women need progesterone?

 

A: Progesterone is needed in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal

women for many reasons, but one of its most important roles is to

balance or oppose the effects of estrogen. Unopposed estrogen creates a

strong risk for breast cancer and reproductive cancers.

 

Estrogen levels drop only 40-60% at menopause, which is just enough to

stop the menstrual cycle. But progesterone levels may drop to near zero

in some women. Because progesterone is the precursor to so many other

steroid hormones, its use can greatly enhance overall hormone balance

after menopause. Progesterone also stimulates bone-building and thus

helps protect against osteoporosis.

 

Q: Why not just use the progestin Provera as prescribed by most doctors?

 

 

A: Progesterone is preferable to the synthetic progestins such as

Provera, because it is natural to the body and has no undesirable side

effects when used as directed.

 

If you have any doubts about how different progesterone is from the

progestins, remember that the placenta produces 300-400 mg of

progesterone daily during the last few months of pregnancy, so we know

that such levels are safe for the developing baby. But progestins, even

at fractions of this dose, can cause birth defects. The progestins also

cause many other side effects, including partial loss of vision, breast

cancer in test dogs, an increased risk of strokes, fluid retention,

migraine headaches, asthma, cardiac irregularities and depression.

 

Q: What is estrogen dominance?

 

A: Dr. Lee has coined the term " estrogen dominance, " to describe what

happens when the normal ratio or balance of estrogen to progesterone is

changed by excess estrogen or inadequate progesterone. Estrogen is a

potent and potentially dangerous hormone when not balanced by adequate

progesterone.

 

Both women who have suffered from PMS and women who have suffered from

menopausal symptoms, will recognize the hallmark symptoms of estrogen

dominance: weight gain, bloating, mood swings, irritability, tender

breasts, headaches, fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, uterine fibroids,

endometriosis, and fibrocystic breasts. Estrogen dominance is known to

cause and/or contribute to cancer of the breast, ovary, endometrium

(uterus), and prostate.

 

Q: Why would a premenopausal woman need progesterone cream?

 

A: In the ten to fifteen years before menopause, many women regularly

have anovulatory cycles in which they make enough estrogen to create

menstruation, but they don't make any progesterone, thus setting the

stage for estrogen dominance. Using progesterone cream during

anovulatory months can help prevent the symptoms of PMS.

 

We now know that PMS can occur despite normal progesterone levels when

stress is present. Stress increases cortisol production; cortisol

blockades (or competes for) progesterone receptors. Additional

progesterone is required to overcome this blockade, and stress

management is important.

 

Q: What is progesterone made from?

 

A: The USP progesterone used for hormone replacement comes from plant

fats and oils, usually a substance called diosgenin which is extracted

from a very specific type of wild yam that grows in Mexico, or from

soybeans. In the laboratory diosgenin is chemically synthesized into

real human progesterone. The other human steroid hormones, including

estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and the cortisones are also nearly

always synthesized from diosgenin.

 

Some companies are trying to sell diosgenin, which they label " wild yam

extract " as a medicine or supplement, claiming that the body will then

convert it into hormones as needed. While we know this can be done in

the laboratory, there is no evidence that this conversion takes place in

the human body.

 

Q: Where should I put the progesterone cream?

 

A: Because progesterone is very fat-soluble, it is easily absorbed

through the skin. From subcutaneous fat, progesterone is absorbed into

capillary blood. Thus absorption is best at all the skin sites where

people blush: face, neck, chest, breasts, inner arms and palms of the

hands.

 

Q: What is the recommended dosage of progesterone?

 

A: For premenopausal women the usual dose is 15-24 mg/day for 14 days

before expected menses, stopping the day or so before menses.

 

For postmenopausal women, the dose that often works well is 15 mg/day

for 25 days of the calendar month.

 

Q: What amount of progesterone do you recommend in a cream?

 

A: Dr. Lee recommends the creams that contain 450-500 mg of progesterone

per ounce, which is 1.6% by weight or 3% by volume. This means that

about ¼ teaspoon daily would provide about 20 mg/day.

 

Q: How safe is progesterone cream?

 

A: During the third trimester of pregnancy, the placenta produces about

300 mg of progesterone daily, so we know that a one-time overdose of the

cream is virtually impossible. If you used a whole jar at once it might

make you sleepy. However, Dr. Lee recommends that women avoid using

higher than the recommended dosage to avoid hormone imbalances. More is

not better when it comes to hormone balance.

 

Q: Wouldn't it be easier to just take a progesterone pill?

 

A: Dr. Lee recommends the transdermal cream rather than oral

progesterone, because some 80% to 90% of the oral dose is lost through

the liver. Thus, at least 200 to 400 mg daily is needed orally to

achieve a physiologic dose of 15 to 24 mg daily. Such high doses create

undesirable metabolites and unnecessarily overload the liver.

 

Q: Where can I get more information on progesterone and natural hormone

balance?

 

A: For a detailed explanation of women's hormone balance issues, a

hormone balance program, as well as detailed descriptions of how to use

natural progesterone, the following books by John R. Lee, M.D. are

recommended:

_________________

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

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AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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