Progesterone is the most popular and well-known bio-identical hormone. Natural progesterone is exactly identical to the progesterone made by your own body. This is very different than the "progesterone" in the Pill and conventional HRT, which are progestin drugs. Progestin drugs have many side effects, and are fundamentally a completely different thing than natural progesterone.
Natural progesterone can be used effectively to treat many hormonal problems including PMT, painful breasts, infertility, osteoporosis, and peri-menopause.
Is it safe?
Research shows that natural progesterone is quite safe. Unlike oestrogen and progestin drugs, natural progesterone does not increase the risk for breast cancer.
• Fournier, A et al. Breast cancer risk in relation to different types of hormone replacement therapy in the E3N-EPIC cohort. Int. J. Cancer 2005: 114: 448-454
In parts of Europe, 'micronised progesterone' (natural progesterone) has become standard care in gynaecology.
How much should be used?
We recommend that you use the minimal dose necessary for relief of symptoms. Founders of progesterone therapy like Dr John Lee used only 10-20 mg of progesterone per day. This is about what the ovaries would make under normal circumstances. Some Australian doctors have been prescribing up to 10 times this amount. As a patient, if you are using more than 1/2 gram of a 3% cream, or more than 0.5 of a 70mg troche, you need to reconsider what you are taking.
For more information about bio-identical hormones generally, click here.
