The Benefits and Risks of Progesterone Cream

Estrogen and progesterone are two female sex hormones that are normally produced by women. Adequate levels of these hormones protect a woman's bones and her reproductive health. When a woman gets older and is no longer menstruating or ovulating, her hormone levels fluctuate, sometimes taking a nosedive, other times getting too predominant. This can make a woman symptomatic (giving her hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain) and put her at risk for health concerns. Consequently, some women opt to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can include both estrogen and progesterone.

Risks

• Taking progesterone in conjunction with estrogen (hormone replacement therapy) can increase the risk of endometrium (uterine lining) cancer, according to Heartspring.com, because very little progesterone is absorbed through the skin when a progesterone cream is used. The primary purpose of taking progesterone is to protect the endometrium when a woman is taking estrogen therapy, because estrogen can feed some cancers; however, if progesterone creams or suppositories aren't absorbed sufficiently by the body, no protection is provided. If too much progesterone is taken, it can disrupt, rather than improve, the hormonal balance. Caution must be used when taking or applying progesterone to the skin so that it doesn't accumulate to the extent that these disruptions in the adrenal hormones occur.

Benefits

• According to Dr. Loretta Lanphier, there are benefits to a woman when she takes natural progesterone cream because it results in a sense of mental balance and helps maintain hormonal equilibrium. Progesterone balances hormones and keeps estrogen from becoming dominate. High estrogen levels can lead to breast cancer. Progesterone also helps prevent breast tenderness, normalizes a woman's menstrual cycle and helps relieve PMS symptoms.

  Dr. Andrew Weil explains that natural progesterone is preferred by most women to progestin, which is synthetic progesterone. Combining estrogen and progesterone prevents bone loss, according to Dr. Weil, and relieves menopausal symptoms. It should be noted that a woman does not need progesterone therapy if she no longer has a uterus (post hysterectomy.)

  Dr. John R. Lee, who pioneered progesterone therapy for women, advocated taking progesterone because it stimulates bone building, which protects against porous, fragile bones (osteoporosis) and enhances the overall hormonal balance post-menopause

Considerations

• If you are going to take hormone therapy and you haven't had a hysterectomy, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you take progestin, which comes in various forms including vaginal gels, pills, skin patch or intrauterine device, along with the estrogen that you are taking.