What Is in Natural Progesterone Cream?

Progesterone is a specific molecule made by mammals. It has multiple roles in the human body. It affects every tissue and is not a male or female hormone, although it's sometimes called a "sex hormone." You should know the difference between synthetic progesterone cream and natural progesterone cream, found in natural health food stores. Learn what ingredients should be in natural progesterone cream.

Benefits

• The late physician John R. Lee, international authority and pioneer in natural progesterone cream and natural hormone balance, said menopause symptoms are not due to drops in estrogen but in progesterone levels. The discomfort some women have during menopause comes from unnaturally high levels of estrogen, without progesterone to oppose it.

  Women can balance estrogen and testosterone levels naturally by applying natural progesterone. This could decrease the risk of breast cancer and normalize PMS symptoms and menstrual cycles.

  Men can use natural progesterone cream to help with prostate cancer. In 1988, a study by the Nanjing Medical College in China showed progesterone reduced the prostate weights of test animals.

Ingredients

• The ingredients of natural progesterone cream vary from one brand to another.

  Some of the key ingredients in natural progesterone cream, as recommended by Lee, include:

  Natural progesterone cream with 400 to 500 mg of progesterone an ounce
  Distilled Water
  Aloe Vera Gel
  Caprylic/capric Triglyceride
  Evening Primrose Oil
  Vitamin E

  Balance hormone levels, reduce mood swings and estrogen dominance with natural progesterone cream. Improve stamina and ease menopause with the vitamin E ingredient.

  Other safe ingredients added to natural progesterone creams include:
  Almond Seed Oil
  Burdock Root
  Glyceryl Stearate
  Isoteric Acid
  Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
  Safflower Seed Oil
  Siberian Ginseng

Ingredients to Avoid

• Avoid phytoestrogens when selecting natural progesterone creams. Phytoestrogens naturally occur in certain plants, such as soybeans, and act like estrogen in the body, interfering with progesterone. According to physician Elizabeth Smith, avoid natural progesterone creams containing:

  Bloodroot
  Calamus rt.
  Camomille
  Cloves
  Cumin
  Damiana
  Fennel
  Goldenseal
  Licorice
  Mandrake
  Mistletoe
  Nutmeg
  Ocotillo
  Oregano
  Pennyroyal
  Red Clover
  Thyme
  Tumeric
  Verbenna
  Yucca

Synthetic vs. Natural

• Avoid synthetic, prescription progesterone, also called progestin. Synthetic progesterone ingredients are made of estrogens obtained from the urine of pregnant mares.

  In July 2002, the National Institutes of Health ended a large study examining the effects of synthetic progesterone. It learned the synthetic hormones increased a woman's risk of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots and stroke.

  Some people might have heard of wild yam used as a natural progesterone. Wild yam extracts are not the same as progesterone. Natural progesterone cream is made from diosgenin, a crystalline compound, extracted from the wild yam. Natural progesterone is safe because it's the same, identical molecule manufactured by the human body.

  According to osteopathic physician and bestselling author Joseph Mercola, natural progesterone helps prevent breast cancer, increases the sex drive and normalizes blood clotting. It also is a natural anti-depressant and diuretic.

Tips and Warnings

• Consult with a doctor before using natural progesterone cream.

  Apply only the recommended amount stated on the container.

  Understand that using natural progesterone cream might slightly alter your menstrual timing.