Natural Progesterone - The Bioidentical Hormone Alternative

What is Progesterone?

Progesterone is a highly fat soluble and essential hormone created by our body naturally. All steroid hormones are made from cholesterol and include pregnenolone, progesterone, DHEA, and estrogen. These hormones are not stored, they are produced by the body on an as-needed basis. As we get older we tend to produce less and less progesterone for a variety of reasons, such as menopause, creating a hormone imbalance that can affect us in many ways.

Why Would Someone Need To Supplement Progesterone?

A rapidly growing cause of progesterone loss is environmental pollutants. Research has identified over 51 chemicals that are classified as "hormone disruptors." Approximately 2 billion tons of pesticides as well as billions of tons of industrial chemicals are used annually the world over. This is contributing to the 'estrogen-dominance' phenomenon in women (and even increasing estrogen levels in men).

Estrogen dominance (the over secretion of estrogen, under secretion of progesterone, estrogen replacement therapy, or the use of the birth control pill) pulls down the function of the thyroid gland and lowers the metabolic rate of the body, with symptoms ranging from weight gain, blood sugar imbalance, fatigue, and many psychological disturbances.

Excess estrogen in relation to progesterone also causes the body retain excess water, and activates a fat-storing enzyme called the LPL enzyme (lipoprotein lipase).

What Are Biodentical Hormones Such As Natural Progesterone?

Biodentical hormones are hormones that are derived from natural plant sources such as soybeans, licorice, black cohosh or yams. They are then manufactured in a lab to have the identical molecular properties as the hormones that our bodies produce.

The following definition is courtesy of Dr. John R. Lee, a renowned expert and leader in the field of research advocating the use of natural progesterone:

"In fact progesterone is far more natural to your body than any plant is because your body actually manufactures the identical substance. The progesterone manufactured in the laboratory has the identical molecular configuration of the progesterone that your body makes. It does not matter if the body makes the hormone, or a chemist makes it from a plant extract. If it is the identical molecule, it is the identical hormone. The source of the progesterone is unimportant in this context.

We usually think of the word synthetic as meaning something that is produced artificially, and is not found in nature, such as plastics and pharmaceutical drugs. For example, the 'hormone' Provera is made from the same substances that natural progesterone is made from, but the molecular configuration of it is changed in the laboratory so that it is not identical to anything found in nature. But natural progesterone made in the laboratory is identical to that made in the human body. In other words, what makes a substance "synthetic" or "natural" in this context is whether or not it can be found in nature."

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Natural (or bioidentical) progesterone, because it is fat soluble and easily absorbed through the skin, is most often formulated as a cream.

Why Doesn't My Doctor Know About Natural Progesterone?

For years women have been given Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) using synthetic hormones to balance and ease the symptoms of menopause. These synthetics, prescribed to millions of women to ease the symptoms of menopause and prevent osteoporosis and heart disease have now been found to actually increase the risk of heart disease, cancer and blood clots.

The primary reason so few studies have been performed on natural progesterone is lack of financial interest.

Pharmaceutical companies will not spend research, development or marketing money on a product they cannot patent, and no one can patent Progesterone - it's a naturally occurring hormone in the body.

Dr. John R. Lee was once asked why doctors don't use or prescribe natural progesterone. His answer: "… it is not favored by the medical-industry complex."

Dr. Lee was the first doctor to question the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and was heavily criticized for it. According to Dr. Lee only natural USP progesterone has a molecular structure identical to the progesterone produced by the human body. He stated, "Synthetic hormones don't work as predicted and, worse, they pose a health threat to women."

How Can I Find Out If I Need A Natural Progesterone Supplement?

The most accurate way to measure your progesterone level is with a saliva hormone level test, which measures your active or bioavailable hormones. You can actually do a saliva hormone test yourself at home, or you may want to discuss testing your hormone levels with your doctor.

"Even if a woman has low estrogen levels, she can still be subject to the effects of estrogen dominance if her progesterone levels are extremely low." according to Dr. John R. Lee.

If you have reached or are approaching menopause, or if you have any of the symptoms of PMS, it may be time for you to start looking into your options for boosting your progesterone levels using a natural progesterone cream.