Many women approaching menopause have heard about progesterone cream (and some have probably heard that it is almost miraculous, due to overzealous marketers), and may be wondering what it is, what it does, and whether or not it really works and is safe. I will try to answer these questions briefly in this article.
What is progesterone?
Progesterone is a hormone made by your body. Hormones are substances in your body that tell it what to do. Progesterone plays a big role in pregnancy, as well as supporting your thyroid, adrenal glands, and healthy blood sugar.
Why do I need it?
In the years before menopause, your progesterone levels start to drop as estrogen levels rise. This creates an imbalance in your body. Symptoms of low progesterone include headaches, anxiety, tension, bloating, sore breasts, mood swings and irritability.
Does it really work?
If you have lower levels of progesterone, you will benefit from using progesterone cream. If you also have rising levels of estrogen, you will definitely notice the difference after you start using progesterone cream. Even though many people have claimed it to be somewhat of a panacea, progesterone cream will help you sleep better. It may help stabilize your moods, increase your energy, reduce or eliminate headaches, and more. It will support your thyroid and blood sugar levels. If you have insomnia, mood swings, fatigue and/or headaches, progesterone cream is worth a try.
What type of progesterone should I use?
The progesterone cream that reduces or eliminates the symptoms described above is bioidentical progesterone cream, in the right dose for you. It is not wild yam cream, or just any old cream you pick up at your local drug store. You need to be sure it is bioidentical (it will say USP progesterone on the label), and that it has a minimum of 450-500 milligrams per ounce of USP Natural Progesterone in it. Avoid creams with mineral oil in the ingredient list. Bioidentical means that it is the same molecular structure as the progesterone your body makes. If you use a substitute, it will not work the same way, could have side effects and be dangerous.
Is it safe?
There is some controversy about this question. More studies need to be completed to give us more information about long term effects, however, there is no evidence that concludes USP natural progesterone is unsafe. Many doctors will say it is totally and completely safe. Others will be more conservative, saying that it depends on how it is used, etc. The best way to feel good about it is to find a doctor willing to prescribe bioidentical hormones. This doctor would also perform tests to find out what your levels of progesterone and other hormones are, before and during therapy. Progesterone cream is available over the counter in the U.S., and many women use it on their own.
Like so many health issues for older women, there are no easy answers. Not enough data is available. Now that so many women are entering this phase of life (and there is money to be made), more studies are being done and hopefully younger women will benefit from this as they reach peri-menopause.
For now, the best way to decide whether or not to use progesterone cream is to get as much information as you can, and listen to your own body. One of my favorite quotes of all time is from a doctor, a pediatrician, Dr. Mendelsohn. in his book, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of your Doctor. He says (I'm paraphrasing), you, as a parent, know much more about the state of your child's health than your doctor does. You are with him 24 hours a day. Your doctor has 10 or 15 minutes to figure out what is wrong and what to do about it.
For more information about bioidentical progesterone cream and why it works better than patented drugs, see Bioidentical Progesterone
For more about natural remedies for menopause symptoms, see Natrual Approaches to Menopause
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