Frequently Asked Questions About Progesterone Cream

What is Progesterone?
Why do woman need progesterone? 
Why not just use the Progestin Provera as prescribed by most doctors? 
What is estrogen dominance? 
I'm not even near menopause, why would I need Progesterone cream? 
Can I use Procream Plus if I am Pregnant, nursing, or on birth control?
I've had a hysterectomy do I need Natural Progesterone? 
Shouldn't I be taking estrogen for my heart? 
Should I get my hormone levels tested? 
If Natural Progesterone works so well, why hasn't my doctor told me about it? 
What is Natural Progesterone made from? 
Where should I apply the Natural Progesterone cream? 
How safe is Progesterone cream ? 
Wouldn't it be easier to take a Progesterone pill? 
What should I do if I am currently taking estrogen? 
Other than the relief of my symptoms, what other benefits could I expect to receive by using Natural Progesterone? 
Once I start using Procream Plus with Natural Progesterone, how long will it take to work? 

Q: What is Progesterone? 
A: Progesterone is a steroid hormone made by the corpus luteum of the ovary at ovulation, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands. Progesterone is manufactured in the body from the steroid hormone pregnenolone, and is a precursor to most of the other steroid hormones, including cortisol, androstenedione, the estrogens and testosterone. In a normally cycling female the corpus luteum produces 20 to 30mgof Progesterone daily during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. 

Q: Why do woman need progesterone? 
A: Progesterone is needed in woman for many reasons, but one of its most important roles is to balance or oppose the effects of estrogen. According to Dr . John Lee, unopposed estrogen creates a strong risk for breast and reproductive cancers. Estrogen levels will drop slightly at menopause, just enough to stop the menstrual cycle. But in many women, Progesterone levels will drop to near Zero. Because Progesterone is the precursor to so many other steroid hormones, its use can greatly enhance overall hormone balance after menopause. 

Q: Why not just use the Progestin Provera as prescribed by most doctors? 
A: Natural Progesterone is preferable to the synthetic progestins such as Provera, because it is natural to the body and has no undesirable side effects when used as directed. If you have any doubts about how different progesterone is from the progestins, remember that the placenta produces 300-400 mg of Progesterone daily during the last few months of pregnancy, so we know that such levels are safe for the developing baby. But progestins, even at fractions of this dose can cause birth defects. Synthetic Progestins also cause other side effects, including partial loss of vision, possible breast cancer, an increasing risk of strokes, fluid retention, migraine headaches, asthma, cardiac irregularities and depression. 

Q: What is estrogen dominance? 
A: Dr .Lee has coined the term "estrogen dominance" to describe what happens when the normal ratio or balance of estrogen to Progesterone is changed by excess estrogen or inadequate Progesterone. Estrogen is a potent and potentially dangerous hormone when not balanced by adequate Progesterone. Woman who have suffered from PMS, and or menopausal symptoms will recognize the hallmark symptoms of estrogen dominance: weight gain, bloating, mood swings, irritability , tender breasts, headaches, fatigue, depression, loss of energy and sex drive, hypoglycemia, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, hot flashes, night sweats. Latest medical research has shown that Estrogen dominance is known to cause and/ or contribute to cancer of the breast, ovary , endometrium (uterus) and prostate. 

Q: I'm not even near menopause, why would I need Progesterone cream? 
A: Many women regularly have anovulatory cycles in which they make enough estrogen to create menstruation, but they don't make any Progesterone, thus setting the stage for estrogen dominance. Using Progesterone cream during anovulatory months can help prevent the symptoms of PMS .(Irritability , mood swings, headaches, cramping, bloating, weight gain, water retention, swollen and tender breast tissue) 

Q: Can I use Procream Plus if I am Pregnant, nursing, or on birth control? 
A: Consult your health care practitioner

Q: I've had a hysterectomy do I need Natural Progesterone? 
A: Yes! A partial or total hysterectomy generally causes the cessation of the production of Progesterone, but not the production of Estrogen. Recent medical studies have shown that women who have had surgically induced menopause (hysterectomy) or natural menopause, can have their hormone levels checked even years later and will only notice a slight decline in the amount of estrogen found in the body. However, Progesterone levels can drop to Zero. (The body can obtain estrogen through food, the environment, and even make it very easily in other organ of the body) This causes "Estrogen Dominance." This unopposed estrogen can now cause many symptoms that you may be experiencing. 

Q: Shouldn't I be taking estrogen for my heart? 
A: Despite the advertising, the cardiovascular protection benefit of estrogen supplementation is still questionable. While estrogen does appear to lower total cholesterol modestly, there is still no clear scientific studies that show it can reduce the risk of heart mortality per se. (Dr John Lee MD.) In general, we have found that most women have enough estrogen, what they lack is Progesterone. 

Q: Should I get my hormone levels tested? 
A: Although most doctors still use the blood to test hormones levels, Dr. Lee suggests that if you decide to get your hormone levels tested, have it done through the saliva. Since hormone levels tend to rise and fall frequently the saliva test will be more accurate. (Saliva testing: 800-631-7900) In his practice, Dr .Lee has found that many women have the saliva test done, only to confirm that they are estrogen dominant. If you are suffering with any of the symptoms associated with PMS or Menopause, you owe it to yourself to try Natural Progesterone. 

Q: If Natural Progesterone works so well, why hasn't my doctor told me about it? 
A: Until recently there has not been enough research and data to convince most health care practitioners that Natural Progesterone works. However, you will find more and more doctors each day are becoming aware of the wonderful benefits of Natural Progesterone. 

Q: What is Natural Progesterone made from? 
A: Natural Progesterone most generally comes from plant fats and oils, usually taken from a substance called "diosgenin" which is extracted from a very specific type of Wild Yam plant that grows in Mexico. In the laboratory, this diosgenin is taken through a filtration and purification process that now makes it identical to the hormone Progesterone. (Be careful of products that list Wild Yam extract as an ingredient, instead of Progesterone. There is no evidence to date that has shown the body can convert Wild Yam to Progesterone 

Q: Where should I apply the Natural Progesterone cream? 
A: Because Progesterone is very fat-soluble; it's easily absorbed through the skin. From subcutaneous fat, Progesterone is absorbed into capillary blood. The best absorption can be seen when applied to skin sites where people blush: face, neck, chest, breast, inner arms, and the palms of the hand. For best results, we have found that an application in the AM, and again in the PM is necessary for you to retain proper levels of Progesterone in the body throughout the day. We have also found that it is very important that you move the site of application frequently. (pick 4-5 areas to apply the cream and move to a different area each day. ) 

Q: How safe is Progesterone cream ? 
A: During the third trimester of pregnancy, the placenta produces about 300 mg of Progesterone daily, so we know that a one-time overdose of the cream is virtually impossible. If you used an entire jar at once it might make you sleepy. However, Dr. Lee recommends that a woman avoid using higher than the recommended dosage to avoid hormone imbalances. 

Q: Wouldn't it be easier to take a Progesterone pill? 
A: Dr .Lee recommends a trans dermal cream rather than oral Progesterone, because some 80-90% of the oral dose is lost .through the liver. Therefore you would need to take at least 200-400 mg daily in order to achieve a physiologic dose of 15- 30 mg daily. Such high doses create undesirable metabolites and unnecessarily overload the liver . 

Q: What should I do if I am currently taking estrogen? 
A: Dr. John Lee suggests that you begin using the Natural Progesterone cream while gradually reducing the amount of estrogen. You can do this by skipping days from taking the estrogen pills. Some women take their estrogen pills every other day, then every third day, and so on. (Some women that we speak to decide to stop taking their estrogen all together and only use the Natural Progesterone. However, we have found that the women who gradually decrease their estrogen over a short period of time tend to experience fewer symptoms during this transition.) If you decide to continue taking some form of estrogen, Dr Lee states that you must take some form of Progesterone with it. Never take unopposed estrogen. 

Q: Other than the relief of my symptoms, what other benefits could I expect to receive by using Natural Progesterone? 
A: One of the primary reasons why women take Natural Progesterone is to help improve their bone density levels. While estrogen has been shown to "slow down" bone loss, "Natural Progesterone" has actually been shown to reverse bone loss. According to Dr John Lee, the naturally occurring hormone Progesterone actually signals the body to create an osteo-blast; this is the brain telling the body to lay down new bone tissue. There have been many reported cases of women with severe osteoporosis who have improved their bone density with Natural Progesterone. 

Q: Once I start using Procream Plus with Natural Progesterone, how long will it take to work? 
A: Many of the women that we speak to begin to notice a difference within the first week or so. However, because every woman's body is different, Dr. John Lee states that it could take up to 30-45 days to get the full benefit of the product. 

Additional information about Natural Progesterone can be found in Dr. John R. Lee's books: What your doctor may not tell you about Menopause: The breakthrough book on Natural Progesterone. (Warner Books 1996)
What your doctor may not tell you about Pre-menopause: Balancing your hormones and life from thirty to .fifty. (Warner Books 1999)
To Order Procream Plus Call:
1-800-677-7694, or write to 113 S. 3rd St. Oxford PA. 19363.