Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H) 
President, Gordon Research Institute 
www.gordonresearch.com 

Excerpt:

Can Progesterone Cream Work? 

By ROBERT J. DAVIS 
Special to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 
August 30, 2005; Page D5 

Concerns about the safety of hormone-replacement therapy have prompted many women to seek alternatives. One option, “natural” progesterone cream sold over the counter, is gaining in popularity among women looking for relief from symptoms of menopause or PMS. While some doctors recommend the creams, many others question their effectiveness and worry that unsupervised use could pose long-term risks. 
Most of the creams contain progesterone derived from soybeans or Mexican yams. In contrast, the most commonly prescribed hormone-replacement medications, which are taken orally, contain synthetic progesterone, known as progestin. Because progesterone in creams comes from plants and is structurally identical to the human hormone, it is often called “natural.” But like progestin, it is synthesized in a lab. 
The creams, which are sold in health-food stores and over the Internet, are classified by the Food and Drug Administration as cosmetics, not drugs. Therefore, manufacturers aren’t permitted to claim their products can treat or prevent conditions. But some do anyway. Most, however, make vague promises to promote “healthy hormone balance” or “balance and harmony within the female body.” 

The leading proponent of natural progesterone, the late physician John Lee, argued that in premenopausal women, too much estrogen relative to progesterone can lead to weight gain, bloating, irritability, fatigue, uterine fibroids, endometriosis and lumpy and tender breasts. Correcting the imbalance with progesterone cream, he said, can alleviate such problems. Likewise, he claimed creams reduce symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, mood swings, memory loss and decreased bone density.