Progesterone

At the forefront of the female hormone battle is Dr. John Lee, with his book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone (Warner Books, 1996). Lee's research suggests that too much estrogen is the problem, and that natural progesterone is the only option to combat a woman's hormonal changes.

So, if Lee is right, why is the research about natural progesterone so controversial? According to Lee it's because "natural progesterone cannot be patented, it is available to everyone and anyone who wants to can put it into any lotion or cream they make." There is also controversy among physicians as to whether progesterone applied topically can provide the body with the same amounts as synthetic forms of progesterone taken orally.

Is there any risk to applying natural progesterone topically? Lee acknowledges that there is a risk of hyperplasia and a feeling of lightheadedness and lethargy. However, Lee also points out that "during pregnancy, the placenta produces 300 to 400 milligrams of natural progesterone daily during the last few months of pregnancy, so we know that such levels are safe for the developing baby. But [synthetic progesterones—progestins] even at fractions of this dose, can cause birth defects."

So what should you use if you want to give natural progesterone creams a try? Lee recommends creams that contain between 400 and 500 milligrams per ounce of cream. That amount would provide about 20 milligrams per day when applying a quarter-teaspoon of the cream. But before you venture out shopping for natural progesterone creams, I strongly encourage you to check out Lee's books. On his Web site, www.johnleemd.com, Lee lists companies that sell products that meet his criteria.