Progesterone - An in-depth study.

Striking results show support of Progesterone, based on the study below conducted on the use of bio-identical progesterone and progestin.

"Use of progesterone has been linked to lower rates of uterine and colon cancers and may also be useful in treating other cancers such as ovarian, melanoma, mesothelioma and prostate. And previous physicians should not hesitate to prescribe natural progesterone as the evidence supports."

Read the full study: The Defense of Progesterone: A Review of Literature

Allen Lieberman, MD FAAEM; Luke Curtis, MD, MS -

Misuse of Terminology The misuse of terminology, which confuses progesterone with synthetic progestins, was astutely discussed by Carroll et al1:

Correct terminology is critical. Misuse of the terms progesterone, progestogen, and progestin is common in the medical, scientific, and public literature, which contributes to misconceptions about these compounds and their relative clinical benefits and risks. Any substance, natural or synthetic, that exerts progesterone-like activity via the activation of the progesterone receptor (PR) is called a progestogen. The name reflects its function in promoting and sustaining pregnancy (ie, progestation). Indeed, the main test to qualify a compound as a progestogen is its ability to induce a secretory uterine epithelium following estrogen priming. Progesterone (P4) is the only naturally occurring progestogen and is predominantly produced by the ovaries during the cycles of premenopausal women. Clinically available forms of P4 include oral micronized progesterone (OMP), which is identical to P4, and dydrogesterone, a structural isomer of progesterone. … The synthetic progestogens are specifically referred to as progestins and include compounds such as medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), levonorgestrel, and norethindrone acetate (NETA) and are prescribed worldwide. Progestins are structurally diverse but most are synthesized from molecules similar to progesterone or testosterone. To avoid confusion surrounding the long-term health benefits and consequences of using progestogenic drugs, we recommend that the term progesterone be used only for the naturally occurring progestogen, P4, whereas the term progestin be used for any of the synthetic versions. The interchangeable use of these terms in scientific, medical, and lay articles confounds the interpretation of data from these different classes of progesterone receptor (PR) ligands and their implications for human health.

Although that type of error is rampant in the medical literature, one illustrative example can be found in an article by Andrea Eisen, which refers to the Women’s Health Initiative Study (WHI) as using estrogen and progesterone.6 That statement is incorrect, because the WHI used a combination of equine estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), which is a progestin.

Chemical Structures The structures of natural progesterone, dydrogesterone, and MPA—the most commonly used synthetic progestin— are presented in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

All data points to progestin being the cause of cancer and an assortment of other side effects, the name being so similar to progesterone, but make no mistake they are not the same.

This information supports the safety of bio-identical progesterone and in conclusion the continued use of progesterone can greatly improve quality of life, aid in the transition of menopause, even lower the risk of cancer. Additionally you can read the full Womens Health Initiative here.