Frequently Asked Questions

1. If natural progesterone is so wonderful, why isn't it used by my doctor?
2. What is Progesterone and what is its relationship to oestrogen?
3. What are some of the antagonists to the production and utilization of Natural Progesterone?
4. What is Oestrogen Dominance?
5. Do post menopausal women still produce oestrogen and progesterone?
6. What are the conditions for which Natural Progesterone cream will benefit a woman?
7. Why is a premium quality Progesterone cream superior to capsules or suppositories?
8. Why Progesterone; Isn't Mexican Wild Yam enough?
9. Are there any reported side effects associated with Synthetic Progesterone?
10. Why is Serenity the preferred Natural Progesterone Cream?

1. If natural progesterone is so wonderful, why isn't it used by my doctor?

This is the question most frequently asked of Dr. Lee during his more than 30 years of active clinical practice. To quote from Dr. Lee:

"The medical-industrial complex refers to the close knit association of organized medicine with the pharmaceutical manufacturers and governmental medical regulatory agencies...

The system taken together is neither necessarily corrupt nor evil, but, like any human agency, is subject to the frailties and faults of humankind. Medical research is dependent on the $billions of grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the private pharmaceutical industry. The two are closely interlocked...

Any given pharmaceutical company, like any private enterprise, must make a profit to stay alive. Profit comes from the sales of patent medicines. The system is not interested in natural (non-patentable) medicines, regardless of their potential health benefits. Thus the flow of research funding does not extend to products which cannot be patented. Few people know that the definition of malpractice hinges on whether or not the practice is common among one's medical peers and has little (usually nothing) to do with whether the practice is beneficial or not. A doctor willing to study, to learn the ins and outs of an alternative medical therapy, and to put what he has learned into practice in helping patients is potentially exposing himself to serious charges of malpractice....

But what does all of this have to do with Natural Progesterone? The answer is quite simple, really. Ample medical research regarding progesterone was carried on in the 1940's through the 1960's, and amply reported in mainline, recognized medical literature. Since the early 1970's, however, medical research has become much more expensive and the grants subsidizing progesterone research, (or any unpatentable medicine or treatment technique), have dried up and been blown away by the contemporary trade winds of synthetic drugs, particularly the progestins. The potential market for patentable progestins is vast -- contraceptive pills, irregular menses, osteoporosis, ...

-- literally every woman through the age of puberty on is a target for a sale. Do you think the prevailing powers wish to see this lucrative market left to an over-the-counter natural product not in the hands of physician prescribers and not controlled by the pharmaceutical industry? Thus, when he or she (the physician) hears of the use of Natural Progesterone, they wonder why none of their associates know about it. If it is not commonly known, 'it must in some way be false and/or unapproved.' Having given lectures on the role and medical uses of Natural Progesterone, I have observed numerous instances wherein perfectly fine physicians will enquire about obtaining the product for use by their wives or mother-in-law but not for their patients. What can account for such behaviour by professionals? I suspect that it is fear of alienation from the flock that is paramount in their minds....

If progestins were the equivalent of Natural Progesterone in effect and safety, the argument would be moot. But progestins are not the equivalent of Natural Progesterone and never will be...

Patients are aware that they cannot leave their health care solely in the hands of the doctor. They must assume responsibility for their own health...."

Dr. John R. Lee, California, USA.

2. What is Progesterone and what is its relationship to oestrogen?

Progesterone is one of two primary hormones produced by the female body. When a woman's monthly cycle is functioning correctly, oestrogen is the dominant hormone during the first two weeks after the start of her menstrual cycle. In response to ovulation, oestrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise and assume dominance for the final two weeks of the month. When progesterone levels drop the next menstrual cycle begins in about 48 hours. Progesterone is used by the body for the production of oestrogen and cortisone.

3. What are some of the antagonists to the production and utilization of Natural Progesterone?

Animals in industrialized countries, especially the U.S., are routinely fed synthetic hormones and eat grain and grasses that are laden with pesticides. These synthetic compounds are concentrated in the fat of the meat and dairy products sold commercially. Additionally, synthetic hormones sold by prescription and a wide variety of petrochemical compounds are also consumed by women. These chemical compounds are referred to as xeno-oestrogens or xeno-biotics and have been shown to interfere with the production and utilization of natural progesterone.

4. What is Oestrogen Dominance?

When progesterone levels fail to reach the normal 20 - 25 mg. during the final two weeks of a woman's monthly cycle then oestrogen is unopposed for the entire month and this condition is referred to as "Oestrogen Dominance." Interestingly, the symptoms of PMT & menopause and the conditions of infertility & osteoporosis have been shown to be the result of "Oestrogen Dominance" relative to an insufficiency of progesterone.

5. Do post menopausal women still produce oestrogen and progesterone?

After menopause oestrogen production decreases by about 40%. In other words the female body still produces oestrogen at about 60% of pre-menopause levels. Because progesterone is the biological precursor for the production of oestrogen, it is the natural choice for menopausal women as well as for pre-menopausal women to enjoy optimum health.

6. What are the conditions for which Natural Progesterone cream will benefit a woman?

There are approximately 150 identified symptoms of PMT and significantly fewer symptoms associated with menopause. Most women with these two conditions respond well to natural progesterone, especially when they reduce their consumption of the antagonists to progesterone discussed in the third question above. Because progesterone is the "Pro-Gestational" hormone, it is the primary necessary hormone for conception and full term pregnancy. In a three year study of 63 post-menopausal women with osteoporosis, women using transdermal progesterone cream experienced an average 7-8% bone mass density increase the first year, 4-5% the second year and 3-4% the third year! Untreated women in this age category typically lose 1.5% bone mass density per year!!! These results have not been found with any other form of hormone replacement therapy HRT or dietary supplementation.

7. Why is a premium quality Progesterone cream superior to capsules or suppositories?

Nature did not intend women to put hormones into their stomachs. Consequently, about 80% of orally administered progesterone is intercepted by the liver and passed out of the body, unused. Progesterone in suppository form is also intercepted by the liver and bound up by the wax vehicle. In either case, because there is no sound basis for putting an extra burden on the liver, informed women have chosen to use a transdermal cream which is almost 100% biologically available, as shown by salivary hormone assays.

8. Why Progesterone; Isn't Mexican Wild Yam enough?

Dr Lee refers to this in one of his books as "The Yam Scam." A component of Yam (diosgenin) was, at one time, thought to be converted in the body to progesterone but that has been proven to be unsubstantiated. In fact, while it has certain health benefits, there are no published studies that would allow one to conclude that Yam will increase progesterone levels in humans or animals. Only supplemental Natural Progesterone has been demonstrated to increase serum and saliva progesterone levels in women, a fact that is verified by ample clinical and published scientific research.

9. Are there any reported side effects associated with Synthetic Progesterone?

Yes. The Physician's Desk Reference lists a long list of side effects and contra-indications for synthetic progesterone. According to a second quarter news report in 1996, synthetic progesterone increases a woman's risk for female specific cancers ie progestin or progesterone acetate. Unlike synthetic progesterone (progestin or progesterone acetate), there are no reports of any significant side effects or health problems associated with Natural Progesterone.

10. Why is Serenity the preferred Natural Progesterone Cream?

Serenity is the finest quality liposome-based hypo-allergenic moisturizing cream containing USP bio-identical Pharmaceutical Grade Natural Progesterone manufactured in the USA, not cheap Chinese progesterone. The cream is light and non-oily so that it is readily absorbed into the skin through which it transports progesterone to the fat cells where it is stored for use as required by the body.

The Natural Progesterone content (2.34%) has been carefully calculated so that those individuals who suffer with the symptoms resulting from unopposed oestrogen (Oestrogen Dominance) can use the cream on a schedule that parallels the body's natural cycles of progesterone production.