Progesteron Creams

To understand what progesterone does inside the human body, you should recognize that the hormone is important for the processes of ovulation and menstruation. Beyond that, it plays a large role in preparing for and maintaining pregnancies and keeping sex drives high. The ovary releases progesterone roughly two weeks after a woman has begun a menstrual cycle. Its function is to trigger the release of proteins that are essential for the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, to handle pregnancy. These proteins make it possible for the endometrium to hold onto a fertilized egg [source: Healthy Women].

If a fertilized egg successfully implants, then the placenta produces more progesterone. Normally, a woman experiences about 20-25 mg of progesterone during her cycle, but during pregnancy, the levels increase to 10 times that [source: Progesterone, WebMD]. The body needs the increased amount of progesterone to both prevent the release of other eggs and foster the growth of breast-milk glands [source: Healthy Women].

Reportedly, progesterone creams have the same chemical makeup that the hormone progesterone has. Therefore, when we talk about what progesterone does in the body, manufacturers of progesterone cream want you to believe the same can be applied to their products. The only difference is how the cream and the hormone are sent through an individual's system. According to label directions, in order to work properly, the cream must be absorbed through the skin into the body [source: Whole Health MD].

Read on to the next page in order to learn about the benefits that you might see when you use progesterone cream.

Progesterone cream is said to create a balance where there might be a hormonal domination of estrogen. A balance between hormones is a key to better health. Some positive effects of such a balance are said to include defense against breast cancer, defense against endometrial cancer, an increase in sexual urges, an increase in bone health, stabilized blood sugar levels and a natural guard against depression [source: Mercola]. The cream is said to bring relief for PMS symptoms, endometriosis and menopause [source: Whole Health MD].

According to proponents of progesterone cream, in order for these benefits even to be a possibility, the progesterone cream user has to adopt a different lifestyle. It is said that if the cream is to be effective, the person using it must regulate her diet, sleep schedule and stress levels. Also, it may do some good for the patient to get an adrenal gland check up, since the gland is also known to produce progesterone [source: Health News Journal].

Ultimately, though, progesterone cream has not been through comprehensive, long-term studies like progesterone pills have, so you shouldn't rely on the purported benefits as certain outcomes.

It's not all balanced hormones and better bone health -- continue reading to learn about the potential side effects from progesterone creams.

One of the main reasons progesterone cream was created is because women wanted an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Many women found that taking progesterone pills caused too many side effects and interacted with other medications. Progesterone cream may allow you to reap the benefits without the side effects, but as mentioned previously, there is a lack of scientific and medical studies to back the product and these claims. Therefore, the cream isn't proven to be better than the synthetic pills [source: Better Health Channel].

One study found that progesterone cream didn't absorb well enough into the skin and therefore wasn't able to act in place of the woman's natural progesterone. Because of this, the conductors of the study said the cream couldn't defend the body against endometrial cancer [source: Better Health Channel]. Another researcher warns against too much progesterone cream because it creates excessive amounts of progesterone in the body. Too much progesterone over an extended period of time can affect the function of the adrenal glands [source: Mercola]. Remember, the goal is balance.

Progesterone is known for having a sedative-like quality. While this would be helpful for those having trouble sleeping, it's not ideal for women on the go.

As with trying any understudied product or dietary supplement, you should consult your physician before adding progesterone cream to your daily regimen. Also, pregnant or nursing women should take care to avoid progesterone.

Click to the next page to understand more about why progesterone cream might benefit someone experiencing menopause.

People who promote progesterone cream swear it has a multitude of purposes. Of these many functions, the most popular seems to be for women experiencing menopause. Menopausal women contend with depression, hot flashes, moodiness, night sweats, stress, vaginal dryness and weight gain. If only a cream could make all these symptoms go away.

After a woman's body enters menopause, progesterone levels are known to decrease. Because of this lower level of the hormone, supplements are often needed to compensate. While some women use a combination of estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy, others opt for progesterone cream [source: Better Health Channel]. As we have mentioned previously, progesterone cream is thought to have less side effects than synthetic progesterone while still providing many of the same benefits.

The goal is simple: to provide relief against the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. Some studies have found that women who use progesterone cream were able to reduce their hot flashes [source: Fries]. It's also said that progesterone cream may help bone density in menopausal women who are at risk for bone loss, but some studies disagree. One found that after a 12-month trial, the progesterone cream did not prevent bone loss and did not increase bone density [source: Chustecka].

To learn more about progesterone, visit the links on the following page.