Pro Fem (Progesterone Cream)

USP natural progesterone from soy
2 oz jar, 2.5% Cream, Code 616

$32.95

Pro Fem Progesterone Cream contains USP natural progesterone from soy. Pro Fem is used by Women to prevent preMenstrual syndrome, and some of the side effects of estrogen replacement therapy. Recently, progesterone has been shown to be beneficial for men as well as Women. Progesterone has been shown to both oppose the actions of estrogen and may inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT. In aging men, the increasing estrogen/testosterone ratio and the insignificant levels of progesterone are now thought to be the dominant factors promoting prostate enlargement. Progesterone replacement by men over 55 could help prevent these conditions which are endemic to the aged male.

Topically applied natural progesterone cream can remove fine lines and provide underlying firmness to aging skin. Both men and Women should consider applying Pro Fem to the face several times a week for additional antiaging benefits.

ProFem now has Qsomes technology to for better skin permeation to enhance distribution of progesterone.

ProFem contains:
purified water, glycerin, safflower oil, alkoxylated diester, cetyl alcohol, progesterone, sorbitan stearate, PEG-40 stearate, cyclomethicone, glyceryl stearate, benzyl alcohol, imidazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, carbomer, D-alpha tocopherol, propylparaben, sodium hydroxide, citrus seed extract, cholesterol, lecithin, disodium EDTA.

Dosage and use (Women)

- Massage into soft tissue areas such as chest, breast, underarms, face, abdomen, buttocks or inner thighs and apply to a different area every day to avoid saturating the skin/fat cells.

For severe osteoporosis, the following regimen is suggested:
- First jar: use 1/2 teaspoon morning and night.

- Second jar: use 1/4 teaspoon morning and night.

For those with only slight bone loss or low progesterone levels, whose goal is to prevent osteoporosis, the following regimen is suggested:
- Days 1 to 11 of cycle: no application.

- Days 12 to end of cycle: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon daily.

Dosage and use (Men)
- 1/8 teaspoon should be used once or twice daily as above.

- It may be more effective for the prostate if applied to the scrotum or other lower abdominal skin.

Caution:
- Consult your physician before using this product if you have an estrogen-dependent cancer.

- These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

- Keep out of reach of children.

Excerpt From: LE Magazine April 2005

Jonathan Wright, MD
Pioneer of Natural Female Hormone Replacement

By Dave Tuttle

Progesterone: First Hormone to Decline
While traditional medicine focuses on diminished estrogen levels, progesterone is the first hormone that declines during the aging process. Some women in their late twenties have progesterone deficiencies, while other women in their late forties and even early fifties are still producing youthful levels of progesterone. This is why hormone testing and individually designed treatments are so essential.

Progesterone is primarily manufactured in the adrenal glands and ovaries, though some is produced in the brain. This hormone is necessary for gestation to occur, and miscarriages are common when progesterone is deficient. Symptoms of a deficiency include premenstrual discomfort, night sweats, hot flashes, and a loss of well being, often including depression. Supplementation with natural progesterone reduces the prevalence of these negative events.

John Lee, MD, originated the clinical use of bioidentical progesterone. Reports by Dr. Lee and others have suggested that natural progesterone stimulates new bone formation by increasing osteoblast activity, which helps to prevent osteoporosis.3 While vitamin and mineral deficiencies, poor eating habits, and lack of exercise also contribute to osteoporosis, hormone imbalances—especially estrogen and progesterone deficiencies—play a significant role in the progression of osteoporosis in women.

Several studies have found that topical progesterone creams effectively combat aspects of the aging process. A one-year trial in postmenopausal women saw a significant reduction in vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes in a group using a bioidentical transdermal progesterone cream.4 Researchers also noted reduced thickening of the uterine lining produced by an estrogen drug when postmenopausal women used a transdermal or vaginal progesterone cream for four weeks.5 This antiproliferative effect is one of the main reasons that traditional doctors prescribe medroxyprogesterone, a progestin (progesterone-like drug) known as Provera® that has numerous side effects. Synthetic progestin drugs do not function the same way as natural progesterone. Moreover, because progesterone enhances the sensitivity of estrogen receptors in cell membranes, the use of a natural progesterone cream may permit a reduction in estrogen supplementation.

Bioidentical progesterone has also been shown to reduce the incidence of breast cancer. Researchers at National Taiwan University Hospital found that progesterone reduces the proliferation rate of breast epithelial cells.6 Another study examined cancer incidence in women with progesterone deficiencies.7 The scientists discovered that hormone-deficient women were 5.4 times more likely to have premenopausal breast cancer and 10 times more likely to die from all malignant neoplasms than were women without a progesterone deficiency.

An even more intriguing study revealed that survival rates for breast cancer surgery are strongly correlated with the patient’s progesterone level on the day of surgery. Because it is involved in the menstrual cycle, progesterone concentrations vary dramatically at different times of the month. This study noted that 65% of women with a progesterone level of 4 nanograms (ng) per ml or more on the day of their surgery were alive 18 years later, while only 35% of women with low progesterone levels on that day were still living after 18 years. The researchers noted that progesterone lowers the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, which promotes the increase in new blood vessels (angiogenesis) that is essential for tumor growth. This strongly suggests that women should time their surgery to match their monthly peak in progesterone.8

“The best results from progesterone supplementation are obtained when the natural monthly fluctuation in this hormone is followed as closely as possible,” notes Dr. Wright. “There should be a monthly pause in progesterone supplementation, because that’s what our bodies naturally do. Progesterone and estrogen are produced and received by their hormone receptors in cyclic fashion, with a brief lull every month. This ‘down time’ probably helps prevent long-term receptor down-regulation.

“As a general rule, I recommend using a progesterone cream from day 12 of the cycle until three to five days before the start of the next cycle. However, women with a family history of osteoporosis may need more days of progesterone exposure because this hormone positively influences bone formation.”

References
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16. Haden ST, Glowacki J, Hurwitz S, Rosen C, LeBoff MS. Effects of age on serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, IGF-I, and IL-6 levels in women. Calcif Tissue Int. 2000 Jun;66(6):414-8.

17. Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SS. Effects of replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994 Jun;78(6):1360-7.

18. Morales AJ, Haubrich RH, Hwang JY, Asakura H, Yen SS. The effect of six months treatment with a 100 mg daily dose of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on circulating sex steroids, body composition and muscle strength in age-advanced men and women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1998 Oct;49(4):421- 32.

19. Jesse RL, Loesser K, Eich DM, et al. Dehy droepiandrosterone inhibits human platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1995 Dec 29;774:281-90.

20. Bloch M, Schmidt PJ, Danaceau MA, Adams LF, Rubinow DR. Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment of midlife dysthymia. Biol Psychiatry. 1999 Jun 15;45(12):1533-41.

21. Hastings LA, Pashko LL, Lewbart ML, Schwartz AG. Dehydroepiandrosterone and two structural analogs inhibit 12-O-tetrade canoylphorbol-13-acetate stimulation of prostaglandin E2 content in mouse skin. Carcinogenesis. 1988 Jun;9(6):1099-102.

22. Rako S. Testosterone deficiency: a key factor in the increased cardiovascular risk to women following hysterectomy or with natural aging? J Womens Health. 1998 Sep;7(7):825-9.

23. Dimitrakakis C, Zhou J, Wang J, et al. A physiologic role for testosterone in limiting estrogenic stimulation of the breast. Menopause. 2003 Jul;10(4):292-8.

24. Shifren JL, Braunstein GD, Simon JA, et al. Transdermal testosterone treatment in women with impaired sexual function after oophorectomy. N Engl J Med. 2000 Sep 7;343(10):682-8.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease