Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries which plays an essential role in regulating women's health. Progesterone cream is an over-the-counter supplement that can replace or augment women's natural progesterone. Most brands contain 480 mg per ounce, which equals approximately 1.6 percent by weight or 3 percent by volume, according to Dr. John Lee. Natural progesterone cream has many potential health benefits, but its benefits are unproven.
Consult your doctor before use.
PMS Relief
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a collection of related symptoms, including irritability, fatigue and food cravings, that many women experience in the last two weeks of their menstrual cycle. According to Dr. John Lee, a doctor specializing in natural hormone replacement issues, PMS may be caused by "estrogen dominance," a hormone imbalance in which estrogen is dominant and progesterone is deficient. For this reason, Lee recommends using progesterone cream in the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle to rebalance hormones, which may relieve symptoms.
Irregular Cycles
Irregular menstrual periods can be frustrating and worrisome, and usually have a medical cause. Although your doctor is most capable of diagnosing why your periods are irregular, natural progesterone cream may help to normalize your cycles, according to Dr. Michael Lam. Use the cream twice a day for two weeks; discontinue use for seven days. Eventually, this may prompt your body to menstruate more regularly.
Menopause
Hormone replacement was once standard treatment for menopause, but according to the Mayo Clinic, the medical community realized in 2002 that hormone replacement may present more risks than benefits for average women. Lee is a proponent of natural hormone replacement for menopausal health, rather than the synthetic hormones used in standard medical treatment.
