Bio-available progesterone vs progestin – What’s the difference?

Progesterone is a hormone that is either produced in the body, or from a plant source that is chemically and structurally identical to human progesterone. This is what’s known as bio-identical, or natural progesterone.

“Progestin” is a hormone that has been produced synthetically. There are several progestins, all of which differ in molecular structure from natural progesterone.

The term “progestogen” is a term that applies to any hormone that act like progesterone in the uterus, meaning it includes both progesterone and progestin.

Synthetic progesterone supplements are perfectly fine, right?

If you’re in need of a progesterone supplement, and the one you’re using is synthetic, you may want to consider a natural option instead. As mentioned above, the synthetic forms, or progestins, are not structurally identical to natural progesterone. This has an effect on how the hormone acts in your body.

The most commonly prescribed progestin, medroxyprogesterone acetate, produces completely opposite effects of natural progesterone in almost all of the organs or systems other than the uterus. This can contribute to breast cancer, increased risk of stroke and heart attack, backaches, and mood swings, to name a few.

What are my options for natural progesterone?

There are several natural progesterone products available from a variety of sources. Like all supplements, some are better than others. Often times, you’ll find a natural cream for topical use that contains less than 0.1% of progesterone. This is rarely a high enough concentration to be considered effective. You’ll also see several supplements that claim to be progesterone supplements, but they are simply an underived form of wild yam (Dioscorea villosa). This is not the same as a progesterone that is derived from wild yam and will not provide results.

At Long Natural Health, we offer two outstanding products that contain only bio-identical progesterone, both of which are derived from wild yam. Which one you choose is dependent upon the strength that you’re looking for. The most typical issues women are seeking relief from include:

• Hot Flashes
• Menstrual pain and PMS symptoms
• Ovarian cysts
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Toxic effects of estrogen

Premier Natural Gesterone Cream by Premier Research Labs contains 2% bio-identical, USP-grade progesterone, and is free of parabens, propylene glycol, and peg-9 stearate. It supports a healthy hormonal balance as well as the full-spectrum of issues that are related to estrogen imbalance. It’s good option for someone looking for relief from minor symptoms.

Our best-selling progesterone product is Dr. Peat’s Progest E Complex. It contains 10% natural, USP-grade progesterone that’s dissolved in natural vitamin E oil. This product is safe for both topical use as well as ingestion. Depending on how you use it, Progest E can be used not only for relief from the many symptoms of estrogen imbalance, but also to improve sun-damaged skin, acne, wrinkles, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and varicose veins. If you want to use it topically for skin-care needs or for pain, you can dilute a few drops of Progest E (in coconut or olive oil is best at time of application) and spread on the area you desire.

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