Yes, synthetic progestins increase breast cancer, but there is no evidence that progesterone does the same. Quite the contrary. Below is my argument in favor of natural progesterone as a preventive for breast cancer, with reference to the Fournier studies that address this issue.
“Experts” who are saying that synthetic progestins increase breast cancer risk are right, but, we’ve known that since 2002. Unfortunately, these same “experts” are now claiming an association of natural progesterone with breast cancer by default. They espouse that there is no clinical evidence to show natural progesterone is any safer than synthetic progestins. Unfortunately, this is an incorrect assumption and they have not done their homework.
I am often asked about the statement “she doesn’t need progesterone if she doesn’t have a uterus.” It’s hard to conceive that medical schools are still teaching the idea that a woman without a uterus does not need progesterone. It’s also hard to believe that large number of practitioners consider this statement true, since it is not supported by physiology, biochemistry or science.
A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) casts a shadow on the common use of testosterone therapy in older men for boosting their energy and vitality. An FDA-approved testosterone gel was shown to significantly increase risk for adverse cardiovascular, respiratory, and dermatological events in men 65 or older who had impaired mobility and increased health risks.
These unexpected negative results fly in the face of decades of good research on testosterone therapy in older men showing it to be beneficial to the cardiovascular system, and improve sexual function, mood, energy level, and muscle and bone mass and strength.
Progesterone is produced in the ovaries, the Leydig cells of the testicles, and in the adrenal glands. Many people don’t realize that progesterone is also made in the glial cells of the nervous system, both in the brain and in the Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system.
In her landmark CHOIICE study, Dr. Stephenson’s approach to bioidentical hormone replacement shows clear benefits for heart disease risk factors. In this interview, Dr. Stephenson explains how the study was conducted and gives us the specific results.
Dr. David Zava explains how and why bioidentical progesterone can cause breast tenderness in some women.
Hot flashes and vaginal dryness aren’t always indicators of estrogen deficiency. Bioidentical hormone expert Jim Paoletti RPh gives guidance on how to determine when a woman has an estrogen deficiency, and when symptoms might be caused by some other hormone imbalance.
Helene Leonetti, M.D. answers questions from readers about how to use bioidentical progesterone cream, progesterone side effects and allergies, how to time progesterone cream, whether to use estrogen and more…
It saddens me to hear that a knowledgeable medical professional would undervalue the seminal role Dr. John Lee has played, and continues to play, in our now burgeoning field of bioidentical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT).