progesterone vs. progestins

There has been much confusion over the differences between Progesterone and progestins. Conventional medicine made no distinction between the 2 classes of hormones. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) showed that there is in fact a very big difference.

Progesterone:  Progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone produced by all women. Because it is produced naturally, Progesterone can’t be patent protected. It has anti-cancer properties and is the natural antagonist to Estrogen. Natural Progesterone does not increase the risk of heart disease or breast cancer. For use in BHRT, it is chemically identical to the hormone your body naturally produces. It is synthesized from Wild Yam (Dioscorea spp), a natural plant source of progesterone. Originally Progesterone was patent protected for the delivery system called microsomal delivery. This delivery system allowed Progesterone to be taken orally and not inactivated in the stomach. This patent, for Prometrium, has expired and there are generic copies of Prometrium.

Progestina: Progestins are hormones that are similar but not identical to Progesterone. They are modified Progesterone so that they can qualify for patent protection. These compounds have Progesterone like actions in the body, but often have unanticipated actions as well. In the WHI, it was Provera, a progestin, that increased the risks of heart disease and breast cancer. It does not have the same chemical structure as the progesterone your body makes. Progestins are contained in Provera and Premphase.

• Progestin has been shown to cause fetal abnormalities in pregnancy, whereas natural progesterone can help maintain a healthy pregnancy.

• Progesterone promotes a sense of calm in the brain. Progestins do not.

• Progestins can cause blood pressure to go high. Progesterone has not been shown to have this effect.

• Progestin can cause you to retain water, while progesterone can relieve water retention.