By Eppie on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 07:02 pm:

For those of you that wage an ugly monthly battle with your joints, I have found something that helps me TREMENDOUSLY!! About 5 months ago, on a hunch, I began applying a natural progesterone cream transdermally from days 12 through 28 of my cycle, and guess what? MINIMAL joint worsening. I was waiting to share the news until I could confirm it's effectiveness. Why does it work? My theory (based on research and personal experience) is that estrogen (especially estrogen that is not balanced with other hormones) wreaks havoc on soft tissue. Our ligaments are full of estrogen receptors and estrogen has been shown to definitively increase collagenase activity (i.e., degrade soft tissue)and actively inhibit the formation of new collagen in ligamentous tissue. A side note: the influence of the hormone relaxin (also a soft tissue degrader, as the name implies) is greatly enhanced in the presence of estrogen...double whammy. Anyway, progesterone works (at least for me) by down-regulating soft tissue estrogen receptors (i.e., they are less sensitive to estrogen). Please note that synthetic progestins do not have the same effect and (for me at least) micronized oral natural progesterone caused some unwanted side effects (like very sore breasts). For those of you on the pill and estrogen-dominant HRT, please consider supplementing with natural progesterone. It can't hurt you and in fact it has other benefits like enhanced libido and more restful sleep. If you want to try it, you need to get a cream with about 500 mg USP (pharmeceutical grade) progesterone per ounce. Avoid stuff that says "wild yam extract". I've posted here enough that I know you guys won't think I'm trying to sell anything...I just wanted to share what worked for me.

Smiles, Eppie

p.s. I finished a triathlon a few weeks ago. I was sore, but it was something I couldn't have done even six months ago.

By pete on Tuesday, July 24, 2001 - 07:05 pm:

Dr Michael Colgan wrote an article about a year ago on aching joints. As well as the usual glucosamine, fish oil, etc approach he mentioned the use of progesterone (applied to the joints) to help the collagen. I assume this can be used by both men and women.

Does anybody know of any research in this area?

Thanks
Pete

By Silvia on Wednesday, July 25, 2001 - 11:05 am:

Hi Pete,

I don't know of any research on this area. However, my doctor did do a hormone panel on me when I first saw him with chronic pain. He mentioned that usually people in chronic pain might have low hormone levels. I was low on three of them which were progesterone, dhea, and testosterone. I have only been taking these supplements for a couple of weeks, therefore I believe it's too early to see results.

By Sheena on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 11:06 am:

Eppie, Where do you live? Can you buy progesterone cream without a prescription? I started taking oestrogen-only HRT a few months before my HMS started ...

By Silvia on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 11:58 am:

Hi Sheena,

I live in the US and here you can buy progesterone
cream without a prescription. I got mine at a health foood store.

By Eppie on Monday, July 30, 2001 - 10:57 am:

I live in Alaska (US) and get my cream from the web (Serenity Natural Progesterone Cream by Health Science - http://www.health-science.com/index.htm?page=/). You can also buy the stuff in the store in the health food section. The most common cream with a sound reputation is Pro-Gest. I've tried it and it does work, but I found it to be really heavy vs. the Serenity which is nice and light. In fact I use Serenity as a facial moisturizer.

Note that is fairly costly at $32/jar, but for me the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Take care, Eppie

By Mickey on Monday, August 06, 2001 - 10:32 pm:

Hi Eppie,

I have only just got round to reading your message, and I must say with great interest. I live in the UK, and it is often very different over here. Long shot, but do you know about it over here? If not, does anyone else. I would love to find out more aboout this as recently join pain (not just hms) has forced me into a wheelchair to go. Thanks for any info.
Mickey

By Pat on Sunday, August 26, 2001 - 09:23 pm:

Canada does not allow progesterone cream to be sold unless a doctor orders it. If he does, a compounding pharmacist can make it up for you. Another great brand is from the American Image Marketing company which has a web site. They will help you find someone who sells it in your area. They are also in UK, but I don't know if their cream, "Renewed Balance", is available there. I've been on it for several years now and I love it.

By Andrea on Tuesday, October 02, 2001 - 12:45 pm:

Hi sisters!

Yes, I can confirm Eppie's findings now as well! I was forced to look into alternative HRT because I had started my menopause (at 38!). Menopause deprives us from progesterone which in turn protects us from osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. However, in order to produce it we need a high enough level of oestrogen (during the first half of our cycle). If this level is not high enough the brain never gets the message to start producing progesterone (during the second half of our cycle).
I am currently on phyto-oestrogen - derived from plants (started in July). I have finally put on weight (I am now 65 kg - at a height of 178 cm), I am able to build up muscle, my cycle is normal again, I am fitter and stronger and experience less joint pain OVERALL. I am also wondering if this is doing something to improve my mood, but that's early days yet, winter has only just started...

My heart goes out to you, Mickey. I live in the UK too but so far I have only found these products (via Internet) in the USA and Germany.
But you've made me curious, I shall start searching under "progesterone". I'll keep you posted...

By Andrea on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 03:17 pm:

Mickey, I've just found out that you can get Serenity Cream (see Eppie's posting) in the UK through a distributor in Guernsey: Wellsprings Trading Ltd, PO Box 322, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 3TP. It's priced at £ 29.99 per 2.1 oz Jar which compares very economically with the average $29.99 you would pay for the same product from the US. Their phone number is 01481 233370. Good luck!