Role of Natural Progesterone for Osteoporosis

Alan Gaby, M.D., author of the book, Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis, and a well recognized authority in nutritional medicine, says, Preliminary evidence suggests that, in many cases, natural progesterone may be the only hormone needed to prevent or treat osteoporosis and that estrogen replacement therapy may be necessary only to treat hot flashes, postmenopausal depression and vaginal atrophy.

In 1990, Jerilynn Prior, M.D., of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada indicated progesterone can make new bone tissue. Dr. Prior discovered women athletes who were anovulatory (not ovulating) had low progesterone levels and normal bone mass loss. Dr. Prior observed that non-ovulating women with a short luteal phase lost an average of 2.8 to 4 percent of spine bone per year.

Remember, progesterone secretion increases during the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle. So a short luteal stage probably means your progesterone levels are lower than normal. Dr. Prior theorized that progesterone stimulates bone formation when she observed women with the lowest blood levels of progesterone showed the greatest degree of bone destruction. Estrogen therapy alone does not guarantee prevention of bone loss as 50 percent of fractures occur in women who are taking estrogen replacement. It is generally accepted that amenorrhea (no period) contributes to osteoporosis too.

Natural Progesterone Cream in Action

Since 1982, Dr. John Lee has had extraordinary results with natural progesterone cream made from the wild yam in preventing osteoporosis with his postmenopausal patients. He states, "Present osteoporosis management emphasizes prevention rather than cure since true reversal has proven unobtainable by conventional methods". With the hypothesis that progesterone is the missing ingredient for normal bone-building in women, transdermal progesterone cream supplementation (with or without) estrogen was tested in an office based setting over the past six years. Treatment resulted in progressive increases in bone mineral density (BMD) and, what is more important, definite clinical improvement as evidenced by pain relief, height stabilization, increased physical activity and fracture prevention. The benefits achieved were found to be independent of age. It is concluded that osteoporosis reversal is a clinical reality in a program that is safe, uncomplicated and inexpensive.

Dr. Lee's treatment program for osteoporosis is based on his belief that for bones to grow successfully, we need to recreate the conditions under which normal bone building occurs. In his clinical practice, he followed 100 of his patients, ranging in age from 38 to 83. He observed a ten percent increase in bone mass in the first six to 12 months and yearly increases of three to five percent until the bone mass stabilized to that of a healthy 35 year old woman. Some of his patients showed a 20 to 25 percent increase in bone density during the first year.

His treatment program combines diet, nutritional supplements, exercise and a three percent transdermal natural progesterone cream (made from the wild yam) applied daily. He also noticed that supplementation with Vitamin D, calcium and estrogen delayed, but did not reverse, osteoporosis. Fluoride, an experimental and controversial osteoporosis treatment, seemed to increase bone mass, but not strength. The incidence of fractures in non-vertebral bone actually increased with fluoride use.

Dr. Lee's clinical study proved bone mass could increase with progesterone replacement therapy and the damage of osteoporosis could be reversed. The patients with the lowest initial bone densities seemed to progress the quickest. Overall he observed stabilized height, relief from aches and pains, increased mobility and higher energy levels and no side-effects. During this treatment, none of the women suffered from fractures.

Please note that there can be other causes. This is for education only. It is not intended to treat, prevent or cure a medical disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult a health care professional.