Can you clear up my confusion?

by Penny
(CA)

I was told by my Dr. to buy a progesterone cream that is natural progesterone USP which has a molecular structure identical to the progesterone produced by the human body.

She said natural progesterone is produced through the fermentation (and other steps) of the Mexican Wild Yam. She said it must say progesterone USP and not just wild yam extract. Why does yours not say that and why is it derived from soya-bean? Thanks for your help.

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Can you clear up my confusion?

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Mar 23, 2010

Can you clear up my confusion?
by: Wray

Hi Penny. The progesterone used in Natpro is USP. The web site says here: Progesterone Ph. Eur., USP, JP (origin: soy). The full names are below, followed by their abbreviations:

European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.)
Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP)
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)

It doesn't matter what the source of origin is for the progesterone, there are many plants which can be used. Phytosterols, erroneously called plant oestrogens or phytoestrogens, are chemically similar to cholesterol which is found in animals. Cholesterol is the starting point for the hormones made naturally in animals, including humans. Plants such as the soy bean, Dioscorea species of yams, fenugreek, sisal, calabar bean, some lilies, yucca, some solanum species, maize and many more contain phytosterols, some of which are stigmasterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, campesterol, hecogenin, smilagenin, sarsasapogenin, solasodine. As these sterols have a similar molecular structure to progesterone, they are used as starting points for the synthesis of progesterone. Soya bean and yams are the two most common sources. The progesterone in Natpro uses the soy bean as the starting point. Take care, Wray