It seems to facilitate the neural development of a fetus and deters birth defects; it has also been shown to significantly help women with MS. Trials have shown it eliminates brain lesions on MRI, prevents the formation of new ones, and improves cognition in women with this debilitating neurodegenerative disease. Eventually the pattern of brain atrophy in MS also starts to mimic that seen in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which SUGGESTS estriol might also be useful for these diseases.

Virginia Hopkins
Editor, Virginia Hopkins Health Watch
co-author, Dr. John Lee’s Hormone Balance Made Simple

My mother had breast cancer at age 40′ish, and my sister had breast cancer in both her breasts in her late 40′s, and mid 50′s. After my sister had her first breast cancer, she was put on tamoxifen, but still got cancer in the other breast. I read Dr. Lee’s book and decided progesterone could perhaps keep me cancer free. My closest friend also uses progesterone cream. We both use the cream, and rub it on alternating areas morning and night, for 25 days a month, with a 5 day break. We both have strong bones and seem pretty healthy, except for a fractured pelvic that didn’t heal right, that happened when I was a teenager.

This article occurs at just the right time. I have been discussing with my doctor the reduction of estriol (2 mgs) and estradiol (.75 mg) in the troche I have been taking because I have been nervous about taking so much estrogen over the past eight years. She agreed to drop the estradiol completely and to drop the estriol to 1 mg, but she claimed that vaginal estriol is not as effective as as a troche. I am going to print this article and ask her to read it. She also insisted in putting 50 mg of progesterone in the troche, which I will take everyday. That seems excessive! She said troches are more effective than a cream for absorption. If that is true, isn’t 50 mg too much?

Is there any research about the most effective amount and way to take progesterone, and is it better to take it everyday or just the last 15 days of the month? I would truly appreciate any help with this. My doctor is relatively young and new to bioidentical hormones. There are very few doctors in our city who will even deal with this, and insurance concerns do not allow me to go anywhere else. Because I have low thyroid and fibromyalgia, I believe that I might need some hormones, but I am very fearful of taking too many because both of my grandmothers died of cancer.

Thank you so much for your article and your continuring research in this crucial area of women’s health. I read your and Dr. Lee’s book some years ago and passed it on to several other women. It was truly and eye-opener.

Many thanks,
KJ Herrema