The other day I ordered 100mg of Prometrium to take as progesterone. I did this because I was convinced by some websites I read that it is more effective than Provera because it is natural progesterone, whereas Provera is a progestin.

Prometrium is more expensive than Provera, and I am wondering whether I did the right thing or should have just went with Provera and saved my money. Is natural progesterone siginificantly better than progestin or are both basically the same thing?

I haven't seen a molecular model for both, but I would say there isn't much of a difference.

Hi,

Progesterone is identical to what our bodies produces while progestins closely resemble it and share some its similar effects while exerting others, sometimes not so beneficial effects. There is a wide array of progestins.

Progesterone's most common and usually only side-effect is drowsiness and dizziness, which should subside with time. That's why it's taken at bedtime at first. Bio-availability of progesterone is increased with intake of food, grapefruit, if taken rectally or sublingually. Microgest, the generic, can be purchased for less and is the same as Prometrium.

Provera, on the other hand, shares some of progesterone's effects, like stimulating breast development (in the presence of sufficient estrogen), reducing testosterone production and to a greater extent as it more potent than progesterone, and opposing estrogen's actions. But unlike progesterone, Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) counteracts estrogen's beneficial effects on cholesterol/lipids. It also has mild androgenic (masculinization) effects, as its molecular structure closely resembles testosterone. And can lead to mood disturbances, such as depression and anxiety whereas progesterone usually exerts an anxiolytic effect (anti-anxiety), which also explains why some people on progesterone sleep better (I can attest to that).

I personally prefer bio-identical hormones to analogs, in general, for their more favorable side-effect as well as desirable effect profile. I believe you made a wise choice but would suggest u buy the generic version, in the future.

Please note that there are better progestins available such as dydrogesterone (Duphaston) and hydroxyprogesterone caproate (Proluton Depot), which may or may not work for you and what ur looking for. These have favorable side-effects but aren't progesterone and thus, the reason why, in my opinion, they usually don't do as an effective job in stimulating breast development, for example. And Duphaston doesn't reduce testosterone at all.

Hope this helps.

Erika28 (imported) wrote: Mon Aug 15, 2005 7:34 am I believe you made a wise choice but would suggest u buy the generic version, in the future.

I always worry about generic versions of medicines, especially generics coming from unknown sources.

Thanks for the help!