Anyone ever take bio-identical hormone creams

[izazen]

- the over the counter type you can buy at Whole Foods, for example?

This is in lieu of Premarin.

[sami4]

Progesterone creams

The kind of creams you buy over the counter as progesterone creams are not standardized per dose. For example Angel Care contains 659 mg of P per ounce of cream; an amount higher than a pregnant woman. Natra gest contains 5,506, Feminique 423, you get the idea.
Progesterone is in general a bladder irritant. It is the hormone of PMS, and the hormone that can cause bladder, urethra, and vulvar flares just before and just after bleeding starts.
If you want to take a bio identical progesterone there is Prometrium which is an oral, and Crinone which is a vaginal P, so is Prochieve gel, vaginal.
You use the vaginal gels a couple of times a week as directed by your doctor.
My best thoughts for you would be to not monkey around with the progesterone cream thing unless it is either compounded per dose under a physicians order, or a RX for one of the existing orals or gels that have a controllable dose.
Sammi

[sami4]

Izazen

I just re read your post and realized you were asking for a substitute for Premarin? Premarin is not a progesterone its a form of synthetic estrogen.
The creams you find in the store are progesterone creams, as estrogen is a controlled substance; you need a RX.
There are many bio identical estradiols available in the market: Estrace oral, many generic 17-beta estradiols, estradiol creams that are compounded by dose for your RX. All estrogens need a RX unless you buy them overseas.
Just ask your doctor to put you on a bio identical estrogen, this is very common, not unusual.
All the studies I have seen on herbal products had such a weak effect or none at all, that you are better off just getting a RX for estradiol and calling it done.
Sammi

[izazen]

One more estrogen cream question..insert type vs. topical

application?
I noticed Susan Love, MD, recommends the type you dab on the labia several times a week but the type I have an RX for is the insert "deep into the vagina" type. I wonder if you could dab the cream (my prescription is for Premarin) on the labia as it seems less invasive to me. THanks!

[sami4]

The same

There is no difference in the cream you put into the vagina or around the labia, it is the same cream, same strength. I use my estrogen cream around the labia nightly, in the vagina twice a week, and mix some in my face cream as it is a great moisturizer.
Sammi