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Hello Everyone I am new to this site. Very informative. Great to hear everyones experiences.

I am 45 years old and just (a month ago started using ProGest Cream) - it has been wonderful, have not had ANY PMS symptoms for the first time in years... i.e. no mood swings (and Lord knows they were psychotic, no bloating, no headaches etc.. which is great...

Question I have - I was looking to buy the same cream on line - given to me by my homeopathic DR (ND) -
I noticed on some of the sites it says - this product cannot be sold in California as chemicals used in this product - Emerita - ProGest Cream - are known in California to cause cancer \

Can anyone shed any light on this? I thought I was using something natural, what are the chemicals they are talking about?

the cream I am using is Paraban free, and this statement is indicated after this product.

any ideas?

thanks

I'd be very interested to hear more, I've been using Emerita Progest for almost 4 years now !!!!!

Anyone?!?!?!

here is the exact phrase posted against this product...

"WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer"

Hopefully someone has some insight into this.

thanks

NewLIfe

I found this article about it:

Scientific Safety Information on Progesterone

California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) and Progesterone Cream Warnings Amy Kosowski, M.S., LDN

Prop 65: What is it?

Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 , was enacted as a ballot initiative in the state of California in November of 1986. The Proposition was intended by its authors to protect California citizens and the State's drinking water sources from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals 1.

Proposition 65 requires the Governor to publish, at least annually, a list of chemicals “known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity .” Progesterone, as well as other human hormones, appear on this list 1. Set forth below is the information that formed the bases for the addition of progesterone to the Prop 65 list by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”).

Prop 65 and Progesterone - Perspective


In August of 2004, OEHHA published a document stating the rationale for the addition of Progesterone to the Prop 65 list 2. This document is a review of human, animal, and in vitro studies that used progesterone, synthetic progestins, and other progestagens (progesterone-like compounds). Experimental data from the use of all of these compounds were mixed together, along with data from studies using other steroid hormone derivatives (mainly synthetic estrogens) and many different methods of administration.

Although this review covered the existing scientific literature on progesterone and its many derivative compounds, there are many problems with the type of data analysis that was employed.

First, progesterone is endogenous to humans and necessary for bone and reproductive health while progestins and other synthetic progestagens are not. Progestins and progestagens are similar in molecular structure to progesterone, but when they bind to progesterone receptors, their effects are usually much stronger and more likely to cause abnormal physiologic responses 3, 4. Furthermore, the majority of the studies concerning the health effects of these progesterone derivatives involved combinations with synthetic estrogens 2-4.

There were very few studies mentioned in the 2004 document that used exclusively bio-identical progesterone (the kind found normally produced by humans as well as that used in progesterone creams), and those studies that did were at supra-physiologic doses (very high). The doses of progesterone ranged from 10-1000 times the dose usually recommended by manufacturers of progesterone creams 2, although in a few cases, the doses were closer to the recommended dosages.

The route of administration of progesterone is also at issue. All of the studies cited in the OEHHA document used either oral, injected, or suppository forms of hormones; none was conducted using transdermal creams. This is an important consideration because hormones absorbed through the skin are metabolized differently than hormones that are administered via other routes 5, 6.

Putting it Together

While the OEHHA Prop 65 reference document on progesterone 2 is a broad survey of the published scientific literature examining the potential effects of the pharmaceutical use of progesterone and its synthetic derivatives, it is not clear at all that these effects would be seen with the use of low-dose progesterone creams.

The OEHHA Prop 65 progesterone document evaluates a broad range of information regarding progesterone and synthetic materials that are not natural progesterone. The conclusion reached was not challenged, and it is on that basis that progesterone creams now carry the Prop 65 warning.

Here is the reply that I received from Emerita (a bit long):

Thanks for your email and your interest in Emerita.

This warning is part of Proposition 65, part of California's Clean Water Acr.
This Proposition has been in existence for many years and includes about 800
substances which the state of California believes to be carcinogenous. Many of
these ingredients, such as progesterone, are natural ingredients, but products
containing any of these substances require a warning label.

Emerita is in full compliance with the regulatory requirements regarding the
sale of Pro-Gest in California, but recently the regulatory climate has become
more heightened.
We do not agree with the supposition that natural progesterone is harmful, but
we are required to comply with the warning requirements.

We continue to sell our products, including Pro-Gest to California residents,
and you are welcome to order it from us directly, either on our website
(www.emerita.com) or by phone (800-888-6814). In either case you will see (or
be read) the warning that I mentioned.

Here is some more information on the subject:

What is Proposition 65 or 'Prop 65'?

§ 1986 California ONLY law requiring products exposing California residents to
cancer or reproductive toxins to warn consumers of this risk. This law
regulates water cleanliness, work environments and consumer products. Prop 65
encompasses over 700 chemicals, many of which are naturally occurring
substances.

Why do Emerita's Pro-Gest creams require the Prop 65 warning?

§ Progesterone is on California's list of chemicals "known to the State of
California to cause cancer." Progesterone is NOT considered a reproductive
toxin by the State of California.

Does Prop 65 cover natural progesterone?

§ Yes, the progesterone listed is the natural chemical structure.

Why is progesterone listed on Prop 65?

§ The State of California relies on "authoritative bodies" and their conclusions
regarding the cancer risk in humans. The State of California's "authoritative
bodies" relied solely on animal risk data when they made their decision to list
progesterone as a known human carcinogen.

What research was evaluated by the State?

§ Large doses administered to animals via injection. No consideration was given
to the amount of material injected or the risk potential of the vehicle used to
inject the progesterone. Progesterone is a powder and must be mixed with a
liquid before it can be administered by injection.

What is Emerita's position regarding Prop 65?

§ Emerita believes the State is wrong in its decision requiring progesterone
products to carry the required warning. Emerita is active to providing the
State's Prop 65 review panel human research evidence that is contrary to the
State's listing of progesterone. Emerita is working within the State's
processes to address the issue and have progesterone delisted. Emerita
progesterone creams are required to comply with Prop 65 and will do so until
progesterone is delisted from Prop 65.

What do you feel the risk is/should I stop using progesterone cream?

§ Emerita believes you should consult your physician and conduct your own
research on any potential health risks. Emerita has been selling its
progesterone creams for nearly three decades and feels strongly that the State
of California is wrong in listing progesterone as a carcinogen.

Thanks everyone.

Phew that is a relife...

I was worried about the warning on the progesterone creams until my hubby bought a fishing pole and tackle box and on the box was this warning:
"WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer"

so.........i didn't worry about using the tackle box,i guess i wouldn't worry about using the progesterone cream either.