There is so much confusion regarding the hormones in HRT and the pill. To put the record straight, HRT and any form of the contraceptive pill do not contain progesterone as stated under the HRT and The Pill headings.
They contain the synthetic versions the proper name of which is progestogen – a class name for anything with progestational activity (as correctly used in the first paragraph about the pill) and progestins – the name for any synthetic form of progesterone. There is no evidence that bio-identical progesterone causes breast cancer or any other cancer and much to show the opposite.
Oestrogen on the other hand is directly linked to breast and uterine cancer and it is real progesterone that negates and balances its harmful effects which happens naturally in the body. The synthetic versions of progesterone, which are only designed and given in HRT to protect the uterus from cancer by balancing the high oestrogen levels, are known to increase the risks of breast cancer because they may block the actions of real progesterone in breast tissue.
Natural bio-identical progesterone is produced at much greater levels during pregnancy. This is because its main role is to maintain a pregnancy hence its name progesterone – progestation. Also during pregnancy, the body in its wisdom reduces the high levels of our most potent oestrogen to almost nothing to protect the baby.
Studies have shown that women are more protected against breast cancer the more pregnancies they have at a younger age when progesterone levels are at their highest. This is for the same reason that was given for breast feeding which is that a woman is exposed less to oestrogen.
Through incorrect terminology, many women are led to believe that the hormone progesterone has the same harmful side-effects which are associated with the synthetic progestogens. I noted that not one ‘expert comment’ had pointed this out in the article.