The prescription one
Prescription oral micronized progesterone
A known strength, and the form shown to protect the uterus when taken with estrogen.
What variations of progesterone cream exist?
An over-the-counter skin cream that contains real progesterone, a hormone made by the ovaries after ovulation. It is a hormone, not an herb, and strength varies widely between products. It comes in 3 forms, and they aren't all the same. Here's how they differ.
For education only. What's right for you depends on your health and your medications, so check with your provider before you start or switch. Book a consult
Our top pick
Every form, in plain words
The prescription one
Prescription oral micronized progesterone
A known strength, and the form shown to protect the uterus when taken with estrogen.
The real-deal cream
Over-the-counter USP progesterone cream
Has real progesterone, but strength and absorption vary a lot between products and people.
Usually skip
- No progesterone inside (Wild yam cream)Has no progesterone, and your body can't turn wild yam into it.
Spotting a good one on the shelf
Look for
- Look for 'USP progesterone' in the ingredient list
- Look for a stated amount per pump or measured dose
Watch out for
- 'Natural progesterone' or wild yam products that don't list USP progesterone as an ingredient
- No stated amount of progesterone per pump or measured dose
- Claims that it balances estrogen or replaces prescription hormone therapy
Check with your provider first if…
- You use estrogen in any form. Progesterone cream may not protect the uterine lining, so this needs a prescriber.
- You've had breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, or another hormone-sensitive condition
- You're pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive
- You have unexplained vaginal bleeding, or have had blood clots, a stroke, or liver disease
- Use it with a prescriber who tracks your symptoms and levels. Saliva and blood tests can read very differently after skin creams.
In Dr. Lesher's store
5 products in Dr. Lesher's dispensary have progesterone cream. Here's which form, where the label says.
Check with your provider before taking any of these, especially if you're pregnant or take medications.
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OstaB3-L 4x
Has over-the-counter USP progesterone cream (the real-deal cream)
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Ostaderm
40 mg per serving
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Buy on Fullscript OstaDerm-V
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Buy on Fullscript Phytob-L 4x (California Only)
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Buy on Fullscript Transitions Moisture Cream
Ready to find the root cause?
Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.