How Natural Progesterone Helps Prevent and Treat Breast Cancer

Did you know one of the safest (and most affordable) substances on Earth, which can help prevent and treat breast cancer, comes from the earth and is transformed in a lab? It’s progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. Progesterone is not just essential for reproductive health; it also offers major protection against breast cancer.

What Progesterone Does in the Body

Progesterone is a natural hormone made by the body that plays a key role in regulating menstrual cycles and keeping pregnancies healthy. But it’s more than just a hormone. It’s a vital part of the body's defense system against cancer.

The body makes progesterone from cholesterol, and it can also be derived from plant sources like the wild Mexican yam (Dioscorea). This progesterone is bioidentical, meaning it has the same structure as the hormone made in the body.

Progestin, on the other hand, is a synthetic hormone. It’s used in hormone replacement therapy and birth control to mimic some of the effects of progesterone, but it doesn’t have the same molecular structure. This difference in structure can lead to different biological effects.

Research suggests that progestins, unlike natural progesterone, do not provide the same protective effects against breast cancer and may even increase the risk of developing it. Over the decades, the data reveals a startling increase in breast cancer rates, which raises questions about our progress in cancer prevention and treatment.

Progesterone vs. Estrogen: Hormonal Balance

The main way that progesterone protects against cancer (and boosts our overall health) is by balancing estrogen's effects in the body. In the healthy female body, there should be about 10 times as much progesterone as estrogen. When this balance is disrupted, women experience a range of health issues, including a higher risk of breast cancer.

For example, as women approach menopause, they make less progesterone. This drop can lead to a hormonal imbalance with estrogen levels that are too high. High estrogen and low progesterone, often called “estrogen dominance,” is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.

While synthetic estrogens like tamoxifen have been hailed as miracle drugs in popular media, they come with their own set of challenges. For example, in a 1989 study, breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen reported symptoms of estrogen toxicity, including hot flashes, vaginal discharge, and irregular periods. Some reported more severe effects, such as depression, sleep problems, and headaches.

Award-winning researcher Dr. Alexander Lipschutz highlighted that estrogen could cause cancer if there isn’t enough progesterone to balance it. His findings underscore the critical need to maintain hormonal balance using options like progesterone supplements. Other studies have shown that natural progesterone can greatly reduce how often tumors form and even reverse the effects of estrogen-induced tumors.

In his book Nutrition for Women, biologist Ray Peat discusses how estrogen was identified as a promoter of breast cancer and other health issues as early as the 1930s. Progesterone, by contrast, has shown remarkable anti-tumor properties in various studies, fighting against the cancer-causing effects of estrogen.

Hormones and Breast Growth

Research has shown again and again that progesterone can slow the growth of breast cancer cells. It does so mostly by taming the growth of breast cells in general, whether they’re cancerous or not.

Breast growth is a team effort between estrogen and progesterone. While estrogen tells cells to multiply, progesterone keeps this effect under control by telling some cells to become other types of cells (instead of all being the same type, as in cancer). This balance is vital for normal breast health, and it becomes even more important for women focusing on breast cancer prevention.

Progesterone to Fight Breast Cancer

Without enough progesterone, the risk of breast cancer rises. In one example of a study showing this, researchers looked at 1,083 women treated for infertility. They found that after 13–33 years, the women with the lowest progesterone levels had a 5.4 times higher risk of breast cancer. These women also had 10 times as many deaths from all cancers and a lower rate of survival if they developed breast cancer.

Several clinical studies also highlight the role of progesterone in breast cancer treatment. For example, research has shown that in women who receive progesterone along with treatments like radiation and chemo, the cancer doesn’t come back as often. These women have better chances of survival as well. Progesterone fights cancer by slowing down the cell functions that help tumors grow.

Natural Progesterone: A Safe and Effective Option

Natural progesterone, especially in its bioidentical form, is safe and effective for long-term use. It’s derived from plants and chemically adjusted in a lab to precisely match the progesterone that the human body makes, which means a low risk of side effects and better outcomes. This makes bioidentical progesterone a top choice for many women seeking a natural approach to hormone therapy.

Adding natural progesterone into preventive healthcare or cancer treatment plans can be a game-changer for many women. Its ability to restore hormonal balance, coupled with its direct anti-cancer properties, position it as a critical element in the fight against breast cancer. As research continues to evolve, progesterone may make a huge impact on cancer science and on the lives of cancer patients.

At Raena, we offer progesterone in forms that are easy to absorb and easy to take consistently no matter your lifestyle. Explore your options and find answers to your questions about how bioidentical progesterone can benefit your health.