Every doctor knows that testosterone increases sex drive, but unfortunately, most doctors may or may not be aware that progesterone increases sex drive.  When I graduated from medical school, I thought I knew everything about progesterone and hormones.  In reality, I knew nothing about progesterone and hormones.  I even thought that brand name prescription synthetic progestins were the same as Natural Progesterone.

Unfortunately, most physicians believe that there is no difference between Natural Progesterone and Progestins.  John Lee, MD would constantly marvel and revel in presenting the difference between Progestins and Natural Progesterone to physicians.  Most doctors would be shocked and then immediately be embarrassed. 

Natural progesterone is the same molecule your own body makes.  During the latter half of your menstrual cycle, your body makes 20-40 mg/day of Natural Progesterone.  And during pregnancy Natural Progesterone is mandatory to maintain a pregnancy.  You need progesterone to keep and maintain your pregnancy.  Progesterone is made by your own body.  Your body makes 20-40 mg/day during the first day of pregnancy.  Progesterone levels ramp up in a stupendous fashion so that during one day of third trimester pregnancy, your body is producing 400 mg/day of progesterone.

Women typically have extremely high libido during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.  This high sexual desire is thought to be due to the high levels of progesterone.

Multiple pregnant women have a smaller chance of breast cancer and endometrial cancer.  Natural Progesterone is thought to prevent these two cancers.

If you don’t make enough progesterone in the first trimester of pregnancy, then frequently you have a miscarriage.  It is also possible that you are using a cosmetic or toiletry on the skin that is a progesterone blocker or will decrease the gonadatropin releasing hormone.  Simply said, cosmetics and toiletries found in the department store or health food store can interfere with your progesterone and cause a miscarriage.  Frequently, these progesterone inadequacies or progesterone blocking herbs will cause a miscarriage during the 5-8 week time of pregnancy.  This is how the “morning after” pill works.  The “morning after” pill blocks progesterone.

The “morning after” pill is a hormone molecule that was chemically modified from the original progesterone.  It fits into the progesterone receptor, but does not stimulate it. It blocks your own naturally occurring progesterone, and voila you have a miscarriage.

Anything that blocks progesterone may cause low libido.  Thus, any “morning after” pill or herb that causes miscarriage will produce low sexual desire.  One of the side effects of Levonorgestrel, used for emergency contraception, or “Plan B”  on Drugs.com is “decreased libido”.

Furthermore, any herb that causes miscarriage may have the same low libido effect if the herb is causing miscarriage by blocking progesterone.  Aloe is used to create miscarriage during the first trimester in certain cultures.  Thus, aloe may decrease sexual desire.

Well, pharmaceutical companies have made other progestins and they put them in birth control pills.  Since Natural Progesterone is naturally made by your body, it is not “novel”.  Thus, Natural Progesterone cannot be patented.  If every one can make a Natural Progesterone cream, then there is price competition.  Then profits go down the tubes.

                                        

                                                  

                                                    

                                                  

 

                                                                                                                                

                                                    

                                                    

So what the pharmaceutical companies do is that they chemically modify the Natural Progesterone.  Then the “new molecule” is novel and is a new invention and can be patented.  Only they can make the progestin because they have the patent.  Then you run up the price.  You spend money on Drug Reps that make $60,000-$100,000 per year.  These Drug Reps would come to my office and wait for a day.  Then they would get ten minutes of my time.  They would throw down scientific papers that I didn’t have time to read. I would just read the conclusion and then prescribe the drug.  If I prescribed enough, then I would get free dinners and maybe even a free trip to the Bahamas or Hawaii.  Everyone benefits!  Except the patients.

Enter Natural Progesterone.  Natural Progesterone does NOT cause birth defects.  Brand name prescription Progestin DO cause birth defects.

Here is a partial list of side effects of Provera from a 1993 PDR.

WARNING

Increased risk of birth defects such as heart and limb defects if taken during the first four months of pregnancy.

Beagle dogs given this drug developed malignant mammary nodules. ("malignant mammary nodules" is equivalent to BREAST CANCER).

Discontinue this drug if there is a sudden or partial loss of vision.

This drug passes into breast milk consequences unknown.

May contribute to thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, and cerebral thrombosis.

PRECAUTIONS

May cause fluid retention, epilepsy, migraine, asthma, cardiac or renal dysfunction.

May cause breakthrough bleeding or menstrual irregularities.

May cause or contribute to depression.

The effect of prolonged use of this drug on pituitary, ovarian, adrenal, hepatic, or uterine function is unknown.

May decrease glucose tolerance; diabetic patients must be carefully monitored.

May increase the thrombotic disorders associated with estrogens.

I have many patients that regretted the use of injectable Medroxyprogesterone acetate because it lowered their sex drive.  In fact, you might web search law suit and a brand name synthetic progestin and low libido. As well as a brand name synthetic progestin and low sex drive or low sexual desire.