PROGESTERONE PATIENT INFO

Where should I apply TPC? While TPC can be applied to any part of the body, we suggest that for best results it should be applied anywhere on your body where you blush. Dr. David Zava (ZRT Laboratories in Beaverton Oregon) reports rapid absorption when applied to the hands. It is often recommended that it be applied to a different part of the body with each application and to parts where there is a minimum of fat such as behind the knees and on the chest.

How much TPC should I use? TPC usage depends on your current hormonal and menstrual status. The following are general recommendations that should be confirmed or modified after consultation with your medical health care provider. Salivary hormone testing will provide information about your current levels of progesterone and help you assess the amount of natural progesterone that you need and the amount of TPC to use. Ask us about saliva test kits.

The following are general recommendations that may need to be modified for your specific situation:

Women in their reproductive years – still ovulating.  In this case, women would normally take TPC for PMS, painful cramping with periods, menstrual irregularities, and to protect against osteoporosis later in life. Begin using TPC after you have ovulated. Ovulation usually occurs about 10 to 12 days after your period begins. Count the day the period begins as the first day.  Apply one pump amount of TPC (20 mg. o f Progesterone USP) every day from day 12 to day 26.

Women who are perimenopausal (still menstruating with menopausal symptoms and/or PMS but not ovulating). Count the day the period begins as the first day.  Day 1 to 6, do not use TPC.  Day 7 to 27, Apply one pump amount of TPC (20 mg. Of Progesterone USP) every day.   If your period begins early, stop using TPC while you are bleeding. Count the first day of bleeding as one day of the cycle and begin the cycle again.  

Women who are post menopausal (for prevention or reversal of osteoporosis).  Choose a calendar day (e.g. the first day of the month) as day one. Day 1 – 25 apply one full pump of TPC daily.  Day 25 – 30 (or 31). Dr. John Lee suggests that the body be given a rest and progesterone not be applied during this period. We concur with this suggestion for most people.   

Women with severe osteoporosis.  Day 1 – 25 use one to two pumps of TPC per day.   Day 25 – 30 (or 31) . Dr. Lee suggests that the body be given a rest and progesterone not be applied during this period.  Important Note: It is strongly suggested that you consult with a Health Care Practitioner to monitor your bone density while using TPC. Dr. Lee recommends that a bone mineral density analysis be conducted annually to monitor progress. Dr. Lee also notes that age has no effect at all on the effectiveness of progesterone when used for osteoporosis. For more information see osteoporosis.

How long will a 3 oz container of TPC last?  Our container of TPC will deliver a guaranteed minimum of 60 pumps. Depending on the usage, one container of TPC will last up to 2 months.

Do I need a break from using the cream each month? Yes. For menstruating women it is important that the progesterone cream only be used from the 12^th to the 26^th day, counting the day the period starts as the first day. The reason is that the body uses progesterone to hold the blood lining in place during the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle. If the progester

one cream is used out of sequence, it will interfere with the menstrual cycle. For non-menstruating women, Dr. John Lee recommends that the cream be used for three weeks and a break of one week.

What is the shelf life of TPC?   TPC is compounded in our pharmacy and does not contain preservatives or unnecessary chemicals.  We do not have specific stability information. We recommend that you use your TPC within three months.  The actual shelf life is probably longer because the cream is encapsulated in an airtight container. With each use of the pump, a piston moves up underneath the cream to ensure that the remaining cream remains airtight.

Transdermal hormones are absorbed into the body shortly after being applied. People commonly apply the products after showering or bathing. There should be no concern about availability of the hormone if the area where the cream is applied is washed or shaved an hour or so after applying.

Here's a link to our saliva test catalog page.