Emerita by Life-flo Pro-Gest Balancing Cream - Progesterone Cream for Women - Original Balancing Cream with USP Progesterone from Wild Yam, Fragrance Free, Made Without Parabens, 60-Day Guarantee, 2oz

After 7 years on HRT at $100-150/month for postmenopausal symptoms, I was amazed to discover USP plant-derived, bioidentical hormone creams right here on Amazon, for a fraction of the price. I like being able to take my health into my own hands also...no MD will let you continue HRT past 7 years, not in this medicolegal climate. As far as I can tell, the creams work just as well as the pricey prescription meds - and unlike pills, they will not raise your triglyceride levels or stress your liver. I expect that these otherwise carry the same risks as HRT, but I DON'T CARE. The risks of HRT are miniscule compared to the health impact of getting at most 2-4 hours of sleep a night, the high stress from hot flashes, brain fog, night sweats, mood swings, and the fracture risk from osteoporosis. I'm about 90% better with this, except that the insomnia only marginally improved. I'm looking forward to my next DEXA scan to see what this does for my osteoporosis.I've been aiming for a dose around 15 mg/day: 1/8 tsp at night and half that (pea-size) in the morning. I saw no benefit from higher doses except sedation as a side effect, and this is the dose recommended for post-menopause in John Lee's book. I tried to take the monthly hormone break (needed to prevent receptors from desensitizing), but all the symptoms came right back and I gave it up after 2 days. I ordered LIfe-flo Bi-estro cream to pair with this, as it's apparent that I need that as well. I'm amazed that you can buy this over the counter...praying that the FDA doesn't discover what we're all up to and try to plug that hole in Big Pharma's bottom line!

I am 53 years old. Ten months ago I started experiencing strong headaches and a strange fever-like symptom. I was sure it was a sinus infection. I went to my doctor who told me it wasn't a sinus problem. For months I was worried about the strange infection I had, but doctors told me I was fine. I didn't feel fine. I had severe heat in my upper body followed by strong chills. This happened every hour and I would wake up sweating and then freezing. I saw all types of doctors and took all types of natural herbs and remedies, nothing helped. Finally, after 8 months of suffering, I saw a gynecologist. He told me I was experiencing perimenopause. He refused to give me any hormone replacement medicine and told me that he was prescribing me Zoloft for the hot and chill flashes. He said hormone therapy could hurt organs such as the heart and ovaries. Immediately I went to the pharmacy got the Zoloft and started taking it. I was desperate to be normal again, sleep normal and wear normal clothes. That same night I felt as I had taken 3 cups of coffee. I was wired and I couldn't sleep. Zoloft wasn't for me. I stopped taking it. I spoke to my mother who told me that 30 years previously her gynecologist had said the same thing and refused to prescribe bioidentical or regular hormones. My health took a turn for the worse. I could not sleep and I was moody, foggy, and tired all the time. I couldn't work and my friends and family started to distance themselves. That's when I started researching on Amazon about medicines for menopause and hot/chill flashes symptoms. I noticed Emerita Pro-Gest had many good reviews. I read the reviews and decided to purchase the cream. I got the 2-ounce cream because I didn't know if it was going to work. I was sad but hopeful. During the first week, after the shower, I applied the cream all over my legs and arms. I was really desperate for it to work. I used about one tablespoon of cream per night. The intensity of the heat and chills started to decrease. After 7 days of applying the cream, I had noticed only one bout of heat followed by chills at night. I could sleep better after 7 days of using the cream. After the second week of using the cream every day after shower and applying about 1 tablespoon of cream, on my legs and arms, I noticed the number of heat and chills were diminishing. Now I had 2 attacks of heat and chills a day and none at night. I was so happy! By the end of the third week, ALL my heat and chills had disappeared and I was back to feeling normal again. Thank you, ladies, for writing your reviews. You helped me and I am writing my review so I can help others with my testimony. I purchased the cream myself and I didn't get any money to write this review.

Editing after 2 full weeks+ of use - upping one more star (original review to follow)Over two weeks now since I have been using Emerita Pro-gest. Hot Flashes were daily, many times a day before. Now maybe one every 3 or 4 days (and in the case of extreme stress). My libido is perking up. Most importantly, my inexplicably high blood pressure has returned to normal. I was definitely estrogen dominant and this has rectified my situation. So very happy with this brand and ease of use. Would still like a more measured application but I can eyeball it to get my normal life back! Very happy with this purchase and will buy a multi-pack next time.***********************Original review:So far so good but it's only been 4 days.I've only been using this for 4 days now but already my hot flashes have become few and far between. Combining this with NOW brand evening primrose oil and NOW Menopause Support supplements has almost stopped daily, frequent hot flashes that were very disruptive (I've been taking the supplements for about a month and they decreased, but didn't stop flashes). I'm feeling far more normal. The very most important reason I purchased this was because I have low blood progesterone levels which has resulted in a marked estrogen dominance, manifesting high blood pressure in a body that has no reason to have HBP (vegan, healthy, low cholesterol, active, nonsmoker, etc.). My hope is that this will renormalize the balance and I can conquer the blood pressure issue without pharmaceuticals. This will definitely take time to rectify so will update as I see or don't see improvement. Meanwhile, I like it. I can see where premeasured packs might be a bonus so you don't have to guess at the appropriate amount to use - or a pump dispenser to get it just right. I'm eyeballing 1/4 teaspoon twice a day and hoping it's right.