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Article: Wild Yam Cream, Diosgenin, and Natural Progesterone: What Can They Really Do for You?
- Article from:
- The Network News
- Article date:
- January 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 National Women's Health Network. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Amidst the large and sometimes confusing variety of hormone replacement therapy options, "natural" hormones have been growing in both visibility and popularity. Creams containing wild yam extracts or natural progesterone, or oral natural progesterone preparations are emerging as the HRT option of choice for some women. What are these products, and what is known about their safety and efficacy?
NATURAL PROGESTERONE
Progestins (or progestagens) are a class of compounds that includes progesterone, a hormone produced by the ovaries. "Natural" progesterone is derived from soybeans or, most commonly, from an inedible wild Mexican yam (Diascorea villosa). ...