I can't sleep for the life of me. Valerian root helps a little. Would like to try the OMP, but don't know how to get it. I didn't see a link to Amazon and haven't gone to a medical doctor for many years. Does it require a prescription?
This was interesting to me, so I queried Anthem BCBS (my Medicare provider) for the brand name oral medication. Only progesterone generics are covered. Are they as good as (i.e., micronized) the brand name? I should add that my sleep has improved rather dramatically since I switched from Synthroid to desiccated bovine hormone. It has been a real struggle to sort out hormonal issues. My regular MD admitted his lack of expertise to me, and offered a referral to an endocrinologist. I declined, as my reading here suggests that it's unlikely one would be more helpful. My wife is also trying to sort out some hormonal issues adversely affecting sleep. She recently achieved some improvement with topical progesterone, and I've been urging her to get a complete thyroid panel done. MD's are so dense sometimes!
In studying your book covers, it appears you had a great head of hair on your DMSO book, then grew a great-looking beard for your chlorine dioxide book. If you could grow them both out at once, you’d look like you were in your second hippie-hood. (Sorry. Just my attempt at humor. 😆 )
After your May, 2026, article on Ray Peat, I ordered Natural Desiccated Thyroid from Thailand, using the link in your article. As soon as it arrived, I kicked my synth T4 to the curb and replaced it with a grain (60 mg) of NDT. My energy level is up a bit, but my basal temp has not yet risen, so I will probably add a second tablet at my 4-week anniversary.
Also in that article you mentioned micronized progesterone. I finally got around to ordering some from AllDayChemist, 100 mg softgels for me and 200 mg for my wife. I’m glad you mentioned here that progesterone will stop the aromatization of testosterone to estrogen. That wasn’t a problem when I was using testosterone cream, but when the compounding pharmacy stopped offering it, my PCP switched me to T-cypionate injections. My next hormone panel showed a spike in estrogen, so I was prescribed 1 mg/week of Arimidex (anastrozole) to block that. (Typical pharmaceutical cascade!) I’ll see if I can stop that when my progesterone hits steady state.
Stopped offering the transdermal? A compounding pharmacy? Snide remark alert, Randy: Transdermal is able to mimic more natural patterns, so it must be bad. Apparently, the pharmacist wants you to have non-physiologic highs and lows, and create metabolic disruption. Maybe they could do the Cartel-Pharma trick, like they did to women for decades and use equine derived products to really gum up the works and cause cancer. Then they can say, "See? Testosterone es muy Malo."
It wasn’t quite as conspiratorial as that. The state’s pharmacy regulating authority decreed that as of next Jan 1, all compounding had to be done in a “clean room,” with enhanced air filtration, fume hoods, etc. The pharmacy was in an old-timey (1940s) pharmacy & soda shop (complete with a costumed “soda jerk” making sodas from syrup & carbonated water and hand-scooping milkshakes). They didn’t have the ability to retrofit their “apothecary area” with the latest tech, so they stopped all compounding.
Thanks for the clarification. Indeed, many of the unable to comply CPs are going away with these regulations. Many modern CPs will take an RX and send by mail.
Small quibble: MPA stands for medroxyprogesterone acetate, not methylprogesterone acetate. The estrogen-plus-progestin arm of the WHI trial administered a daily oral dose of 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) [a.k.a. “horse hormones”] combined with 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate. This formulation was marketed under the brand name Prempro.
After reading your initial, exceĺlent article on hormones, and the health benefits of progesterone for men, I shared my OMP with my man. (200 mg) Wow! He sleeps well for the forst time in our 5 years together! He is happier, more positive, wakes up feeling refreshed, and overall states that he is feeling great.(he has been on testosterone, DHEA etc for those 5 years, but the sleep part has always been problematic) I wish I had understood years ago that progesterone is not 'inflammatory' in men. Having taken World Link Medical course several times, I should have had the healthy skepticism to look deeper into the subject, as so many of my male clients could have enjoyed the positive health effects. Even trusted sources ( your article on Methylene Blue and Dr Breggin, and now this) can be incorrect.
Thank you very much for your contribution to Les's health, and sharing your vast medical experience. He says thank you too!
If you have a moment, but no pressure, do you think that oral estradiol is beneficial for men's cardiovascular health and PSA 'management'?
I would like to use full strength dmso diluted to an unknown concentration for correcting normal vision loss at age 65 and perhaps to try for make pattern baldness. What concentrations would you advise for either?
I'd recommend 50 or 75% for the outside of the eyelids or the male pattern baldness. The material, when put on the eyelids, penetrates through to the retina and corrects visual problems. If this stings or seems too strong, just dilute it further.
I have used it, to counteract likely increases in estrogen levels following the strong increase in T levels that came with my use of very low-dose enclomiphene.
I didn't get any obvious benefits, as I did not do blood work after... no negative effects either. I was going bald, perhaps it sped it up a bit...?
" The cardiac concern tied to progesterone in men traces to confusion between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins such as medroxyprogesterone acetate..."
Is this where Dr. Rouzier erred? Hard to imagine from him.
I’m also wondering about bone density in men - as progesterone increases bone density in women (and resolved my mom’s incontinence many years ago) and - a male friend with brittle bone disease - who can’t seem to tolerate the associated medications - I don’t see why it wouldn’t work similarly in bone density in men?
Maybe reference (the late) Dr John R Lee, in book - Natural Progesterone - chapter 3 - What are progestins?
I also recall an AM radio ‘podcast’ many years ago where Dr Lee commented that progesterone (transdermal cream) appeared effective in about 80% of his male patients - balancing excess estrogens and xeno-estrogens.
Robert, I am glad you wrote on this. Years ago my HRT provider put me on oral progesterone, worked up to 60 mg nightly as an alternative to potential aromatization, and as he put it, prostate protection. (I carry very little belly fat, so conversion was always minimal.) My testosterone is transdermal, in hydrogel, applied in the AM and washed off in the evening.
Now I live in another state, and the providers here are lackadaisical with testing--they only labs for total Testosterone in some facilities and say, "we just go with how your feeling", or only want to do injections or now oral forms of testosterone.
I supplement the cascade, Pregnenolone, DHEA, Testosterone and Progesterone.
I wish a doctor of your integrity and attention to detail was in my area.
Who are you talking to? If it's me, where did I mention the PSA test? Why did you bring it up? And when, in your "considered medical opinion" DOES the PSA test have value? Can you answer that without help?
The trouble with the PSA test, as you can read about in "Butchered by Healthcare," which I recommend, is that it leads to these horrible operations called radical prostatectomy that have very little utility. When compared with the mortality of the disease and the overall risks of prostate cancer, only 2% of men die of prostate cancer, and 70% get it before they die. Grab your copy of "Butchered by Healthcare" and read the PSA section.
Of course you are correct about the misuse. As an example of appropriate use, I entered a walk-in with pain and dysuria, so they ran a PSA. It was 19. Bactrim solved a sudden onset infection no-one could figure where it originated, especially in a marries--to a woman--heterosexual.
Thankfully, nobody wanted to send me for a biopsy!
IMO, the PSA test has VERY limited, if any value... perhaps regular monitoring and examination of rapidly increasing scores is called for... but some UroDocs use it to push for expensive and invasive follow-on tests, MRIs... biopsies... etc...
I had a "9" PSA once... Doc panicked... I told him to chill, took it again 6 weeks later... less than a "2". Dumped his lame ass.
Well, you got it one. Substantial velocity warrants concern, such as a rise of more than 0.75 ng/mL from the last testing, based on the patient, their activities, age and any presenting symptoms. A sudden rise from very low levels to 9 ng/mL is a concern with a differential diagnosis worth considering. The doc was right to be concerned. Even at 9, the cause can be benign and since you're here with us discussing the doctor being lame, you had a benign issue, but infection, recent trauma and cancer would be worth consideration.
I don't disagree that a follow up PSA would be called for... he wanted m to go right into a MRI and biopsy.
PLUS... here's the juice on that jagoff... he had the PSA blood draw done immediately after doing a DRE. Can you imagine the incompetence (or corruption) in THAT??
And IMO, no, a "9" is not automatically cause for concern... only a rapid upward progression would be reason to go to the MRI, NOT a biopsy. A 9 followed by a 2 means the 9 was invalid... as so many PSA scores are.
I spoke with Dr. Vorstman (Doc in link)... good man and disgusted by the PSA testing abuse for profit.
Of course the DRE would compromise the validity of the PSA test. That seems like a clown show. A 9 is a cause for concern if your last score was low, since that is the definition of high velocity. I seem to recall a PSA of 4-6 suggests a 50% chance of a cancer in the prostate. Your instincts seem appropriate in the final analysis.
The problem with all healthcare, it can used as a license to steal. I thought it was terrible in the 1970s, when private little hospitals leased office space to doctors, gave them privileges, and ran this huge 3 day "full exam" scam on healthy 30 year olds with then compliant insurance. X-rays, labs, cardiac monitoring, and a 2 night stay. Every doctor was supplying the hospital patients, "hey, it's the way to go, let's be sure about your health, Jack..." and bring on the charges! Whoopee! Radiologists were shoveling in the fees: IVP, Barium Enema, followed the next day by Upper GI and Small bowl follow through. Hey, the radiologist saw "something". Do a barium swallow as well. Labs? Bare bones compared to modern labs, but still doing everything they could dream up. This was the kind of stuff that led insurance companies to put the brakes on, develop the RVS coding system, and ride herd on the overcharges.
In order of corruption, it's pediatrics for their poisonous vaccines, psychiatry for their completely ineffective and undocumented, by any trial, medications, then probably oncology and possibly urology.
I have a friend who went to the VA, had a PSA come back at "8".
They talked him into having his prostate removed!! I don't think they even did a Gleason score on him... and he used to be a guy that was really active sexually... girlfriend AND lots of "Tinder" sluts.
Surgery rendered him totally incontinent and no more erections. Ruined him.
I tried preg once (from Health Natura) for a few days and it gave me ED. I have read other men online say the same, though it's not universal. Fortunately, it fully resolved within 24 hours after stopping the preg. Kind of weird to learn that my sexuality can just be turned off like a switch.
I really doubt that pregnenolone caused your ED... if you have some links supporting that, I'd like to see them... several AIs say no way. As a precursor to T... unlikely.
I have used it orally and topically... without issues.
Pregnenolone is the upstream precursor to DHEA and the sex hormones, converted from cholesterol. Some people call it the "mother hormone", but actually, one might say that's a label that could be applied to Cholesterol as well.
I can't sleep for the life of me. Valerian root helps a little. Would like to try the OMP, but don't know how to get it. I didn't see a link to Amazon and haven't gone to a medical doctor for many years. Does it require a prescription?
This is spot on…You are one of the few who have not been blinded by big-pharma.
I started my deep dive into Bioidentical Progesterone 20 years ago…The benefits of this natural hormone are for men and women are massive…
And YES, I agree it’s protective against prostate cancer. Hormone balance is the key…estrogen dominance is the enemy.
This was interesting to me, so I queried Anthem BCBS (my Medicare provider) for the brand name oral medication. Only progesterone generics are covered. Are they as good as (i.e., micronized) the brand name? I should add that my sleep has improved rather dramatically since I switched from Synthroid to desiccated bovine hormone. It has been a real struggle to sort out hormonal issues. My regular MD admitted his lack of expertise to me, and offered a referral to an endocrinologist. I declined, as my reading here suggests that it's unlikely one would be more helpful. My wife is also trying to sort out some hormonal issues adversely affecting sleep. She recently achieved some improvement with topical progesterone, and I've been urging her to get a complete thyroid panel done. MD's are so dense sometimes!
In studying your book covers, it appears you had a great head of hair on your DMSO book, then grew a great-looking beard for your chlorine dioxide book. If you could grow them both out at once, you’d look like you were in your second hippie-hood. (Sorry. Just my attempt at humor. 😆 )
After your May, 2026, article on Ray Peat, I ordered Natural Desiccated Thyroid from Thailand, using the link in your article. As soon as it arrived, I kicked my synth T4 to the curb and replaced it with a grain (60 mg) of NDT. My energy level is up a bit, but my basal temp has not yet risen, so I will probably add a second tablet at my 4-week anniversary.
Also in that article you mentioned micronized progesterone. I finally got around to ordering some from AllDayChemist, 100 mg softgels for me and 200 mg for my wife. I’m glad you mentioned here that progesterone will stop the aromatization of testosterone to estrogen. That wasn’t a problem when I was using testosterone cream, but when the compounding pharmacy stopped offering it, my PCP switched me to T-cypionate injections. My next hormone panel showed a spike in estrogen, so I was prescribed 1 mg/week of Arimidex (anastrozole) to block that. (Typical pharmaceutical cascade!) I’ll see if I can stop that when my progesterone hits steady state.
Stopped offering the transdermal? A compounding pharmacy? Snide remark alert, Randy: Transdermal is able to mimic more natural patterns, so it must be bad. Apparently, the pharmacist wants you to have non-physiologic highs and lows, and create metabolic disruption. Maybe they could do the Cartel-Pharma trick, like they did to women for decades and use equine derived products to really gum up the works and cause cancer. Then they can say, "See? Testosterone es muy Malo."
It wasn’t quite as conspiratorial as that. The state’s pharmacy regulating authority decreed that as of next Jan 1, all compounding had to be done in a “clean room,” with enhanced air filtration, fume hoods, etc. The pharmacy was in an old-timey (1940s) pharmacy & soda shop (complete with a costumed “soda jerk” making sodas from syrup & carbonated water and hand-scooping milkshakes). They didn’t have the ability to retrofit their “apothecary area” with the latest tech, so they stopped all compounding.
Thanks for the clarification. Indeed, many of the unable to comply CPs are going away with these regulations. Many modern CPs will take an RX and send by mail.
Small quibble: MPA stands for medroxyprogesterone acetate, not methylprogesterone acetate. The estrogen-plus-progestin arm of the WHI trial administered a daily oral dose of 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) [a.k.a. “horse hormones”] combined with 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate. This formulation was marketed under the brand name Prempro.
A death sentence by any name.
After reading your initial, exceĺlent article on hormones, and the health benefits of progesterone for men, I shared my OMP with my man. (200 mg) Wow! He sleeps well for the forst time in our 5 years together! He is happier, more positive, wakes up feeling refreshed, and overall states that he is feeling great.(he has been on testosterone, DHEA etc for those 5 years, but the sleep part has always been problematic) I wish I had understood years ago that progesterone is not 'inflammatory' in men. Having taken World Link Medical course several times, I should have had the healthy skepticism to look deeper into the subject, as so many of my male clients could have enjoyed the positive health effects. Even trusted sources ( your article on Methylene Blue and Dr Breggin, and now this) can be incorrect.
Thank you very much for your contribution to Les's health, and sharing your vast medical experience. He says thank you too!
If you have a moment, but no pressure, do you think that oral estradiol is beneficial for men's cardiovascular health and PSA 'management'?
Laurie
I would like to use full strength dmso diluted to an unknown concentration for correcting normal vision loss at age 65 and perhaps to try for make pattern baldness. What concentrations would you advise for either?
I'd recommend 50 or 75% for the outside of the eyelids or the male pattern baldness. The material, when put on the eyelids, penetrates through to the retina and corrects visual problems. If this stings or seems too strong, just dilute it further.
Is topical progesterone cream perhaps less risky?
I have used it, to counteract likely increases in estrogen levels following the strong increase in T levels that came with my use of very low-dose enclomiphene.
I didn't get any obvious benefits, as I did not do blood work after... no negative effects either. I was going bald, perhaps it sped it up a bit...?
It only lasts around two hours in the blood, unfortunately, so the micronized version is better.
I will stick with tampons, thank you.
No longer "follow the science" of the drug trust.
Heart disease was unknown before 1920.
Hiya, Bard! How's life over at C&C?? I bailed, could no longer stand the Trump sycophancy.
Still goofy over there?
" The cardiac concern tied to progesterone in men traces to confusion between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins such as medroxyprogesterone acetate..."
Is this where Dr. Rouzier erred? Hard to imagine from him.
I’m also wondering about bone density in men - as progesterone increases bone density in women (and resolved my mom’s incontinence many years ago) and - a male friend with brittle bone disease - who can’t seem to tolerate the associated medications - I don’t see why it wouldn’t work similarly in bone density in men?
Thank you!!
Can't do any harm, but testosterone is the big winner in this area for men.
It seems inexplicable to me as well. Anyone who has more information on these subjects, please attack me in the comments.
Maybe reference (the late) Dr John R Lee, in book - Natural Progesterone - chapter 3 - What are progestins?
I also recall an AM radio ‘podcast’ many years ago where Dr Lee commented that progesterone (transdermal cream) appeared effective in about 80% of his male patients - balancing excess estrogens and xeno-estrogens.
Thank you for this very interesting article!!
Low estrogen caused by estrogen blockers is a far greater health risk than excess estrogen.
Robert, I am glad you wrote on this. Years ago my HRT provider put me on oral progesterone, worked up to 60 mg nightly as an alternative to potential aromatization, and as he put it, prostate protection. (I carry very little belly fat, so conversion was always minimal.) My testosterone is transdermal, in hydrogel, applied in the AM and washed off in the evening.
Now I live in another state, and the providers here are lackadaisical with testing--they only labs for total Testosterone in some facilities and say, "we just go with how your feeling", or only want to do injections or now oral forms of testosterone.
I supplement the cascade, Pregnenolone, DHEA, Testosterone and Progesterone.
I wish a doctor of your integrity and attention to detail was in my area.
It's my belief that testosterone protects you from prostate cancer.
Agreed. And remember the men who were brought to depression and suicide by chemical castration for prostate CA?
Still falling for the PSA test for prostate protection?
Who are you talking to? If it's me, where did I mention the PSA test? Why did you bring it up? And when, in your "considered medical opinion" DOES the PSA test have value? Can you answer that without help?
The trouble with the PSA test, as you can read about in "Butchered by Healthcare," which I recommend, is that it leads to these horrible operations called radical prostatectomy that have very little utility. When compared with the mortality of the disease and the overall risks of prostate cancer, only 2% of men die of prostate cancer, and 70% get it before they die. Grab your copy of "Butchered by Healthcare" and read the PSA section.
Of course you are correct about the misuse. As an example of appropriate use, I entered a walk-in with pain and dysuria, so they ran a PSA. It was 19. Bactrim solved a sudden onset infection no-one could figure where it originated, especially in a marries--to a woman--heterosexual.
Thankfully, nobody wanted to send me for a biopsy!
IMO, the PSA test has VERY limited, if any value... perhaps regular monitoring and examination of rapidly increasing scores is called for... but some UroDocs use it to push for expensive and invasive follow-on tests, MRIs... biopsies... etc...
I had a "9" PSA once... Doc panicked... I told him to chill, took it again 6 weeks later... less than a "2". Dumped his lame ass.
Info:
https://bvorstman.medium.com/why-some-cures-are-worse-than-the-disease-61a99ba7152c
That's another good point. Most PSA tests that are elevated are infections and can be treated with Bactrim.
I used "The 8 day lemon juice fast for prostate cancer" book.
After 2 days you dont even think of food.
Lemon juice replaces lost electrolytes to the brain.
PSA of a teenager.
When I had a perfect PSA he still wanted a biopsy.
That was the last doctor I ever visited.
Sometimes they use the genetics option $ if a family member had also been (mis?) Diagnosed with the disea$e.
I think Bactrim IS effective against e coli UTIs.. but gave me bad side effects... Cefpodoxime worked well with far fewer.
But Bactrim seems to be the mos recommended.
Hell, I get sides from everything except top-shelf white tequila!
Well, you got it one. Substantial velocity warrants concern, such as a rise of more than 0.75 ng/mL from the last testing, based on the patient, their activities, age and any presenting symptoms. A sudden rise from very low levels to 9 ng/mL is a concern with a differential diagnosis worth considering. The doc was right to be concerned. Even at 9, the cause can be benign and since you're here with us discussing the doctor being lame, you had a benign issue, but infection, recent trauma and cancer would be worth consideration.
I don't disagree that a follow up PSA would be called for... he wanted m to go right into a MRI and biopsy.
PLUS... here's the juice on that jagoff... he had the PSA blood draw done immediately after doing a DRE. Can you imagine the incompetence (or corruption) in THAT??
And IMO, no, a "9" is not automatically cause for concern... only a rapid upward progression would be reason to go to the MRI, NOT a biopsy. A 9 followed by a 2 means the 9 was invalid... as so many PSA scores are.
I spoke with Dr. Vorstman (Doc in link)... good man and disgusted by the PSA testing abuse for profit.
Doctors rise the PSA with a digital exam then send you to to their colleague $ for a biopsy.
There is a significant point of view that PSA has no utility.
Of course the DRE would compromise the validity of the PSA test. That seems like a clown show. A 9 is a cause for concern if your last score was low, since that is the definition of high velocity. I seem to recall a PSA of 4-6 suggests a 50% chance of a cancer in the prostate. Your instincts seem appropriate in the final analysis.
The problem with all healthcare, it can used as a license to steal. I thought it was terrible in the 1970s, when private little hospitals leased office space to doctors, gave them privileges, and ran this huge 3 day "full exam" scam on healthy 30 year olds with then compliant insurance. X-rays, labs, cardiac monitoring, and a 2 night stay. Every doctor was supplying the hospital patients, "hey, it's the way to go, let's be sure about your health, Jack..." and bring on the charges! Whoopee! Radiologists were shoveling in the fees: IVP, Barium Enema, followed the next day by Upper GI and Small bowl follow through. Hey, the radiologist saw "something". Do a barium swallow as well. Labs? Bare bones compared to modern labs, but still doing everything they could dream up. This was the kind of stuff that led insurance companies to put the brakes on, develop the RVS coding system, and ride herd on the overcharges.
Same happened to me.
Never went to a doctor again.
Big money in cancer butchering.
In order of corruption, it's pediatrics for their poisonous vaccines, psychiatry for their completely ineffective and undocumented, by any trial, medications, then probably oncology and possibly urology.
I have a friend who went to the VA, had a PSA come back at "8".
They talked him into having his prostate removed!! I don't think they even did a Gleason score on him... and he used to be a guy that was really active sexually... girlfriend AND lots of "Tinder" sluts.
Surgery rendered him totally incontinent and no more erections. Ruined him.
A like on your comment would be inappropriate! Wish there was another option such as a grrrrr red face emoji. 🤬That is disgraceful...poor man!
That's just criminal malpractice. His sexual activity prior to testing was likely the cause of the PSA number. Horrific.
Does Pregnenolone work the same way?
I tried preg once (from Health Natura) for a few days and it gave me ED. I have read other men online say the same, though it's not universal. Fortunately, it fully resolved within 24 hours after stopping the preg. Kind of weird to learn that my sexuality can just be turned off like a switch.
I really doubt that pregnenolone caused your ED... if you have some links supporting that, I'd like to see them... several AIs say no way. As a precursor to T... unlikely.
I have used it orally and topically... without issues.
Pregnenolone is the upstream precursor to DHEA and the sex hormones, converted from cholesterol. Some people call it the "mother hormone", but actually, one might say that's a label that could be applied to Cholesterol as well.
Here is a link to look at the pathway:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1172/1058/files/Hormone_Cascade.png?v=1625702935