Limited evidenceWomen's health

Progesterone Cream

An over-the-counter transdermal cream whose absorption is erratic and whose clinical record is one small trial from 1999. It should not be relied on to protect the uterine lining when taking estrogen.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

Hot flashes Limited evidence
A single randomized placebo-controlled trial in 102 postmenopausal women reported that transdermal progesterone cream improved vasomotor symptoms. It has not been convincingly replicated in the quarter century since.
Bone loss Limited evidence
The same trial found no effect on bone mineral density, and a critical review of transdermal progesterone creams concluded that blood levels achieved are generally too low and too variable to produce reliable systemic effects.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe trial used a cream delivering about 20 mg of progesterone applied daily to the skin. Retail products range from trace amounts of wild yam extract, which the body does not convert to progesterone, to 20-40 mg per measured dose.

SafetySkin irritation and breast tenderness are reported. The important risk is misuse: OTC cream has not been shown to reach levels that oppose estrogen's effect on the endometrium, so it must not substitute for prescribed progesterone in women using estrogen therapy with an intact uterus. Products labelled only as wild yam contain no progesterone at all.

Scientific references

Transdermal progesterone cream for vasomotor symptoms and postmenopausal bone loss
Leonetti HB, Longo S, Anasti JN — Obstet Gynecol, 1999
Transdermal progesterone creams for postmenopausal women: more hype than hope?
Wren BG — Med J Aust, 2005

Where to buy

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