Related Articles

A Dr. Phil Interview about PMS
Natural progesterone, natural hormones and PMS get the spotlight when Dr. Phil interviews Holly Anderson about progesterone and PMS. Here are some excerpts with commentary.

A Story about Depo-Provera
A fit and healthy young woman drops into a nightmare of pain and disability after getting Depo-Provera shots.

Bioidentical (Natural) Hormones and Breast Cancer
Bioidentical (natural) hormones, used wisely, do not increase the risk of breast cancer in women, and there is plenty of evidence-based science to back this up.

Bioidentical (Natural) Hormones and Heart Disease
Bioidentical (natural) hormones, used wisely, may lower heart disease risk in women.

Bioidentical Estrogen - How Much to Take and When
A little bit of estrogen goes a long way.

Bioidentical Hormone FAQs
Frequently asked questions about bioidentical hormones, including, what is a bioidentical hormone, and what is a synthetic hormone?

Bioidentical Hormone Research and References
An extensive list of bioidentical hormone research and references.

Bioidentical Hormones Work Better for Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)
A small study from Scotland shows natural hormones are safer than oral contraceptives for young women with ovarian failure.

Brain Research and Progesterone
Emerging brain research shows that progesterone affects every neural cell in the brain and is made in some parts of the brain.

Breast Cancer News and Reviews
Here's where to find news about breast cancer research, and reviews of breast cancer studies by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins

Breast Cancer Research for Your Doubting Doctor
Beautifully done research from Italy shows how progesterone protects against breast cancer and looks at the underlying causes of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors - New Findings
Long-term use of antibiotics is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, while long-term use of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin) is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.

Buyer Be Aware Reports
Timely articles about widely used drugs and other products that may be more dangerous than you think and may have side effects you haven't been told about.

Buyer be Aware Report on Mirena
Become fully informed about this method of contraception before you consider using it.

Hormone Balance Made Simple Chap 1
Read Chapter 1 of Dr. John Lee's Hormone Balance Made Simple by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins.

Cortisol and the Stress Connection
In this article originally published in the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter, Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explain how the adrenal hormone cortisol work in the body, and how too much or too little can affect your health.

Cortisol Levels, Thyroid Function and Aging
A fascinating interview from the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter with Dr. David Zava, about how cortisol levels affect thyroid function and aging.

DHEA Supplements and Hormone Levels
Taking a DHEA supplement has a direct effect on other hormone levels. This small but important study demonstrates how DHEA affects other hormones.

Dietary Guidelines for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a multi-faceted problem and not just a calcium deficiency disease. Dr. john Lee explains how a bone building diet and overall good nutrition can make all the difference in keeping bones strong.

Articles by Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins co-wrote hundreds of articles, most of them originally published in the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter. Those available on this website are listed here.

Dr. John Lee Comments on a Progesterone Study
Dr. John Lee comments on Dr. Helene Leonetti's progesterone research.

Dr. John Lee's 3 Rules for BHRT
A Dr. John Lee classic - clear, commonsense guidelines for when and how to use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), also called natural hormone replacement therapy (NHRT).

It's Official - Less Synthetic HRT = Less Breast Cancer
As the use of synthetic HRT has dropped, breast cancer rates have dropped, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Hormone Research: Endometriosis and Progesterone
In this study, monkeys with endometriosis got relief from continuous dose progesterone. This research helps confirm Dr. Lee's endometriosis protocol that recommends large doses of progesterone.

Environmental Illness
A fascinating and informative interview from the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter with William J. Rea, M.D., a pioneer and the leading researcher and clinician in the field of environmental medicine and chemical sensitivity, which is the treatment of illness caused by food and environmental factors as wide-ranging as such as pesticides, air and water pollution, solvents and formaldehyde, gas stoves, fragrances, and electromagnetic fields.

Estriol - the Safe Estrogen Hormone
Estriol is a safe estrogen hormone that has been used for decades in Europe to treat hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Estriol: Congress Agrees We Have a Right to Use It
In response to the outpouring of protest from thousands of women across America whose right to use estriol has been taken away, members of the House of Representatives stepped up and introduced a bipartisan Sense of the Congress resolution.

Estrogen Advice from Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee gives straight answers to what women want to know about estrogen, including what kind of estrogen to take and how much.

Estrogen Pill vs. Estrogen Cream or Patch - Which Works Best?
Dr. Jane Murray explains why the estrogen patch or estrogen cream is better for a woman's body than an estrogen pill.

Progesterone Cream FAQs
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins answer frequently asked questions about natural progesterone cream include: what is natural progesterone; how to use natural progesterone cream; what dosage to use; real progesterone vs. progestins; how safe is progesterone, and when to use progesterone cream.

Fibroids and Natural Progesterone
Dr. John Lee explains the connection between fibroids and hormones such as progesterone and estrogen.

Fibroid Q&A with Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee answers a question about fibroids from a woman nearing menopause.

Gallbladder Disease and Hormones
Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones, probably largely due to unidentified estrogen dominance and the excessive estrogen used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

How to Get Off HRT
Questions and Answers from Dr. Lee and Virginia Hopkins about how to get off HRT and onto natural hormones, also known as bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT). How to have balanced hormones, and relief from menopausal symptoms, without using conventional HRT.

Hormone Balance and Nutrition
A few tips from Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins about how nutrition can affect your hormone balance.

Hormone Balance for Men by Dr. John Lee

Introduction to Hormone Balance Made Simple
Virginia Hopkins' introduction to Hormone Balance Made Simple, which she co-authored with Dr. John Lee, about natural progesterone and how to get your hormones balanced.

How Can a Woman Lower Testosterone?
Women can lower their testosterone levels naturally with the right dietary choices.

Depression and Hormones
An interview with Robert Gottesman, M.D. from the John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter about how hormone imbalance can cause depression.

Find a Doctor Who Uses Bioidentical Hormones
How to find a doctor who uses bioidentical hormones, and how to work with your current doctor.

How to Prevent Osteoporosis
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins give women helpful information on how to prevent osteoporosis by giving information on what to avoid as well as lifestyle tips.

How to Interpret Your Saliva Hormone Test
Dr. John Lee explains how to read a saliva hormone test.

How to Sleep Better
Many menopausal women have trouble sleeping, also called insomnia, but this article on how to sleep better by Dr. John Lee will help everyone get a better night's sleep.

How to Treat Fibroids Naturally
An interview with Carolyn DeMarco, M.D. on natural treatment for fibroids and heavy bleeding.

HRT and Osteoporosis
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explain why progesterone is as least as important as estrogen when it comes to building and maintaining bone density in women around the time of menopause.

HRT, Breast Cancer and the Women's Health Initiative
An article by Dr. John Lee about why the risks of conventional HRT outweigh the benefits, and how major research, including the Women's Health Inititive (WHI) and the Million Women Study have finally made that clear.

Hysterectomy and Bioidentical Hormones
An explanation of why women with hysterectomies are so often told by their doctors that they don't need progesterone because they don't have a uterus. It's the difference between biodentical and synthetic.

Infertility: Getting Pregnant and Staying Pregnant
Dr. John Lee shares stories from his practice about helping women get pregnant and explains what causes infertility, how fertility works and how to prevent a miscarriage.

Insomnia and Hormones
Some types of hormone imbalance can contribute to sleepless nights. Find out what might be causing your tossing and turning.

Intro: What Your Dr May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer
Here's where you can read the introduction to Dr. John Lee's informative and useful book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Breast Cancer."

Introduction to Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee was a pioneer in the field of natural hormones, also called bioidentical hormones. Here's where to find out more about Dr. John Lee and the history of his revolutionary discoveries about natural hormones, and in particular, progesterone cream.

Is DCA a Cure for Cancer?
News about a chemical called dichloroacetic acid (DCA), an inexpensive drug that may cure cancer without side effects, is making the rounds of cyber space at warp speed.

Natural Progesterone Creams
A list of progesterone creams.

Melatonin Research with Comments
New research on melatonin comes out every week. Here's where to find the latest science on this important hormone, with commentary by Virginia Hopkins.

Melatonin Supplement Recommendations
Recommendations for how and when to take melatonin supplements, and in what form, along with tips for going to sleep more easily and waking up brighter.

Melatonin: Hormone of Sleep and More
Melatonin is a hormone that helps us get to sleep, but it also helps balance hormones, boost the immune system, balance brain chemicals and prevent cancer.

Men's Hormones by Dr. John Lee
Testosterone deficiency in middle-aged men is often called male menopause or andropause. Dr. John Lee discusses what hormone imbalance means in males and how to supplement with testosterone.

Men - Take the Hormone Balance Test
Men have hormone imbalances that can cause fatigue, weight gain, foggy thinking, irritability, prostate problems and loss of sex drive. Find out if you or a man in your life might be suffering from andropause.

Why Test These Hormones?
What it means when testosterone, DHEA and growth hormone are low or high in men. How testing hormones can help achieve male hormone balance. Why each recommended hormone is relevant to hormone balance for men.

Men's Hormone Research
Research about men's hormones.

Menopause Book Chapter 1
Here's where you can read chapter one of Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins' best-selling book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause.

More About John R. Lee, M.D.
Dr. John Lee was a pioneer in the field of natural hormones, also called bioidentical hormones. Here's where to find out more about Dr. John Lee and the history of his revolutionary discoveries about natural hormones, and in particular, progesterone cream.

More Evidence that Vitamin D Protects Against Breast Cancer
A new study shows that women with low vitamin D levels are at a higher risk for breast cancer, but women on HRT aren't as well protected.

Natural Progesterone - An Introduction
An introduction to natural progesterone.

Natural Progesterone - What Women Say
What women say about how natural progesterone has helped them restore hormone balance and combat estrogen dominance, plus what natural progesterone is and its effects in the body.

Open Letter to Oprah about Bioidentical Hormones
An open letter to Oprah about her show on bioidentical hormones.

Dr. Christiane Northrup Shares Her Wisdom of Menopause with Oprah
Who better to give Oprah menopause advice than Dr. Christiane Northrup, one of the pioneers in the use of natural hormones, and an articulate, thoughtful voice for making the menopausal transition with awareness.

Your Ovaries and PCOS with Dr. Jerilyn Prior
An interview with Jerilyn Prior, M.D., one of the top researchers on the subject of women's hormones, and ovulation and PCOS in particular.

PMS and Hormones
Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explain why premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the most common health complaint of premenopausal women. While there are no magic bullets, hormone balance and progesterone in particular can help PMS, and why estrogen dominance is related to PMS.

PMS and Stress
Stress can be a direct cause of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and it can certainly make it worse. Stress creates high cortisol levels, which creates hormone imbalances. Excerpted from What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about PREmenopause by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

PMS and the Stress Connection
Stress can be a direct cause of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and it can certainly make it worse. Stress creates high cortisol levels, which creates hormone imbalances. Excerpted from What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about PREmenopause by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Postpartum Depression, Stress and Nutrition
An article by Dr. Dean Raffelock about how stress and poor nutrition can contribute to postpartum depression.

Premenopause Book Chapter 1
Excerpts from Chapter One of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About PREmenopause, by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins, including why you might recognize your hormone imbalance symptoms in this book if you're between the ages of thirty and fifty, and why you can look forward to perimenopause and menopause.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
No it's not all in your head! Here's where to find articles about PMS by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Progesterone and Estrogen Effects
Progesterone and estrogen balance each other in the body. Here is a list of estrogen's effects on the body, and the complementary effects of progesterone. Both hormones have important effects throughout the body.

Progesterone and Osteoporosis
Dr. John Lee explains that osteoporosis diagnosis usually comes around the time of menopause, when hormones are often imbalance, and how both progesterone and estrogen can help maintain healthy bones.

Progesterone Cream and Pregnancy
Which progesterone cream to use when getting and staying pregnant.

Cancer Warning on Progesterone Cream Labels
Does the warning on progesterone cream labels that progesterone may cause cancer really mean anything? Not much, and here's why.

Prostate Cancer (PSA) Testing
PSA tests are the gold standard for detecting prostate cancer, but they are fraught with problems. Dr. Lee discusses the pros and cons of various types of prostate testing, including the PSA test.

Mammograms - Should We or Shouldn't We?
Dr. John Lee makes a strong case that routine mammograms don't save lives and may be more harmful than helpful.

Saliva Test FAQs
Here's practical information about the process of ordering your saliva test, what to do when you receive it, how to return it, and how to read the results.

Saliva Test Q & As
Questions from women about saliva testing, answers from Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Saliva Tests vs. Blood Tests by Dr. John Lee
Dr. John Lee explains why it's so important to use saliva testing vs. serum blood testing when trying to determine the cause of a hormone imbalance.

Short Articles on Nutrition and Hormones
Short articles from the Hopkins Health Watch on how nutrition affects hormones.

Should a Teenage Girl take DHEA?
My teenage daughter has an irregular menstrual cycle. Would DHEA benefit her? Would it help regulate her cycle?

Abnormal Pap Smears Revert to Normal with Simple Treatment
Dr. John Lee shares a simple treatment for an abnormal pap smear.

Soy and Hormone Balance
Is soy really a health food, or does it have too many antinutrients to qualify? And does it really help menopause symptoms? Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins weigh in on whether soy is really the health food it is advertised to be and whether it helps menopause symptoms.

Soy Foods and Menopause
Soy is widely touted as a cure-all for menopausal symptoms, but does it really work, and do you really want to eat that much soy?

Suzanne Somers and The Sexy Years
In her book, The Sexy Years, Suzanne Somers has done a wonderful job describing the perils of the hormonal imbalances that menopause can bring, and she has certainly put natural, bioidentical hormones on the map with media appearances, but she has some misconceptions about how to use bioidentical hormones.

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is a term coined by Dr. Lee, and this is his famous (and much copied) list of the symptoms and conditions associated with estrogen dominance.

Take the Hormone Balance Test Now
The Hormone Balance Test is a wonderfully easy and useful tool for helping you decide, based on your symptoms, which of your hormones may be out of balance. At the end of this quick test we'll give you recommendations to help you decide the next steps to take to achieve hormone balance.

The Biochemistry of Saliva Testing
If you're a health professional or a science geek, you'll appreciate this article by Dr. John Lee on the biochemistry and physiology of saliva hormone testing, complete with references.

The Wiley Protocol
The Wiley Protocol involves mega-doses of hormones and menopausal menstruation.

Do Hormones Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?
Hormones can help or hurt your brain fitness depending on whether they're balanced or imbalanced.

Update on the Prostate
Little progress has been made in the medical treatment of prostate problems, but we know a lot about how to prevent prostate enlargement and prostate cancer prevention.

Use Caution with Soy Foods
Soy foods have become wildly popular in the U.S. as a health food, but Dr. John Lee explains why it's wise to eat soybeans in moderation and consider how the Japanese eat soy, which is to say almost always fermented, as in miso and tempeh, and eaten with fish and seaweed to offset the antinutrients found in soybeans.

Using Progesterone with Birth Control
Is is OK to use progesterone cream if you're using chemical birth control such as pills and patches? Find out more in this interview with Dr. David Zava.

Vaginal Dryness and Hormones
Bioidentical hormones applied in normal doses work well.

Vitamin D Nutrient Review
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin and an essential hormone.

What Every Woman Should Know about Birth Control
Information from the Hopkins Health Watch about some of the risks and side effects of birth control.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Heartburn
You don't need to take expensive drugs every day to avoid heartburn. Here are some of Dr. John Lee's commonsense solutions for reflux and heartburn.

What Your Dr May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer: Chapter 1
Here's where you can read the controversial Chapter 1 of John R. Lee M.D.'s courageous book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer," and the politics of tamoxifen, mammograms, chemotherapy and more.

What Your Dr May Not Tell You About Iron and Anemia
Iron is an essential mineral, but too much or the wrong kind can be harmful. Find out which are the best foods to increase iron, how and when to test for iron, and how to determine the underlying cause of the deficiency if you have anemia.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Stress
If you think stress might be affecting your health, you'll want to read this article about how tired adrenal glands can cause poor health and hormone imbalances.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Your Thyroid
Millions of people have low thyroid and take supplements such as synthroid for it. This article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins will explain how to tell if you have low thyroid, list the symptoms of low thyroid, how to supplement for low thyroid, and how to test for low thyroid.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Cholesterol
Are cholesterol numbers really meaningful, or are we being sold a bill of goods by the pharmaceutical industry? This article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins explains how cholesterol really works.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You about PCOS
A detailed article about PCOS by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins, gives women detailed answers to their questions about causes and treatment, including info on hormones, diet and exercise.

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You about Your Ovaries
This detailed article about the ovaries and ovarian cancer by John R. Lee, M.D. gives women detailed answers to their questions about causes and treatment.

What's a Woman to do about Birth Control?
With the side effects associated with chemical birth control pills and patches, what's a woman to do about birth control?

Why Breast Cancer Rates Dropped
Breast cancer rates dropped dramatically in 2002 and 2003 after years of rising. Why the drop and how can we maintain this trend?

Why We Like Saliva Testing
Saliva testing is fairly new to conventional medicine, so there is confusion and misunderstanding about it. This article by Dr. John Lee, Dr. David Zava and Virginia Hopkins will explain why saliva hormone testing is so important and gives the basics on how it works.

Women - Take the Hormone Balance Test
Are your symptoms caused by a hormone imbalance? Take this test to find out if a hormone imbalance is the underlying cause of your symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular periods; or PMS symptoms such as moodiness, irritability, menstrual cramps; or symptoms of ovarian cysts (PCOS) such as mid-cycle pain, menstrual cramps, excess hair and acne.

Women and Heart Disease
Dr. John Lee explains the differences in heart disease between women and men, and how hormones and HRT affect women's hearts.

Xenohormones (Part II) in Your Environment
We are awash in a sea of xenohormones but with education and awareness you can avoid many of them. Find out how in this article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Xenohormones (Part I) and Your Health
Xenohormones are chemical hormone imposters that can cause hormone imbalance and cancer. Read this informative article by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins.

Progesterone and Stroke
Research shows that progesterone helps rats recover better from a stroke, and it likely does the same for humans.

Saliva Test to Predict Preterm Birth Risk
A British medical group proposes using saliva testing for progesterone to assess preterm birth risk in pregnant women.

Bioidentical Hormone Mega-doses Cause Harm
Letter from a reader who was harmed by mega-doses of bioidentical hormones.

Hormone Q&As - lung cancer, Evamist, pregnenolone and more...
Questions and answers about hormones, including hormones and lung cancer, Evamist dosage, hormone balance and pregnenolone, and progesterone and osteoporosis.

Hormone Cream Transfer to Children, Pets and Partners
Hormone creams can be transferred to children, pets and partners and have unwanted effects and even serious consequences.

Uterine Prolapse Options
Question to Dr. John Lee from a women with a prolapsed uterus who doesn't want a hysterectomy. Dr. Lee explains the role of hormones in uterine prolapse.

Stroke Risk and Bioidentical Hormones
Research from the French E3N study shows no higher risk of stroke among women who use bioidentical hormones.

The Sex Drive Solution for Women!
The Sex Drive Solution for Women: Dr. Jen's Power Plan to Fire Up Your Libido, a book by Jennifer Landa M.D. and Virginia Hopkins.

Progesterone, Inflammation and Breast Cancer
The authors of a study about progesterone receptors make controversial claims about progesterone, inflammation and breast cancer.

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Related Products

All Saliva Hormone Test Kits

Hormone Balance for Men - A Booklet by John R. Lee, M.D.
Men also suffer from hormone imbalances, especially as they pass middle age or if they are overweight.

Hormone Balance Made Simple by John R. Lee, M.D.
You wanted hormone balance made simple, you got it! Dr. John Lee's work compiled by Virginia Hopkins into an easy-to-read and understandable book for women who just want the straight scoop.

Hormone Profiles for Women
With these saliva hormone and blood spot hormone tests you'll save money and get more information by testing a group of hormones.

Individual Hormone Tests for Women
Here's where to find single hormone tests, including progesterone, the estrogens and testosterone.

NEW! Measure Hormones in Blood Spot Test
A new type of blood spot test that measures bioavailable hormones, the same kind measured in saliva.

Test for PCOS
Tests that can help you determine whether you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

What Your Dr May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer
A book by John R. Lee, M.D., Dr. David Zava and Virginia Hopkins. How Hormone Balance Can Help Save Your Life

What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About PREmenopause
Balance Your Hormones and Your Life from Thirty to Fifty! Another classic best-selling book by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins. Details on PMS, infertility, PCOS, endometriosis, weight gain, fatigue and much more.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause
The classic best-selling book by Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins is a detailed and useful guide through menopause and natural hormones that every menopausal woman should have on her bookshelf!

Optimal Health Gems from John R Lee MD
An e-booklet of the best FAQs from Dr. John Lee. Timeless medical advice from a family doctor.