>Maturitas 2002 Jan 30;41(1):1-6
> >Caution on the use of saliva measurements to monitor absorption of
>progesterone
>from transdermal creams in postmenopausal women.
> >Lewis JG, McGill H, Patton VM, Elder PA.
> >Steroid and Immunobiochemistry Laboratory, Canterbury Health Laboratories,
>P.O.
>Box 151, Christchurch, New Zealand
> >Objectives: To determine the levels of progesterone in plasma, red cells and
>saliva as well as pregnanediol-3-glucuronide excretion in postmenopausal women
>using transdermal progesterone creams. Methods: A double-blind placebo
>controlled study was carried out using 24 postmenopausal women. Creams
>(placebo,
>20 or 40 mg progesterone/g) were applied twice daily for 3 weeks followed by 1
>week without before a further 3-week treatment. Morning samples were collected
>at 0, 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 weeks for analysis. Results: There were small increases
>in plasma progesterone levels and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide excretion
>compared
>to the placebo group and red cell progesterone levels never exceeded plasma
>levels during progesterone cream use. Saliva progesterone levels were very
>high
>and variable in the progesterone cream groups compared to the placebo
>group and
>presented a paradox to the usual relationship observed between plasma and
>saliva
>progesterone in premenopausal women. Conclusion: The absorption of
>progesterone
>from transdermal creams is low and we caution against the use of saliva
>measurements to monitor progesterone absorption. The low systemic
>absorption of
>progesterone may not be due to peripheral conversion by
>5alpha-reductase(s). We
>also conclude that the low level of progesterone associated with red cells
>suggests they are not important in the delivery of progesterone to target
>tissues.
> >PMID: 11809337 [PubMed - in process]

can you give me the URL of the natural menopause website---I think it was you that mentioned that site.

Thanks

http://www.oxford.net/~tishy/beyond.html or you can just click below. This site is far more than just a site about dealing with menopause without hormones. It has a wealth of information and links to other places with more information. It is also totally non-commercial since it accepts no advertising and sells nothing.

I hope you find it useful