Yam Extract and Natural Progesterone

We receive many enquiries from women suffering due to their not having responded to a variety of other traditional menopause treatments or who had been using a "yam cream".

Complicating matters are a number of companies claiming or implying that their "yam creams" will manufacture natural progesterone in the body, or even actually contain natural progesterone. In fact, an examination of their ingredients reveals that they only contain Wild Mexican Yam extract.

The Diosgenin Confusion

The confusion between yam extract and progesterone has its roots in a genuine scientific breakthrough. In the 1940s, American chemist Russell Marker developed a method for converting diosgenin — a plant steroid found abundantly in wild Mexican yams — into progesterone in the laboratory. This discovery revolutionised hormone production and made it possible to manufacture affordable progesterone and other steroid hormones on a commercial scale.

However, this conversion requires a multi-step chemical synthesis that can only be performed in a laboratory setting. The human body simply does not possess the enzymes needed to convert diosgenin into progesterone. Despite this scientific reality, some manufacturers have exploited the historical connection between yams and progesterone production to market yam extract products as if they were equivalent to actual progesterone.

Laboratory Conversion vs Body Conversion

It is essential to understand the difference between what happens in a laboratory and what happens in the human body. In the laboratory, diosgenin undergoes several chemical reactions — involving specific catalysts, temperatures, and solvents — to produce progesterone that is molecularly identical to human progesterone. This is how USP-grade natural progesterone is manufactured for use in bioidentical hormone creams.

In the body, however, no such conversion takes place. When you consume wild yam or apply yam extract to your skin, the diosgenin remains as diosgenin. It is not transformed into progesterone, and it does not raise progesterone levels in the blood or saliva. This has been confirmed by extensive clinical testing and research.

What the Experts Say

All the medical research reviewed on progesterone demonstrates that it is only supplemental Natural Progesterone - like that found in Wellsprings Serenity Cream and Wellsprings 20-1 Cream - that will produce an increase in saliva & serum levels of progesterone, not Yam extract.

In his book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" hormone expert, and pioneer of bioidentical cream usage, Dr John Lee states "…there is no evidence that the human body converts diosgenin (found in Mexican Wild Yam) to hormones."

Dr. David Zava (PhD in Bio Endocrinology whose focus has been progesterone and oestrogen receptor activity) is the Laboratory Director of Aeron Life Cycles, one of the foremost hormone testing facilities in the world.

Dr. Zava has tested progesterone levels for many thousands of women and responded with the following: "In response to your question about wild yam steroids - do they convert into progesterone? The answer is no, there are no enzymes in the human body that will convert diosgenin, the active component of wild yams, into progesterone. This does not mean diosgenin is without activity in the body as it has been used by phytotherapists for centuries as an adaptogen."

Dr John Lee and "The Yam Scam"

Dr Lee was so concerned about the misleading marketing of yam extract products that he dedicated a section of one of his books to the topic under the heading "The Yam Scam". He was troubled that women seeking genuine hormone relief were being sold products that could not deliver on their promises — wasting both money and precious time during which their symptoms could have been properly addressed.

Some company representatives will tell you that Yam extract (diosgenin) is molecularly the same as Natural Progesterone and that users of their "progesterone cream" will find the same benefit as they would with a cream like our Serenity Cream or 20-1 Cream which actually contain USP Natural Progesterone. Current published medical research and clinical experience do not support that claim.

In fact, Dr Lee refers to Yam Extract Creams in one of his books under the heading "The Yam Scam".

Dr Lee's concern was shared by other leading researchers in the field. The risk is not simply that yam extract creams are ineffective — it is that women relying on them may be missing out on the genuine hormone support they need, potentially allowing symptoms of oestrogen dominance or other hormonal imbalances to worsen over time.

The Benefits (and Limitations) of Yam Extract

Yam does contain plant saponins that have been shown to benefit women's health as an adaptogen. However, what is at issue are biological progesterone levels and progesterone's known balancing effects on oestrogen with subsequent relief from the hormonal symptoms of Menopause and its ability to help relieve osteoporosis.

As Dr Zava noted, diosgenin has been used in phytotherapy for centuries and is not without value. Some women may experience mild benefits from yam extract as part of a broader herbal supplement regimen. Traditional uses of wild yam include support for digestive comfort and general wellbeing. However, these benefits should not be confused with the specific hormonal actions of natural progesterone.

The distinction matters because the symptoms that drive most women to seek progesterone cream — hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes, sleep disturbance, weight gain, and digestive issues — are caused by declining progesterone levels. Addressing these symptoms requires actual progesterone supplementation, not a plant precursor that the body cannot convert. If you are seeking to raise your progesterone levels or address symptoms related to hormonal decline during menopause, yam extract alone is not sufficient.

Why Some Products Are Misleading

Part of the problem lies in how yam extract products are marketed. Some manufacturers use phrases like "progesterone precursor", "bio-identical yam cream", or "natural hormone cream" on their packaging — language that implies a connection to progesterone without explicitly claiming the product contains it. Others place images of molecular structures on their websites or leaflets to create a scientific impression.

In some cases, companies have been found to add small amounts of undeclared progesterone to their yam cream products. When tested, these creams may show some hormonal activity — not because of the yam extract, but because of the undisclosed progesterone. This practice is both misleading and potentially dangerous, as it means women are using a hormonal product without knowing the dose they are receiving. Reputable manufacturers like Wellsprings clearly declare the progesterone content on their labels and maintain strict quality control throughout the manufacturing process.

Anna Rushton and Dr Shirley Bond address this topic in their book Natural Progesterone, helping women understand what to look for and how to avoid falling for misleading marketing claims.

How to Identify a Genuine Progesterone Cream

Given the confusion in the market, it is important to know what to look for when choosing a progesterone cream. Here are the key things to check:


If you are unsure whether a product contains genuine progesterone, consult your healthcare professional. They can advise you on what to look for and may be able to recommend testing to verify your progesterone levels before and after using a product.

Choose Genuine Natural Progesterone

Wellsprings Serenity Cream contains USP-grade natural progesterone in a liposomal formula — not yam extract. It has been trusted by women and recommended by doctors for over 25 years.

Wellsprings offers a range of genuine bioidentical hormone creams:


Visit our cream comparison page to find the right product for your needs, or read customer reviews from women who have made the switch from yam extract products to genuine progesterone creams. As with any hormone supplementation, we recommend speaking to your healthcare professional before starting a new treatment.

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