California Proposition 65 Notice – explained
A note on Proposition 65:
Some of our products carry a California Proposition 65 warning. This is a legal requirement under California law and may not reflect the way most consumers interpret such warnings.
What is Proposition 65?
Proposition 65 is a California regulation that requires businesses to provide warnings if their products contain substances that have been identified by the State as potentially linked to cancer or reproductive harm. This is a hazard-based system, not a measure of actual risk under normal use.
This means a warning may be required even when:
- exposure levels are very low, or
- there is no clear evidence of harm in typical human use
Why is progesterone listed?
Progesterone itself appears on the Proposition 65 list. This classification is based largely on:
- historical laboratory and animal studies
- high-dose or experimental conditions
- research involving hormone-sensitive tissues
Importantly, many of these studies involve:
- animals exposed to known carcinogens
- pharmacological (high) doses of hormones
- conditions that do not reflect normal human physiology or typical product use
Natural progesterone vs synthetic progestins
A key scientific distinction is often overlooked in regulatory language:
- Progesterone (used in our products) is bio-identical, meaning it is chemically identical to the hormone naturally produced in the human body.
- Progestins (synthetic progestagens) are structurally different compounds used in some contraceptives and hormone therapies, and they can have very different biological effects.
Modern research increasingly recognises that these compounds are not interchangeable, particularly in relation to breast and hormonal health.
Current scientific understanding
There is no consistent clinical evidence showing that physiological or topical use of bio-identical progesterone, as used in products like ours, causes cancer in humans.
In fact, progesterone plays a normal and essential role in the body and has been widely studied for its regulatory and balancing effects in hormone physiology.
Why the warning is still required
Because Proposition 65 does not distinguish between:
- natural vs synthetic hormones
- dose levels
- route of administration
- or real-world exposure risk
businesses are required to include the warning even when the scientific evidence is nuanced or context-dependent.
Our commitment to transparency
We believe it is important to:
- comply with legal requirements
- provide clear, science-based context
- and support informed decision-making
If you have questions about this notice or the science behind progesterone, we encourage you to explore the research or contact us directly.
This notice is provided for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice.