title: The multifaceted nature of access to compounded progesterone: a cross-sectional study from Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the influences on accessibility of compounded progesterone therapy for Australian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of a stratified sample of Australian women who use progesterone only products using the 'Perspectives on Progesterone' questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Principle components analysis (PCA) to determine components of access to progesterone treatment and multi-way analysis of variance to compare groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women using compounded progesterone were likely to have made at least one lifestyle adaptation (73%), and to have tried and stopped using at least one complementary and alternative medicine therapy (63%) or conventional hormone therapy (41%). PCA revealed six components of access to progesterone treatment: affordable, values natural treatments and is concerned about other treatments, conventionally available, perceived knowledge, values information gathered from a variety of sources, and rural & disadvantaged. The multifaceted nature of progesterone use illustrates that there are multiple aspects to use of non-conventional medicines. Women looking for non-conventional treatment are neither stupid nor uninformed, their understandings, based on experience and research, need to be addressed by health professionals while assessing their condition prior to discussing the risks and benefits of non-conventional medicines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Access to compounded progesterone is multifaceted, and many of the women who use it have tried other treatments first. Despite the clinical ambivalence towards progesterone as an alternative for women who may have tried and rejected other treatments, including conventional hormone therapy, the women described in this paper are using it.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, PO Box 199, Bendigo 3552, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: j.spark@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: M Joy
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Spark
authors.affiliation: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: j.willis2@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Mathematical Science, La Trobe University, PO Box 199, Bendigo 3552, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: g.byrne@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, PO Box 199, Bendigo 3552, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: t.iacono@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iacono
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: Access to medication; Australia; Progesterone; Questionnaire; Women's perspective