Am I using enough, and do I keep applying?

by Elizabeth
(Brentwood Essex UK)

Dear Wray,
My two questions are - the "pea size" amount that I am applying means that the jar will last me longer than 3 months, I am obviously not putting enough on? Can I put too much on? Also, I started applying the cream on the day 14 of my cycle and I have now past the day 28, do I keep on applying the cream until my period comes?
Liz

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Am I using enough, and do I keep applying?

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How much progesterone to use
by: Wray

Hi Tania, I've only just seen this and of course my answer will be too late for you. Hopefully it will still help.

Our cycles can vary from as little as twenty one days to as long as thirty six. The average being twenty eight days. This is the reason that the manufacturers of The Pill and HRT pack their product in twenty eight day cycles.

The following guide is also based on 28 days, but please bear in mind that if your cycle is longer or shorter, try to follow that, rather than the average.

To give you some idea, all women, irrespective of the length of their cycle, should start ovulating fourteen days before they start bleeding again*. So start using the cream either at ovulation, if you know when it happens, or fourteen days before your period is due, you will have to work back from your last period, to find the correct date.

There are some women who have what is known as a defective luteal phase, which means that they start bleeding again before the fourteen days are up. If this is the case, using progesterone and the guide below, should help to lengthen it. A defective luteal phase is often the cause of a miscarriage.

Following the guide below usually stops the food and alcohol cravings, depression, tiredness and anger that occur just prior to bleeding.

Please be aware that bleeding could be heavier for the first one to two months. Don’t be alarmed, as it’s the progesterone cleaning out the lining that has built up in the uterus. If spotting should occur continue using the cream. If a full period should occur early, discontinue the cream counting the first day of bleeding as day one.

Start using the cream again following the guide below. Please continue with this method for about three months or until bleeding has returned to normal. Thereafter the cream can be used with the normal dose of 2-3ml/day for the last fourteen days of the cycle.

*NB
A twenty one day cycle Ovulation should occur on day seven
A twenty eight day cycle Ovulation should occur on day fourteen
A thirty six day cycle Ovulation should occur on day twenty one

Method
Day 1 – 14 No cream
Day 15 - 17 1ml
Day 18 - 20 2ml
Day 21 - 22 3ml
Day 23 - 24 4ml
Day 25 - 26 6ml
Day 27 10ml
Day 28 15ml (remainder of tube)
Total 60ml

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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi Tania, I've only just seen this and of course my answer will be too late for you. Hopefully it will still help. Our cycles can vary from as little as twenty one days to as long as thirty six. The average being twenty eight days. This is the reason that the manufacturers of The Pill and HRT pack their product in twenty eight day cycles. The following guide is also based on 28 days, but please bear in mind that if your cycle is longer or shorter, try to follow that, rather than the average. To give you some idea, all women, irrespective of the length of their cycle, should start ovulating fourteen days before they start bleeding again*. So start using the cream either at ovulation, if you know when it happens, or fourteen days before your period is due, you will have to work back from your last period, to find the correct date. There are some women who have what is known as a defective luteal phase, which means that they start bleeding again before the fourteen days are up. If this is the case, using progesterone and the guide below, should help to lengthen it. A defective luteal phase is often the cause of a miscarriage. Following the guide below usually stops the food and alcohol cravings, depression, tiredness and anger that occur just prior to bleeding. Please be aware that bleeding could be heavier for the first one to two months. Don’t be alarmed, as it’s the progesterone cleaning out the lining that has built up in the uterus. If spotting should occur continue using the cream. If a full period should occur early, discontinue the cream counting the first day of bleeding as day one. Start using the cream again following the guide below. Please continue with this method for about three months or until bleeding has returned to normal. Thereafter the cream can be used with the normal dose of 2-3ml/day for the last fourteen days of the cycle. *NB A twenty one day cycle Ovulation should occur on day seven A twenty eight day cycle Ovulation should occur on day fourteen A thirty six day cycle Ovulation should occur on day twenty one Method Day 1 – 14 No cream Day 15 - 17 1ml Day 18 - 20 2ml Day 21 - 22 3ml Day 23 - 24 4ml Day 25 - 26 6ml Day 27 10ml Day 28 15ml (remainder of tube) Total 60ml

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Using enough
by: Wray

Dear Liz, It seems you're using a brand other than Natpro as it comes in a tube and we don't recommend a 'pea size' amount. But 100-200mg/day progesterone equates to 3-6ml/Natpro per day.

So judging by the amount you are using I would say not nearly enough! All the successful studies on progesterone have used between 100-200mg/day, the unsuccessful ones have used what the medical profession refer to as a physiological dose, between 20-40mg/day. This will only raise progesterone levels to that found in the follicular phase, which will have no affect at all!

To precipitate a period the progesterone level needs to drop sharply, using a pea size amount won't cause that to happen. If you have a 28 day cycle, then you should start using the cream on day fourteen, but our cycles vary considerably. The cream should be started 14 days before the next period starts. That is the length of the luteal phase.

And no you can't put on too much. Depending on the problem the daily dose can go as high as 2500mg. If you could let me know the strength of the cream you are using I can help more. Take care Wray

This is my question aswell.
by: Tania

Hi I'm Tania and also started using my cream yesterday.

My period should have started this weekend 21/9/07 but began last night. I would like to know do I stop with the cream until day 14 now or should I still apply.

I'm not sure because my hormones are totally up and down, and my period always a bit earlier than the previous month. How do I know when day 14 really is ?

Thanx for your reply.

Tania