Dosage of progesterone for menopausal women

by Jos
(UK)

I am 56, almost post menopausal (just the occasional hot flush) but have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. My GP has recommended natural progesterone. My confusion is with the dose that I should take - Dr Lee recommends 20-40mg/day, Dr Mercola that 15mg/day may well be sufficient, but this website recommends around 70mg/day. I don't want to take either too much or too little, so what is the correct dose?!

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Dosage of progesterone for menopausal women

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Oct 31, 2011
 dosage for menopause
by: Shari

I'm 63 and started using natural progesterone after reading Dr. Lee's books. Following his recommendation of 1/4 tsp 2 x daily for 25 days, 6 days off (for 3 months) then 1/8 tsp thereafter I've had great results. Much less bloating and fluid retention, calmer, better sleep. I also cut out caffeine, lotions containing parabens and stopped heating foods in plastic containers. What a difference, as all of these can cause estrogen levels to spike. Seems like the main thing is to give your body time to adjust to the progesterone -- it does take time. Good luck to you!
Nov 01, 2011
 Dosage of progesterone for menopausal women
by: Wray

Hi Jos Osteoporosis requires far more than just progesterone, there are well over 20 nutrients needed to build bones, progesterone is but one of them. It is confusing the different opinions. I don't actually recommend 70mg/day, I believe that's still too low to have much effect. But I do recommend 100-200mg/day, or more if symptoms are severe. Hot flushes need about 400mg/day before they go, and then the amount can be reduced slowly. The correct amount is entirely dependant on symptoms, not on age, size, weight or height. We do have more info on our Menopause page. But please read our Oestrogen Dominance page on first as this can occur when first using progesterone. The most important nutrient needed for strong bones is vitamin D, please have a test done. Most of us have too low a level, and as we get older our ability to make it in our skin diminishes, see here, here, here, here and here. And these are some papers here, here, here, here, here, here and here on osteo. I've run out of space so will start a new comment below. Take care Wray
Nov 01, 2011
 Dosage of progesterone for menopausal women
by: Wray

Hi Jos For more info on testing etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth Birmingham Hospital and Vitamin D Links websites. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml and not the 30ng/ml labs and doctors regard as adequate. And the minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Take care Wray
Nov 01, 2011
 dosage for menopause
by: Wray

Hi Shari So pleased progesterone helped you. Take care Wray
Nov 07, 2011
 dosage of progesterone
by: Jos

Hi Wray and Shari

Many thanks for both your responses, and especially for your in depth reply Wray. I am already taking Vit D at around 5,000iu a day, plenty of calcium from marine algae, magnesium, etc and having a more alkaline diet to try to reverse the osteoporosis. But will try the progesterone at the doses you recommend initially and see what happens.
Nov 09, 2011
 dosage of progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Jos I'm pleased you're taking 5000iu's of vitamin D, but would advise a test too. Stress drops vitamin D levels and unless sufficient magnesium is taken, it doesn't work as well as it should. And I do hope you're not avoiding protein, most people think this causes an acid balance and osteo. The reverse in fact, protein is vital for strong bones. Take care Wray

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