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Elevated Blood Pressure, can Progesterone help?

by Pauline
(Spain)

Two days ago I turned 51. I've been having hot flushes for about six months. The onset of menopause is an exciting time, having suffered for many many years with one ailment or another every month. Being period free is a new lease of life for me.

Recently my blood pressure readings are showing signs of raising to where the doctors want to start me on medication. I am healthy and fit, I eat well, don't smoke or drink and so on - I do all the right things.
I've been telling my doctors for years that I have estrogen dominance - they just ingnored me... It's only recently I have found all this information about the subject and am in the process of buying my first batch of progesterone cream.

My question is this - is there a possiblilty that when I start using the progesterone cream the balance could bring the blood pressure back to within a more normal range ?

My family history indicates to the doctors to put me immediately on medication. I don't want to start taking blood pressure drugs until I have tried a more natural approach. In fact, maybe the elder women in my family, who have died in their early 50's would have benefitted from progesterone - we'll never know about them but maybe, I can stop the trend!?

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Nov 13, 2010
 Elevated Blood Pressure, can Progesterone help?
by: Wray

Hi Pauline If the high BP is caused by vasoconstriction, progesterone can help as it's a vasodilator. Sharp declines have been observed in the early and late luteal phase of women when progesterone peaks, see here and here. If the high BP is caused by excess aldosterone it can help. The hormone aldosterone causes sodium and water retention, which increases blood volume and pressure. Progesterone inhibits aldosterone, by occupying the same receptor sites, see here and here. BP also increases if the renin-angiotensin system is activated, it's sometimes called the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. If blood volume drops the system kicks in. Renin is made by the kidneys, this stimulates the production of angiotensin, which is a potent vasoconstrictor, which increases BP. Angiotensin also stimulates the release of aldosterone, which of course causes sodium and water to be retained, so BP goes up. Essential hypertension accounts for 95% of all cases of hypertension, ie it's idiopathic or not known. Although a number of factors are known, obesity, insulin resistance, high alcohol intake, high salt intake, ageing, stress, low potassium and calcium intake, see here. They are even suggesting our genes are responsible! But one thing which is always overlooked, a lack of vitamin D causes the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to come into play. I believe this is the primary cause of high BP, which is increasing the world over. Due to the misguided advise of governments to avoid the sun, by covering up or using suncreens. I know you live in Spain, which is a 'sunny' country, but studies of people living on the equator have found a lack of vitamin D in the participants. Please have a test done, for more info please see the Grassroots Health website. Please look at these papers on the affect low vitamin D has on BP here, here, here and here. Finally a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. Take care Wray
Feb 22, 2012
 Please make Natpro more affordable
by: Anonymous

Since so many people need a higher dosage of progesterone .Its hard to decide between a tube of it or groceries in this economy. I know yours is less expensive than most available but still its expensive esp when u need to use high doses.
couldnt a higher dosage in one tube be made or make a larger tube for the same price??? ..I really would like to cont to use but i go through two tubes a month..( just wanted to see if someone in the near future is under development )
..
Thanks
Feb 24, 2012
 Please make Natpro more affordable
by: Wray

Hi there I wish we could reduce the price, but we've kept it at the $23 for 3 tubes for 15 years now, absorbing the price increases in all the raw materials. Making a larger tube would entail a price increase, as the cost of the tube is nothing, compared to the cost of the ingredients. Maybe you have friends who use it, and you could share the cost of 20 tubes. That comes with a 30% discount. Take care Wray
Feb 24, 2012
 price
by: Anonymous

23 dollars for 3 tubes you say ?because i have paid 50 dollars for 3 tubes with a one time discount ..you mean 23 dollars each then.well maybe its time for me to shop around then for a bigger tube :)
Thanks.
Feb 25, 2012
 price
by: Wray

Hi there That was rather obtuse of me. I meant $23 each if you buy three tubes. There are companies selling bigger tubes, but you'll find they all contain about 480mg per ounce. Or 960mg per 2 oz. Some make 3oz containers which have 1260-1440 mg progesterone. Please be aware of this, the Natpro contains 1000mg/oz. You'll have to work out the cost of the active when you find one, don't go by the cost of the container. Take care Wray
Apr 19, 2012
 High blood pressure
by: Angela

I have just started using progesterone cream and I am noticing an increase in my blood pressure. Is this normal? Will it go back to normal when I have leveled out. It has been about 3 days of use.
Apr 20, 2012
 High blood pressure
by: Wray

Hi Angela I would have to know how much you are using, but it appears to be the usual 20-40mg/day. I've found too low an amount can cause adverse symptoms, leading to Oestrogen Dominance. Progesterone initially stimulates oestrogen, oestrogen causes water retention, which not only causes BP to rise, but weight gain. Progesterone is an excellent diuretic, it's not responsible for the water retention or high BP. In fact it's now used for Traumatic Brain Injury victims to reduce oedema. Plus if too little is used for too long it also causes fat increase which adds to the weight gain. Oestrogen stimulates fat cells to proliferate. If you are using a small amount, please increase it, I suggest 100-200mg/day dependant on symptoms. We do have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. Take care Wray
Apr 20, 2012
 Elevated Blood Pressure
by: Anonymous

I was using only 10mg pump at night. But when reading and finding out I needed to use more since Wed I have increased it to 2 pumps which is 20mg. That is when I notice the rise in blood pressure. So last night I did not use any and my blood pressure is better today. But the bodyaches were terrible. So I am wondering if I should contuine to use it to get my haromone to level out and everything will settle back to normal. I have had a hyst probably 10 yrs ago and have been using a harmone patch and just recently stop and trying something natural. My doctor told me to use the cream 100mg a day. Now I am not sure how that equals out to what I am using since it only tells me that the pump contains 10mg of progesterone a pump.
Apr 21, 2012
 Elevated Blood Pressure
by: Wray

Hi Angela 10mg/day is far too little, I thought you couldn't be using much. 20mg/day is too little. Progesterone should be used a minimum of twice a day too, as levels drop after about 13 hrs. I recommend 100-200mg/day, more if symptoms are severe. So your doctor was right. If you want to use 100mg/day and your pump gives 10mg/pump, then you would have to pump it 10 times to get 100mg. 20 times if you want 200mg/day. The oestrogen you've stimulated would be causing the body aches, as it's an inflammatory hormone. I've relieved you've stopped the patch, I don't believe any woman needs HRT. Take care Wray
Nov 12, 2013
 Does Progesterone Elevate Aldosterone Levels?
by: Ali

Hi. I was chasing info. on the connection between aldosterone and many things and I happened to check on how progesterone affects aldo levels and several sites were claiming that progesterone raises aldosterone. In my case, I need it kept in check. I see at your site that you believe progesterone can help remedy high aldosterone. Can you help me understand this? Thank you. :0)

Relationship between Aldosterone and Progesterone in the Human Menstrual Cycle
Nov 15, 2013
 Does Progesterone Elevate Aldosterone Levels?
by: Wray

Hi there I don’t have the time to go into the details here. I have given papers to the queries above you could look at. And you might like to read this page here. Take care Wray
Nov 19, 2013
 Lower BP naturally
by: Anonymous

Taurene and Copper work even better so does magnesium. They immediately drop top and bottom numbers ;)
Nov 19, 2013
 Thank you.
by: Ali

Thanks very much Wray. That is a fabulous article full of good information. Blessings! Ali :0)
Jan 28, 2014
 Progesteron gel and higher b/p
by: Anonymous

I started taking Progesteron gel 10mg. 25 days ago. I use 1/4 teaspoon at night, rub it on my upper chest. Instructions per my D.O.M. doctor. I noticed after almost 3 weeks of using it, my blood pressure went way up. I already take meds for high blood pressure, which was under control until a couple of weeks ago. This is the only thing I can think that caused this. It has been a struggle for two weeks with dizziness/lightheadedness and some nausea.

I stopped using the gel a week ago and just today 1/27/14, my blood pressure is normal and I feel a lot better. My D.O.M. doctor says this would not cause this, but I am very fearful of starting the gel again. I don't want this to happen a second time. By the way I am postmenopausal and have had a complete hysterectomy. Do you have any advice?
Feb 28, 2014
 Elevated bp, heart palpitations & chest pain when using cream
by: Karli

Hi there,
I actually took a saliva test on the 20th day of my cycle (35day cycle) & it was reported back to me as clinically LOW (38.07). Looks like the normal range should be 127-446. The lab put "suggestions" and it says 500-3000 progesterone supplementation. Is that mg & is that every day for the 2 weeks before my period? I would basically have to use an entire bottle per day of my cream (20mg per 1/4tsp pump)!!
I was reading the threads above & noticed the woman had the same symptoms that I experienced- elevated bp. I naturally border on hypertension. I also experienced scary heart palpitations, growing chest pain & swelling of legs & feet that kicked in by the 2nd week of use. Scared me enough to stop cold turkey. I've been off for a week & I'm still experiencing slowly declining heart palpitations, swelling is going down & bp going down also. I'd love to know your thoughts, albeit I honestly don't think I can bring myself to slather on an entire bottle if that truly is the recommendation. Thx, Karli
Dec 12, 2016
 High blood pressure
by: Adrienne

Hello everyone, I really hope someone here can help me out as I am really getting frustrated. I have been using bioidentical progesterone and finally after 8 months, I started getting some relief of my symptoms. However, last month I ran out of my RX and could not get it refilled for almost 2 weeks after I ran out. I now have my RX and have began using it again but my blood pressure is way up! 150/80! Could the rise in blood pressure be from my hormones dropping during the time I was out of my RX and having to start all over again with rebalancing? Could it be that because I am waking up estrogen receptors again causing water retention, weight gain and high blood pressure? I am 51 years old, still having periods and have been using progesterone everyday even throughout my cycles. My RX is 1,000 mg per gram everyday. I have been using 2 grams a day. Any suggestions on how much Progesterone I should be using to get balanced again and to get my blood pressure back down?

Kindest regards.
Mar 28, 2018
 P CAN raise blood pressure!
by: Anonymous

The thing Wray is missing here is that the body can turn excess progesterone into cortisol AS WELL AS estrogen. And let me reassure you - those two most definitely CAN raise blood pressure. It happened to me and the experience was HORRIBLE. Do not blindly increase dose without fully understanding the different pathways this hormone can take. Listen to your bodies ladies. The consequences of not doing so can be extreme!
Mar 29, 2018
 Steroidic pathways
by: Justine

Hello Anon

Thank you for your input.
I would just like to point out that Wray has not missed anything here. Her extensive research into the endochrine system means she is totally aware of how it works. All the information is available on this website. Here is an excerpt from the home page itself:

"Progesterone is made in your body from cholesterol. Here are the essentials of the process...

First, your body turns the cholesterol into pregnenolone
Pregnenolone is then converted to progesterone
Your body then makes a cascade of other hormones that it needs from the progesterone (these include the estrogens and testosterone amongst others)

See this document for added clarity: Steroidgenesis Pathway

This is the vital point to understand...

"progesterone is an essential raw material from which your
body makes many of the other hormones vital for good health"

The link to the document that she references in the above paragraph gives you a pictorial view of the exact flow of how the body creates it's hormones, take a look, it is very informative.

I am fully supportive of your advice that we should listen to our bodies and not blindly follow advice. We are responsible for our own health, and this very idea was one of the primary reasons why Wray creating this site, to provide free and thoroughly researched information to us, the lay people, so that we might be able to do our own research and make our own decisions. It is truly remarkable how complexly different we all are and it is wonderful that we can all come here to share our stories for the betterment of each other.

Wishing you well.
Justine
Mar 29, 2018
 About Blood Pressure Going Up...........
by: Anonymous

I just noticed another anonymous comment posted previously where she said her blood pressure went up after using progesterone cream. I just wanted to share my experience.

Some progesterone creams contain GRAPEFRUIT EXTRACT. I avoid those completely. This is because grapefruit can raise aldosterone and for some, that means elevated blood pressure.

You can google it. Real licorice can do the same thing.

:)
May 01, 2018
 Progesterone can and does raise your blood pressure
by: Anonymous

Pre-eclamsia and toxemia is a result of the intolerance of progesterone in pregnant woman. Some women cannot handle progesterone. In this case more is not the answer. When I take progesterone my blood pressure goes up period. It's not for everyone.

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