Excessive bleeding and progesterone

by Chantal
(Spruce Grove , Alberta Canada)

I was putting on 200mg a day for 10 days. I have had excessive bleeding for a month and a half now. This is supposed to stop the bleeding and it hasn't. Why did my doctor give it to me ?

I am 32 and found out a few months ago I had a cyst on my ovary. Could this be causing the bleeding? I was also on the Depo-Provera shot for 13 years. After I got of it I didn't have a period for a year. Then it came back and now I am dealing with a very heavy flow I have to change my tampon every 10 minutes. This has been going on for a month and a half. What is this pill suppose to be doing for me?

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Excessive bleeding and progesterone

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Oct 05, 2008

Excessive bleeding and progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Chantal I would have to know a bit more to help you, but it seems you've been given oral progesterone. Although 200mg is a good dose, up to 90% is destroyed as it passes through the gut and liver, leaving you with very little. It also puts a strain on the liver which has to metabolise it.

For progesterone to work it has to be used from ovulation or the last 14 days of the cycle. Are you using it like this, or every day? If every day it would upset your cycle. It also seems you don't have a cycle to follow? If this is the case, it would be necessary to choose a cycle to begin with and follow that. I would suggest a 28 day cycle.

We do have a web page on how to use the cream, as it would be far better to use that or suppositories/pessaries. I can assure you progesterone in cream or suppository form does work for excessive bleeding.

How to use progesterone cream:
http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/how-to-use-progesterone-cream.html

Hope this helps, take care Wray

May 31, 2012

Help!
by: Krenda

I have been seeing a homeopathic chiropractor and he told me that my estrogen/progesterone ratio was 6 which means that I am very estrogen dominant. He gave me cream and said to put a 1/4 teaspoon on morning and night, which has sent me into this awful bleeding. I told him that I didn't think that it was enough, he agreed and told me to triple the dose. Still there is no improvement. I said I should do more and he seems to think that it would send my body out of whack the other way, but my gut is telling me that is exactly what i need. i guess my question is, do I keep adding more daily or do i just jump to a really high dose? If this works, how long do I stay at the high dose before I start to drop it? I am thinking that I will need to stay on progesterone every day for a few months before I worry about having periods, but I am just not sure what to do!Can someone give me advice?

Jun 02, 2012

Help!
by: Wray

Hi Krenda Your gut is right, you do need to increase the amount. But I don't know how much you are currently using. I've found heavy bleeding needs about 400mg/day progesterone, you might need less it's difficult to say. Please consider taking 2000mg/day NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) too, this inhibits the MMPs which cause the heavy bleeding. There's more info on our pages about Menstruation and Progesterone Misconceptions. I've found increasing gradually does not help, using a high amount initially does, so I suggest you jump to a high amount. And you are right about using it daily too, I often recommend this if symptoms are severe. No harm is done, and it does prevent oestrogen rising each time you stop. Once you feel stable you can begin following your cycle again, see How to use progesterone cream. Take care Wray

Jun 03, 2012

One more question
by: Krenda

Thanks for answering me so quick! Once I have stopped the bleeding, do you stay on 400 mg a day for a couple of months or do you gradually lower the dose to a more reasonable dose? I am just not sure how long to stay with it so high, if you can start lowering it or not.They say to switch where you are putting it, but at the high dose it is so much cream I am afraid I will do it wrong! I only have so much body!

Jun 04, 2012

One more question
by: Wray

Hi Krenda Once the bleeding has stopped you can begin reducing the amount slowly, over a few weeks. Reducing too quickly causes symptoms to return. I forgot to ask you how old you were, as it seems you could be in Peri-menopause? If you are and your cycles have become erratic, it's best to use the progesterone daily from now on. It's impossible to follow them. If you're not, then once you've reduced the amount to the optimum you can begin following your cycle again. I gave you the page on progesterone misconceptions, it has info about where to put the cream. Take care Wray

Jun 04, 2012

age
by: krenda

Thanks Wray, I actually just turned 32 and I have literally never had a normal cycle since I was 14 years old. I got married when I was 19 and started a journey of birth control and fertility drugs because I thought that was the only option to have kids. I was diagnosed with PCOS and told that nothing would get rid of it and to just deal with it and take the drugs if I wanted children. I have three wonderful kids, but have learned a whole bunch of stuff and that's why I went to this doctor to heal my body and become symptom free from PCOS. I would like one more child, but I am going to do it the right way this time! I have been supplementing with a ton of vitamins that I was deficiant in and I have an immaculate diet for what my body is sensitive to. The only thing that has been hard is the bleeding, I think this is a first for the doctor to have to use this much progesterone cream too. Even though it's been tough, I believe that my bleeding is an indicator that my body is waking up and it just takes time to heal from the trauma it has been through! How long does it usually take to stop the bleeding on the high dose? A couple of days, or a week or so? Just wondering, thanks, Kendra

Jun 06, 2012

age
by: Wray

Hi Krenda Ah I now understand the cycle problems, you didn't mention PCOS before. You do need very high doses of certain nutrients, all listed on the page. Probably the most important is vitamin D, please have a test done. There's info on the PCOS page about this. I wish I could tell you how long, it's the question I'm always asked about any problem, I don't know. You might like to read this page here. Progesterone alone can sometimes stop it, but I feel it's essential to take the cysteine too. It's also one of the nutrients needed in high doses for PCOS. Vitamin K2 is often low if bleeding is heavy, that would be something to consider too. And if interested in having another child, we do have a page on Pregnancy. Take care Wray

Jun 11, 2012

progress
by: Krenda

Hi Wray, I wanted to tell you that I upped the dose to the 400 mg and it has almost stopped the bleeding. The heavy bleeding has stopped for sure, now I am just having some breakthrough bleeding when I wake up. It's always when I wake up, there is some blood, I put my morning dose on and in a few hours I am not bleeding anymore, I put the exact dose on at night and I am finding blood when I wake. Is this something that will sort itself out or am I needing to up the dose even more? I feel like I am bathing in this cream! I plan on staying on it for a few months everyday and then will hopefully be able to start giving myself a cycle for the first time in my life! Thanks for your help, Krenda

Jun 12, 2012

progress
by: Wray

Hi Krenda I'm delighted this has happened. I don't think you should increase the amount, but do feel you should be taking the NAC, plus all the other antioxidants mentioned on the PCOS page. You've only just increased the amount, so it's amazing it's helped so quickly, the breakthrough bleeding should settle down. How long it will take I've no idea. You really do need to take the NAC too. If you feel you're bathing in the cream, it's evidently a low strength cream, you might like to look at the one we make here. Please have that vitamin D test done. Take care Wray

Jun 21, 2012

Period?
by: Krenda

Hi Wray, I told you that the 400 mg of progesterone cream stopped the heavy bleeding and I was now just having some spotting. This has been the case for about ten days or so and all of a sudden yesterday I started bleeding heavier, not like I was, but it is now continuous. I am wondering if it is possible to have a period while I am on progesterone everyday. I have lost 37 pounds since May 2, I am not eating grains, I am supplementing with all the vitamins i am deficiant in and I am exercising everyday....no joke! I feel I am coming at this from every angle I can, so I am wondering if my body could be kicking in and starting to try to have a cycle or in your opinion is this still just abnormal bleeding that is occurring? Should I just stay on the 400mg through all of this bleeding or should I go off, have a withdrawal bleed and start a 28 day cycle going? Thanks for your help! Krenda

Jun 25, 2012

Period?
by: Wray

Hi Krenda It is possible to have a period when using progesterone daily. Although I generally find it doesn't occur on 400mg/day and over. But you have been spotting too which means your lining is still weak and inflamed. Are you taking the NAC, as this will strengthen it and help stop the spotting/bleeding. I believe you are having a period. It might be an idea to stop the progesterone and see what happens. My only concern is Oestrogen Dominance, please watch for any symptoms. And if the bleeding doesn't stop in the normal ±5 days, I suggest you start using it again. But please take the NAC too, no embryo will embed in your lining if it continues to spot or bleed. You say you're taking all the vitamins you're deficient in, which is wonderful, but are you taking the aminos too, and the vitamin D? I'm so delighted you've lost so much weight, you are obviously doing all the right things, but we need to heal that lining. If the bleeding does stop on it's own, without resorting to the progesterone, then start it again on day 14-15 and use it for the next 14 days. I suggest still staying on the 400mg/day while you adjust things. All being well, your own cycle should assert itself in time. The next thing will be to check for ovulation, the best is a mini microscope, details about this on the Pregnancy page. Take care Wray

Jul 16, 2012

It's been awhile
by: Krenda

Hi Wray, I just wanted to tell you that i stayed on the 400 mg of cream for 2 months straight and i have been feeling really good. My bleeding stopped right after the last time I talked to you and I did not spot at all! I decided to start creating a cycle so I stopped the cream and wanted a withdrawal bleed to happen. I have been off of it for about 4 days and I have had some bleeding but definately not continuous. I have never had a withdrawal bleed with the cream...how long should I give it before I worry that something is wrong? Two months ago I couldn't stop bleeding and now I can't start. I am not sure what day to count as day one because I have had some bleeding but not at all continuous. i have continued with my diet and vitamins and I did order the PCOS formula, and I am also taking 5000IU more of vitamin D3 on top of this, so I feel I am covered in the supplementation. I just wasn't sure on the time frame for a withdrawal bleed. I know that I am not pregnant, so that is not an option. I love your advice, so I guess I am asking for more! Thanks, Krenda

Jul 17, 2012

It's been awhile
by: Wray

Hi Krenda I'm so delighted the high amount finally worked! If you want a cycle to start, you should wait until ovulation before starting the progesterone again. But it could be you won't ovulate in the first month off it, difficult to tell. As you've never had a proper cycle before, the 28 day we chose is still the best option to follow. So only start using it again on day 14/15. Don't worry about the small amount of blood, you've been using high amounts of progesterone which suppresses the oestrogen. It's oestrogen which causes the lining to grow, very little oestrogen, very little lining, very little blood! Day 1 would be the day you stopped the progesterone, you say about 4 days ago, so another ±10 before you start again. I'm so pleased you're taking all those nutrients, they are so vital for healing. Keep a watch for any adverse symptoms in the next 10 days. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray

Aug 28, 2012

Hello again!
by: Krenda

So I have been creating a 28 day cycle for the last two months with the progesterone cream. Last month I started to bleed, not spot, about 11 days after I started the cream, so I just stopped and had a withdrawal bleed. It was very light which tells me that my estrogen is still under control. This month I have only been on the progesterone for 8 days and I am starting to bleed again. I honestly thought I was pregnant, I started using the ovulation microscope this month on day 10 of my cycle, saw the ferning pattern, so I thought I was ovulating, I saw some faint blood yesterday and my breast are incredibly tender, so I thought pregnancy, but today started bleeding, and I am still seeing ferning on day 21, 22 of my cycle. Is this a 21 day cycle exerting itself or is my estrogen still way too high and I am not using enough progesterone in the 14 days I am suppose to. I am using 160 mg a day and I am still bleeding. If it is the estrogen, then why are my withdrawal bleeds so light, wouldn't they be heavier? I am confused! Will you give me some advice on what to do and how much cream to use in those fourteen days? Also, with the microscope, will I just keep testing positive with my estrogen dominance? I am very scared about using too much cream and messing with any ovulation, because I want to be pregnant so bad, so just not sure on the dose. Thanks Wray...you have helped me so much!

Aug 30, 2012

Hello again!
by: Wray

Hi Krenda I'm pleased you are now trying to follow a cycle. But it does take time to settle down, so please be patient. The Breast Tenderness is due to progesterone withdrawal prior to bleeding, leaving oestrogen dominant. It's difficult to say if your normal cycle is 21 days, my daughter has one this short. You could try increasing the progesterone to say 200mg/day during the last 7 days of the luteal phase, and see if this helps to extend it. It seems if you are still bleeding you do need more progesterone. I hope the above advice does work. The progesterone has obviously suppressed excess oestrogen, hence the light bleeding as the lining didn't build up excessively. But it's the MMPs which break down the lining, progesterone normally suppresses these too, but possibly you need more progesterone for this. There's more info about the MMPs on our Menstruation page. I'm not entirely sure about the continual ferning pattern you're seeing, and would ask you to write to the manufacturers to get more clarity on how their microscope works. Take care Wray

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