Menu

Having really bad vertigo and late with period!

by Caterina
(Hawaii)

Hi Wray,

I could use some advice. I'm a week late and going to take a home pregnancy test tomorrow morning. I have been taking a prescription Bio-Identical Progesterone cream. When I started the cream in Jan.2011, switching from sublingual tabs which made me feel awful, I noticed a difference the first cycle taking 100mg at night. By the third month I was feeling better when I took 50mg. at night. I got blood results confirming my levels were in a normal mid range of 14.23. Before the cream I was 1.2. I think this is why I felt more like myself instead of dizzy and tired or nauseous when I took more. I then went to a N.D. because I had insurance for 10 visits. He believed I was too young not to be producing sufficient progesterone on my own and suggested taking me off my cream and supplementing with Vitex, Evening Primrose Oil, and Omegas. The first month I felt fine but by the third month I was terrible. A blood test confirmed a level of 1.2 again. I went back on immediately and am in the forth cycle. I again last month felt bad even with 50mg. at night, so I took half at 12.5mg. a day. I felt more like myself but a little tired and lightheaded at times. Also have had bad vertigo before, during, and after period the last two months.

Now I'm a week late and scared I'm on too low of an amount. I miscarried Mar.2011 at 10 wks., six years before at 12wks. I'm 35 now. What amount should I up my cream to? Or should I be taking vaginal suppositories? Will be seeing a Dr. and getting levels checked next week. Please Help.

Comments for Having really bad vertigo and late with period!

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 07, 2012
 Get your money back!!!
by: Linda

I can't answer your question...I'll leave that to Wray but the N.D. you went to really needs
to be straightened out. And if you bought
all those products from him/her after
you were taken off the progesterone you
should ask for your money back since clearly
you needed the PG, maybe even more then what
you were taking and it looks like the N.D.
was just interested in selling product. I hope
I'm wrong and you bought the items somewhere
else.

Also, I'm not sure but I don't think iHerb
offers a money back guarantee other then
on items that have not been opened...clearly
worthless. The fact that you can't find
their return policy is a red flag.

Wray offers an unconditional guarantee
which she clearly states in her product
description.

I'm eager to see Wray's answer to your question
too because I have
a friend that's unclear on exactly when to
start the cream too.
Jan 08, 2012
 Vertigo symptom of iron deficiency
by: KJ from Australia

Hi
I also suffered from vertigo when I was still menstruating (am now in menopause) & found it was during the time I was iron deficient that the dizziness etc occured. A course of organic iron helped enormously. Hope this is of help.
Jan 09, 2012
 Vertigo with period, too
by: Wendy

3 years ago while attempting to restore my adrenals, I experienced severe vertigo with my periods. It subsided once I stopped the adrenal protocol, which included herbs and some glandulars. My natural doctor could not explain it. The years later, I'd like to try again to restore my adrenals and balance my hormones, but live in fear of the vertigo returning. This website has explained every other hormonal symptom I've ever had a questions about, and I would be so happy to find an answer to the vertigo as well.
Jan 09, 2012
 Having really bad vertigo and late with period!
by: Wray

Hi Caterina I'm a bit confused as to how much you are using. Is it 100mg/day and at night only, do you not use any in the morning? As progesterone should be used a minimum of twice a day. Why did you drop the amount to 50mg? And you say you dropped it to a half at 12.5mg, but this is a quarter of 50mg. From about age 35 we begin getting anovulatory cycles, so it is possible you are not making progesterone some months. We've found from Saliva Tests we run, that the ratio of P/E2 should be 600:1 and over to feel well. It seemed no one advised you on possible Oestrogen Dominance symptoms when first using progesterone. This is the cause of your nausea, tiredness and dizziness. To overcome this it's essential to use more progesterone, not less. I recommend 100-200mg/day or more, dependant on symptoms. As you are trying to fall pregnant, please see our page on Pregnancy, it explains how to use progesterone, when and how much. Take care Wray
Jan 09, 2012
 Get your money back!!!
by: Wray

Hi Linda I think you posted this on the wrong page! Although I would agree that the items the ND gave her would not have done much to help. Yes agnus castus can help, as it can reduce prolactin levels if they are high, which in turn can cause luteal phase dysfunction, with subsequent problems in embryo implantation. But because it has a mild oestrogenic action, levels of 17 beta-oestradiol can increase. One study found mild ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurred in the luteal phase, see here, here, here, here, here and here. If prolactin levels are high both progesterone and the amino acid tyrosine are very affective at suppressing it. Agnus castus doesn't contain progesterone. In answer to your friends query on when to start progesterone, it should be used at ovulation. So depending on her cycle length, she would start on day 7 if she has a 21 day cycle, or day 21 if she has a 35 day cycle, with variations in between. All women, irrespective of their cycle length, ovulate 12-14 days before bleeding. We have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. Take care Wray
Jan 09, 2012
 Vertigo symptom of iron deficiency
by: Wray

Hi KJ Thanks for the tip, it's worth noting. Take care Wray
Jan 10, 2012
 Vertigo with period, too
by: Wray

Hi Wendy I'm delighted the website has helped you. Vertigo related to a period is caused by fluid build up in the ear due to excess oestrogen in ratio to progesterone. You might like to see a Chart we have showing the rise and fall of the hormones. In a normal cycle progesterone peaks mid-luteal phase, so does oestrogen. If insufficient progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum, the ratio becomes skewed. Or if the luteal phase is too short, ie less than 12 days, insufficient progesterone is made. Or if progesterone drops more rapidly than oestrogen in the last few days before bleeding, the ratio again becomes skewed. In some cycles, certainly after the age of 35, we don't ovulate, so no progesterone is made. Thus making oestrogen dominant, in fact PMS often becomes worse from age 35 onwards because of this. Then we hit Peri-menopause, when anovulatory cycles increase in frequency, until Menopause when the ovaries stop producing viable eggs. I'm surprised women remain sane through it all! Oestrogen is a mitogenic, excitatory, inflammatory hormone, which causes amongst many things water retention. I had terrible dizziness in the last stages of peri-menopause, plus many other unpleasant symptoms. Luckily I found progesterone in time. Interestingly studies on TBI victims found progesterone extremely effective for preventing death and disability. One of the reasons was it's amazing diuretic properties. During the studies they found it wasn't so much the bash on the head, but the oedema after it that caused the damage. Progesterone reduced the oedema, the inflammation too, see here, here, and here. The victims, mostly men, were given over 1200mg/day via IV transfusion. If you should consider it, please use sufficient, and not the 20mg/day normally recommended. I suggest 100-200mg/day dependant on symptoms, rubbing it over the spot giving trouble relieves the problem quicker. We do have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. Continued below.
Jan 10, 2012
 Vertigo with period, too
by: Wray

Hi Wendy When a person is stressed, the adrenals secrete more progesterone in order to convert it to cortisol, one of the stress hormones. If the adrenals themselves are overly stressed they tend to rob other sources of progesterone to keep up with demand, notably the ovaries. This is turn upsets the reproductive cycle, and can in fact cause anovulation, miscarriages too if the woman is pregnant. I would hope using progesterone it would also help your adrenal glands. But please read our page on Oestrogen Dominance first, as this can occur. Take care Wray
Jan 10, 2012
 Update, but confused?
by: Caterina

Thanks everyone for your comments. As an update, I started bleeding on Sunday before I could get to a Doctor. I would have been five weeks along.

Hi Wray, I've been on bio-identical progesterone therapy since Sept. 2010. A previous Doctor put me on 100 mg. 2x's a day of the sublingual and I got my period every two weeks, three times in a six week period. I quickly became anemic and that's when I started only 100 mg. at night still suffering with horrible symptoms, but I stopped bleeding and had a normal cycle. Around this time I learned of this site and had my prescription changed to the cream and I quickly noticed a difference and for the first time I started to feel more like myself. After three cycles that's when my test showed 14.23. It was after this test that I went to 50 mg. once a day at night because I was still struggling with fatigue, tiredness, and being lightheaded. I felt in fog all day. At this amount I had days where I felt completely like myself, but it wouldn't last but a few short days here and there.
Then I saw the N.D., got off for three cycles, got sick and tested 1.2. So I got back on and am currently four cycles in. With this last cycle using only 12.5 mg. at night because of feeling more like myself when I took even less. I assumed history was repeating itself with my levels probably being in the normal range they were at this time frame when I was tested before going off for three months.
So Wray I'm confused as to how I would need 100-200 mg. a day when my levels came in the normal range (being tested within days of ovulation) and I was showing signs of too much progesterone even when I took even a nightly dose of 50 mg.? It would make sense not needing as much when you get to a place of leveling out. I'm just so tired of not feeling well even though I'm giving my body what it needs. By the way I've had every blood test regarding hormones,Vit. D, Testosterone, Estrogen, T3, T4, TSH, Prog. saliva and blood, Iron, and general blood work up, etc. and the only thing they find off is the progesterone! Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks, Caterina
Jan 14, 2012
 Update, but confused?
by: Wray

Hi Caterina Ironically when reducing progesterone it can make us feel better, as it's no longer stimulating oestrogen. As soon as you increase the symptoms will come back, but it's essential to do this, essential to make progesterone the dominant hormone. If not you will continue to have bad symptoms and not feel well. Very rarely are the ratios checked between progesterone and oestrogen, this is the critical factor not the amount. We've found from Saliva Tests a naturopath runs for us, that the P:E2 ratio should be 600:1 and over to feel well. You'll notice how high the progesterone level is, but all the women were feeling well which is the aim. Progesterone should always be used a minimum of twice a day too, as levels drop after about 13 hours. I would be interested in what your vitamin D level was, as the 'adequate' level of 30ng/ml labs and doctors use is far too low. Conservatively it should be no lower than 50ng/ml, better if it's between 70-100ng/ml. People who live and work in the sun have levels in this range. So please increase the progesterone, I've found 400mg/day initially can reduce or prevent any Oestrogen Dominance symptoms. And please check your vitamin D levels, it's so vital for a successful pregnancy, see here, here, here, here and here. These are excellent videos to watch too, see here and here. Another nutrient you could consider is taurine, also vital for a growing foetus, see here, here and here. Take care Wray
Oct 15, 2013
 Magnesium!!
by: Beth

I found that supplementing at bedtime with magnesium and calcium together cured my vertigo. I came across a website that said that low levels of progesterone could go hand in hand with low magnesium..so i thought i would give it a try and voila it worked. I start getting dizzy if i don't take it, so I know for sure it is what has cured the spinning. Hope this works for you too!
Oct 15, 2013
 Magnesium!!
by: Wray

Hi Beth Thanks for mentioning this, although I would stick with just the magnesium, not the calcium. Magnesium is a calming mineral, calcium is excitatory. Magnesium is low in our food, whereas calcium is not, particularly if dairy is eaten or drunk. And if vitamin D is taken, calcium will generally be enough as it draws it from the gut. I do hope you are taking it, at least 5000iu per day. I would be interested in reading that website you mentioned, do you still have the URL? I have long thought low progesterone and magnesium go together, but have found no evidence for it, I would be so interested to read up on it. Take care Wray
Oct 19, 2013
 Thanks Beth and Wray!!!
by: Caterina

So interesting that you mentioned the magnesium. I had read something online about a month ago about magnesium and hormonal imbalance and thought I'd give it a try. I went to our local Vitamin Shoppe and got a bottle of Calm. It's a fizzy magnesium drink. My Hubby and I have been taking it at night and we sleep soundly. I've seen a Huge improvement in the vertigo. I also read B12 being important as well, as Vitamin D.


So thanks again ladies for commenting!
Oct 21, 2013
 Thanks Beth and Wray!!!
by: Wray

Hi Caterina Well I'm delighted with this news, it should help you. Vitamin D is essential for sleep, see here and here. Take care Wray
Oct 24, 2013
 heart palpitations and crawling skin!
by: Anonymous

Help me wray! 2 days before my period I lowered my dose of progesterone and I now have heart palpitations a headache and crawling skin! I am on my period now..what should I do? this is tormenting and I have not slept in two nights. My dr has talked about putting me on orally progesterone now because he thinks it is better for me and it will work better.
Oct 31, 2013
 heart palpitations and crawling skin!
by: Wray

Hi there I don't understand why you lowered the progesterone before your period. This is the time when you need it most, and many women increase it then! It's the withdrawal of progesterone during those few days which cause all our problems. You have exacerbated that withdrawal a hundred fold. It's allowed oestrogen to rise even further. Oral progesterone is the least effective Delivery system, "The liver and gut region removed a mean of 96 per cent of the progesterone entering these tissues", see here. Take care Wray
Nov 02, 2013
 lowered
by: beth

Hey wray..I lowered ir so that I could start my period on time..I thought if you didnt taper the dose down that you will not start your period. So I should just takebthe progesterone every day? What abour once I start my period? Also, now this cycle...on the last day of period all the way up to day 10 now I have had a migraine that has vertigo with it. I feel terrible and depressed. Should I not be taking a break from the progesterone at all? I read that high doses of progesterone could cause cortisol problems and diabetes..what is your thoughs on this? I am considering going to a bio identical hormone specialist do u think he could help me?
Nov 04, 2013
 lowered
by: Wray

Hi Beth If you’re following your cycle, progesterone should be used during the luteal phase, from ovulation to bleeding. This is always 12-14 days long. Are you doing this? Because after the 14 days, you would stop using the progesterone and should bleed a day or two later. See our page on How to use progesterone cream. But if you have those symptoms, it appears you should not be taking a break. That you should use it daily until things settle down. We have two more pages you could look through, Migraines and Anxiety. Progesterone does not cause cortisol or diabetes problems, where on earth did you read that. Certainly not from a medical paper. I can’t tell you if the specialist would be of any help. Take care Wray
Nov 04, 2013
 Lowered
by: Caterina

Hi Beth

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. As far as I know and have experienced myself is that, when I've felt that bad I took large doses to feel better. You may have to do that but I'd rather Wray advise you on that. I too struggle with days 6-10 of my cycles so I'll take like 50mg. of my Bio-Identical cream to take the edge off of symptoms but I try not to take too much as it will disrupt your normal cycle.

As far as taking Progesterone, you're supposed to take it at the time you ovulate and continue until you bleed. Once you bleed you stop taking it and count that as day one of your new cycle. It's really that simple. I take my temp every morning before getting out of bed so I know when I'm ovulating. There are other signs as well. If you're not regular with your cycles or your symptoms of estrogen dominance are too severe, Wray recommends taking the progesterone for 2-3 months even through any bleeding until you're feeling well and then taper off to start a new cycle.

I would like to advise you to ONLY take Bio-Identical progesterone in cream form as it is natural and your body utilizes this delivery system and recognizes the progesterone as your own. I would search out a Dr. that prescribes it. How I found my Dr. was, I called my local Compounding Pharmacy and asked the name and number of a prescribing Dr. It was easy and he happened to take my insurance, so the visit was a co-pay but the cream I pay cash and it's affordable.

Keep taking the magnesium. I've noticed a big improvement in how I've felt this past month and my sleeping has been great. I have not had a migraine this last cycle! Hang in there, Wray should get back to you soon.
Dec 05, 2013
 Hey ladies!
by: Anonymous

Green Willow Tree

That's the link Wray to the site I found the information on about high progesterone and cortisol..I'm not sure if it is creditable or not, I just do ALOT of research because I do not have health insurance and I'm sick...so I do what I can. I try and discern what is coo-coo and what may be the truth..this one seemed to make a little sense so I thought I would run it by you. So a little update, I have been seeing a bio-identical hormone dr. I went in two weeks ago for extensive bloodwork and I will be going back this coming tues to sit down and hear what his protocol will be for getting me well. I am still having vertigo, absoluetely NO libido and debilitating fatigue daily...those are my main concerns. This last cycle my period only lasted one day. NEVER had that happen before. And now I am on day 20 of my cycle and I woke up last night with vertigo. SO SICK of this crap it's unreal!! Thank you gals for all of the support and feedback, I will keep you posted Wray.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Blog contributions.

Share this page:
Find this page helpful? Please tell others. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Search over 8,400 pages on this site...