I wonder if it will help me

by Ereka
(Columbus, Georgia)

My cycle has been on for 4 months and it is heavy with clots. The doctor keeps giving me progesterone pills (10mg) but they aren't working.

I keep telling them I need more because they only give me enough for 10 days, and it only works if I take 4 at a time. I'm getting so tired and I'm getting weak so I wonder if the cream will work for me? I havent been pregnant but I do want children, I'm 36 years old and in December it will be 5 mos.

Comments for
I wonder if it will help me

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 14, 2009
 I wonder if it will help me
by: Wray

Hi Ereka. Yes progesterone will help, but I doubt if the pill your doctor is giving you is progesterone. It doesn't come in such a low dose, in fact the lowest in 100mg. I believe the 'progesterone' you are taking is a progestin, or synthetic progesterone. This won't work, but not only that, it suppresses all progesterone you would be making. I have helped many women with heavy continual bleeding, but the dose needed has to be high to work. At least 200-400mg/day, initially I would suggest you start with 400mg/day. Once the bleeding has stopped you could then use the progesterone to regulate your cycle again. Please see this web page on how to do this. Take care, Wray
Nov 14, 2009
 Going through same thing - hope this helps
by: Adrianna

I hope this helps you. I am also in my late 30's and have not had children either. You are correct in that the 10mg pills are not sufficient. There's no way that 10mg pills for 10 days will do anything at all. Also, pills have to be metabolized by your liver so you are actually getting even less than 10mg. I also found that doctors are (surprisingly) stingy with the amount of Progesterone they prescribe. My first doctor (Gyno) only prescribed 25mg (compounded cream) twice a day (totalling 50mg) which was no way near the amount I needed. I also found that when I used twice as much, it helped MUCH better, my periods started getting more normal and the soaking wet night sweats went away. When she (my Gyno) would not refill the prescription any more (even though I told her it was helping!) I found another Progesterone cream that helps incredibly well - it is Pharmaceutical grade without the prescription. Have your hormones tested too first - but definitely stick with a cream rather than a pill - and at least 50mg to start. (my recommendation, I'm not a doctor, but "just" another suffering woman who has a hard time getting doctors to listen.)
Feb 09, 2010
 Be careful
by: Anonymous

I don't know who just commented to you that Progesterone does not come in 10 mg dosages. I am sitting here reading MY Prescription bottle and it clearly states 10 MG TAB PROGESTERONE. Please be careful what the people on here say.
Feb 19, 2010
 10mg dose issue
by: Sara

Yes, we should be careful what we say, but we need to be even more careful about understanding what is in the prescriptions we're given. A common Rx for oral progesterone is actually a synthetic derivative of natural progesterone and is called medroxyprogesterone. It does come in a 10mg dose, but it is NOT natural progsterone. What I'm getting from this website is that, unless we are taking REAL progesterone (oral, cream, etc) we are not getting exactly what our bodies need and may not have the outcomes we desire.

For example, my continual bleeding has not stopped after one week on 10mg of medroxyprogesterone but I do feel 100% better in terms of mood and memory loss issues. So I feel like I'm on the right track but need the real thing to stop the bleeding. Or maybe more time on medroxyprogesterone... not sure if a natural cream would be the magic bullet either...
Feb 23, 2010
 Be careful
by: Wray

Maybe you could look at the bottle again and see what kind of 'progesterone' it says it is. In the 14 years I've been counseling I've never heard of such a low dose. It's so low it would not make any difference to any woman. All the successful studies use between 100-200mg/day, some much higher, it all depends on symptoms. Maybe you would care to look at some studies here. Take care, Wray
Jun 14, 2010
 Bleeding for 17 days with clots
by: Anonymous

I am 35 with one child. I have been TTC for another baby since 2006, had a miscarriage at 4-5 weeks in 2007. I have PCOS (low FHS/LH levels and a luteal phase defect) and IBS. After a two week break, I started bleeding again. The last time I bled 14 days and this time I have been bleeding 17 days.

I take the following supplements:

Pre-natal Vitamins
Vitamins E, C, D3, A, K
Omega 3 Fish Oils
L-Carnitine
Zinc
B-Complex
Magnesium & Calcium
Chromium
Coenzyme Q10
Maca
Iron
Selenium
Spirulina
Kelp
Folic Acid
Mega Acidophilus
Biotin
Green Tea Extract

6 days ago I started using natural progesterone cream. The jar has 480g in total and I've been taking 1/4tsp every day but no decrease in bleeding. I have clots and wonder if this is from excess estrogen and a good sign.

Should I increase the daily dose of progesterone?

Thank you in advance
Jun 19, 2010
 Bleeding for 17 days with clots
by: Wray

Hi there All the supps you take are good, but I would avoid the vitamin A, as it destroys vitamin D. And recent studies are finding a lack of vitamin D could be a cause of PCO. Please consider having a test done, for more info please see the Vitamin D Council. web site. If the jar only has 480mg then 1/4tsp is giving you 8mg/day progesterone. I've found 400mg/day is needed to stop heavy bleeding. If it contains 480mg/oz and the jar is a 2 oz one, then it's still only giving 16mg/day, far too low. Generally women with PCO need about 200mg/day or more, as often the luteal phase is defective as it is with you. Anything less doesn't help to extend this phase. Clots are a sign blood has coagulated, in the case of menstruation it could be old lining coming away. Oestrogen and only oestrogen can cause the lining to build. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP?s) are enzymes that break down protein. They play a role in the breakdown of endometrial tissues at the end of the menstrual cycle. If they are over active, as would be the case with an excess of oestrogen in the body, (oestrogen stimulates it?s production), the result is a pathological reaction such as inflammation. This can lead to excessive bleeding in the uterus. It?s only when progesterone levels drop at the end of the cycle that the MMP?s can get to work and breakdown the lining causing our monthly bleed. But with oestrogen continually stimulating more lining, and low progesterone, bleeding continues. Progesterone suppresses both matrix metalloproteinases and oestrogen, but only if enough is used. We do have a web page on PCO, please have a look at it. We also have another on Conception and Pregnancy. you might like to read too. Take care 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 Progesterone Therapy Home

Return to Home Page

Search over 3,000 pages on this site...

Do you have a progesterone deficiency?

This free questionnaire will tell you in 10 minutes

Just enter your email address and click the button...

Why do I ask for your email address? Simply so I can stay in touch. Your details will not be revealed to anyone


Do you have a question or concern?

See what's being discussed, ask for help, give your thoughts or experiences, or just browse...

See the FAQ pages...


Natural Progesterone Cream

Discover the facts...


Health care practitioners and therapists

Here's an
Associate Program
that may be a good fit for your practice


Your language

Translate this website into your language