Low or High Progesterone Levels?

by Kaye
(California)

I am 50 years old and have been suffering from several pre-menopausal symtomes for many years. For a year now I have been suffering from extreme exhaustion and fatigue. I do not get any recuperative sleep. I wake up extremely tired even though I get adequate sleep. I stay tired throughout the day and crash several times during the day. This has greatly interfered with my work, my family, my social life, my upkeep with my self and my home. I am always so exhausted, fatigued, irritable and angry. I feel so foggy headed and can not focus or retain my thoughts. I feel like I'm going crazy and I'm pretty sure I act crazy a lot of the time but I think people are too afraid to tell me. I don't even like being around me! This is just not me and it is wearing me out completely.

I recently took a saliva and bood test for hormone level testing (saliva was taken in the morning and blood in the afternoon on the same day). My saliva test shows that I am low in progesterone and normal in estrogen. My blood test shows that I am extremely high in progesterone and low in estrogen. How can this be?

The tests were taken on day 19 of my cycle and on the same day. Is it possible for my levels to change that much during the day? I am not on any hormone replacement so I could not have contaminated the saliva test and I followed the directions to the tee (using no face creams and using fresh bedding and towels and washing my hands before handling the test tube). My doctor is also baffeled by this and not sure what to do.

My cycle is always 28 days with 5 days of moderate to heavy flowing, however over the last 2 months my cycle has been 37 days and my last cycle was a very very light flow, almost nonexistent.

Do you have any advice on how to make some sense out of the results of the saliva and blood test? I really really need some help fast! My friends, family, co-workers and employer would appreciate it too!

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Low or High Progesterone Levels?

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Low or High Progesterone Levels?
by: Wray

Hi Brie It sounds very much like you're still suffering from post natal depression. Progesterone falls sharply after birth and affects up to 10% of women. Serotonin levels also fall, causing many to experience severe PND, including post natal psychosis. This is seldom tested for!

Serotonin is the precursor to melatonin, our sleep hormone. So if serotonin is low you won't be getting refreshing sleep. Progesterone does help raise serotonin levels, but it takes time. You might find taking the amino acid precursor 'tryptophan' helpful.

You say you have been given 100mg Prometrium, this is a good dose, but if it's oral capsules it's a waste of time, as up to 90% is destroyed as it passes through the gut and liver. It also puts a strain on the liver which has to metabolise it, I do hope it's not the oral variety.

Mittelschmerz (middle pain) occurs in approximately 20% of women at ovulation only and in no way is it dangerous. The pain usually subsides within hours, but can linger for a day or two. It is not a cyst rupturing, but the follicle containing a mature egg bursting to release the egg. If you've had ovarian cysts in the past it's an indication oestrogen levels are too high, and progesterone too low. Oestrogen stimulates cysts.

As for hormone tests, we're still in the dark ages! Progesterone levels were never tested when hormones were checked until about 10-15 years ago. Luckily more and more women are becoming aware of what hormones can do to them, so the more complaints received, the more the medical profession will take notice.

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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi Brie It sounds very much like you're still suffering from post natal depression. Progesterone falls sharply after birth and affects up to 10% of women. Serotonin levels also fall, causing many to experience severe PND, including post natal psychosis. This is seldom tested for! Serotonin is the precursor to melatonin, our sleep hormone. So if serotonin is low you won't be getting refreshing sleep. Progesterone does help raise serotonin levels, but it takes time. You might find taking the amino acid precursor 'tryptophan' helpful. You say you have been given 100mg Prometrium, this is a good dose, but if it's oral capsules it's a waste of time, as up to 90% is destroyed as it passes through the gut and liver. It also puts a strain on the liver which has to metabolise it, I do hope it's not the oral variety. Mittelschmerz (middle pain) occurs in approximately 20% of women at ovulation only and in no way is it dangerous. The pain usually subsides within hours, but can linger for a day or two. It is not a cyst rupturing, but the follicle containing a mature egg bursting to release the egg. If you've had ovarian cysts in the past it's an indication oestrogen levels are too high, and progesterone too low. Oestrogen stimulates cysts. As for hormone tests, we're still in the dark ages! Progesterone levels were never tested when hormones were checked until about 10-15 years ago. Luckily more and more women are becoming aware of what hormones can do to them, so the more complaints received, the more the medical profession will take notice.

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How do I know if it's enough or too much?
by: Brie

I am a 28 year old mom of a two and four year old. I have been struggling with weight and fatigue since I had my 2nd child two years ago and after having multiple doctors test me for a hypothyroidism with negative results, one of them found I was low in progesterone from a blood test.

I have since been put on 100 mg of Prometrium. I definetly feel like it helped but still wonder if it is enough? However, also for a week around mid-cycle/ovulation time I have had alot of cramping,bloating, and sensitivity in my pelvic area. I have also had ovarian cysts in the past and wondered about PCOS, however it seems like no doctors really test or treat this condition unless you are having infertility issues. I feel like my body, weight, mood, energy levels have been unrecognizable and out of control.

The progesterone treatment is the first step in the right direction so far, but I still don't feel like it has fully rectified the problems. Why doesn't the doctor do tests for hormone levels consistently and throughout different stages of my cycle and follow up to see if they are at the levels they should be? When asked, she says they just tell by how I feel.
Thanks for your expertise and interest.

Low or High Progesterone Levels?
by: Wray

Hi Kaye Peri-menopause has to be the worst time in a woman's life! Your symptoms sound so like those I had, I didn't like being around me either! We do have a page on our website about it, which gives detailed information:

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/peri-menopause.html

It's interesting you had both a blood and saliva test done on the same day and the results were so different. This paradox is explained by ZRT labs. You'll find the explanation here:

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/progesterone-levels.html

Saliva tests are the more accurate, as born out by your symptoms. These are indicative of a skewed ratio between progesterone and oestrogen.

As your cycle is now becoming typical of peri-menopause, which makes it impossible to follow, you can use progesterone every day, without a break. I did and have done for 13 years now. You could also have 'insulin resistance' which causes extreme tiredness, a foggy brain and all the other symptoms you mentioned. A higher oestrogen to progesterone ratio can cause this. If you're interested in this, please send an email from the contact us link at the bottom of the page. This info is not on the website yet. Do hope this helps. Take care Wray