Low progesterone level

by SaDonna
(Arkansas)

Background and Question: My last 'normal' period was in January '08. I have never had menstruation problems other than missing a month or being a couple weeks late - that has always been the case since I was a teen, though.

After January, I went through some rather stressful events and did not have a 'normal' period again until May. In May, I started my period, only after the 'normal' duration of 4-5 days, I continued to bleed, producing large blood clots. I bled for two weeks (which is NOT normal for me). The bleeding stopped after the two weeks. I thought all was going to be ok and it was just a 'fluke'. However, I noticed (as well as my family) an increase in irritability and sadness - a great sense of loss/loneliness... and seven days later, I was bleeding again. That lasted almost three weeks.

I decided to see my physician. She did blood work, TWO pap-smears, and an ultrasound. The only thing that came back 'abnormal' was a low progesterone level. So... she prescribed YAZ (birth control) for HRT. I stopped bleeding, BUT I had immediate side effects - numbness and tingling of the left hand and leg/foot, acute chest pains, heaviness in my chest, shortness of breath, etc...

I stopped those pills after only three doses and called my doctor. She then changed the prescription to Orthotricylomen (a lower dose)... after four days of taking those, I started having the same reactions. I called my doctor again and we agreed to stop the BC pills and 'see what happens'. I did not bleed the entire time I was on the BC pills. Two days after stopping the Ortho, I started bleeding again.

I wanted to do some research on 'natural' means to treat pre-menopause (my doctor told me I was too young to be going through that... I'm 38 years old - my mother went through menopause at 42...?) to see what I could find. I thought since the blood work revealed a low progesterone level, I would go to my local natural health store and see what I could find.

I found an all-natural progesterone cream. I am just a little confused on HOW to use it. The directions say to start using it 12 days after the 1st day of your menstrual cycle... but since the bleeding won't stop, I'm not sure when that would be! Is it ok to use the cream WHILE I am bleeding? Some sites I've been to say to not use it while bleeding... I don't know... I need some guidance... I've been to multiple websites and read the directions, but it's just a little confusing to me, I guess.

I would rather use the cream than go back to the doctor and spend more major bucks on meds that feel like they're going to kill me! I also purchased magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D supplements. I think I'm on the right track, I just need more HELP regarding the cream!

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Low progesterone level

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Low progesterone level
by: Wray

Hi SaDonna If your mother went through menopause at 42, then you are not 'too young' to experience the peri-menopause symptoms you have now. Peri-menopause can start from 5-10 years before menopause itself.

I'm relieved you have stopped the Pill! All OC's lower natural progesterone levels in the body because they prevent ovulation. Unless you ovulate you will not make any progesterone in the ovaries. So if you have a low progesterone level the worst thing possible would be to go on the Pill! You might be interested in reading the warnings about YAZ:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/yaz_wcp.html

Please read my answer to 'Risk of no Periods' on what all OC's can do:

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/risk-of-no-periods.html

if you use any progesterone cream before ovulation it will also prevent it, so unless your cycle is 26 days long, do not use it on day 12, it should only be started at ovulation or 14 days before you bleed again.

Having said this, as you're now in peri-menopause, the cycle becomes too erratic to follow, so use the cream every day, without taking a break. Your periods will come and go when they will, there is nothing you can do about it. No amount of progesterone will help regulate it now. Due to your symptoms you will need a higher dose than normal. All the successful studies done on progesterone use between 100mg to 200mg per day. This equates to 3ml to 6ml of Natpro per day. Some go as high as 400-600mg/day, one as high as 1200mg/day as it was the oral variety.

Once the symptoms have been reduced, the amount of progesterone can be reduced until the optimum level is achieved. Here's a web page giving all the details on how to use the cream:

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

You might experience symptoms of oestrogen excess when first using progesterone, please go to this page which explains why:

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/estrogen-dominance.html

Do hope this helps. Take care Wray

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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi SaDonna If your mother went through menopause at 42, then you are not 'too young' to experience the peri-menopause symptoms you have now. Peri-menopause can start from 5-10 years before menopause itself. I'm relieved you have stopped the Pill! All OC's lower natural progesterone levels in the body because they prevent ovulation. Unless you ovulate you will not make any progesterone in the ovaries. So if you have a low progesterone level the worst thing possible would be to go on the Pill! You might be interested in reading the warnings about YAZ: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/yaz_wcp.html Please read my answer to 'Risk of no Periods' on what all OC's can do: http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/risk-of-no-periods.html if you use any progesterone cream before ovulation it will also prevent it, so unless your cycle is 26 days long, do not use it on day 12, it should only be started at ovulation or 14 days before you bleed again. Having said this, as you're now in peri-menopause, the cycle becomes too erratic to follow, so use the cream every day, without taking a break. Your periods will come and go when they will, there is nothing you can do about it. No amount of progesterone will help regulate it now. Due to your symptoms you will need a higher dose than normal. All the successful studies done on progesterone use between 100mg to 200mg per day. This equates to 3ml to 6ml of Natpro per day. Some go as high as 400-600mg/day, one as high as 1200mg/day as it was the oral variety. Once the symptoms have been reduced, the amount of progesterone can be reduced until the optimum level is achieved. Here's a web page giving all the details on how to use the cream: http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/how-to-use-progesterone-cream.html You might experience symptoms of oestrogen excess when first using progesterone, please go to this page which explains why: http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/estrogen-dominance.html Do hope this helps. Take care Wray

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