Natural Progesterone side effects

by Melissa

My doctor put me on a natural progesterone cream and it made me feel horrible. I was only taking it once a day/ 1 pump which seemed like a lot.

I was breaking out all over my body and very oily. My hair became extremely limp and thin and I felt depressed... not myself emotionally. Is there a secret to taking this? Or is there any other product that might work better for me?

My saliva tests showed that my progesterone levels are very low, so I am already having a ton of other yucky symptoms. The cream just seemed to send me over the edge. Is this normal? Also, I have never been on HRT and I am 36 years old.

Thanks for any info.

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Natural Progesterone side effects

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May 26, 2009

Natural Progesterone side effects
by: Wray

Hi Melissa. Unfortunately this can happen to women when first using progesterone, not pleasant! Progesterone activates the oestrogen receptor sites, this in turn makes oestrogen the dominant hormone to begin with. If, as it seems, you already had too much oestrogen circulating, it can be far worse than someone with relatively low levels. But once it's suppressed by the progesterone you do start feeling better. You might like to look at a web page we have on this.

You have two options, to reduce the dose you are using, which by the sounds of things is low, if you're only using one pump a day. Or to increase the dose. A lower dose will take much longer for your symptoms to go, a higher dose will be quicker. All the successful studies on progesterone used between 100-200mg/day, which is the amount I feel you should aim for. Take care, Wray.

May 26, 2009

Do you mean one whole applicator?
by: marg

Are you using the whole of this or just one little squeese a day? I am on this, but take only 1ml twice a day, that is just two little pushes of the cream, the whole applicator lasts ten days. I am in postmenopause, so you should not be taking more at 36. Hope you feel better, get back and tell me how and what you are doing, thanks.

Jun 07, 2009

Dangerous side effects
by: Anonymous

Synthetic hormones are very dangerous. They are "replicas" of the real thing but synthesized in chemistry laboratories thus they're not natural and that's why the body reacts negatively to them. Avoid them and seek instead solutions through good organic nutrition.

Jun 09, 2009

Dangerous side effects
by: Wray

Progesterone, although synthesised in a lab, is not dangerous. The molecule is the same as the one the body makes, and using it is merely supplementing a low level. The negative reaction is nothing more than oestrogen dominance occurring, which in itself is not dangerous, but certainly disconcerting! Progesterone has been used safely since the late 40's by countless medical practitioners for their patients. Take care, Wray.

Aug 26, 2009

In one week I thought I should go to a cardiologist
by: Anonymous

I have tried the cream for one week and although quite athletic (5-8 miles race walking and hill climbing) I could not catch my breath. My throat felt thick, as well as my tongue and my heart pounded.

I logged on and read side effects... everything I was experiencing was in there... sweating, pounding heart, tightness of the throat, feeling winded. The cautions say you should not take if you are asthmatic along with a host of other things. It was terrifying. They say this is a allergic reaction. Be cautious, read up on it. The package had none of these warnings!
LMc

Aug 28, 2009

In one week I thought I should go to a cardiologist
by: Wray

Hi LMc. The symptoms you were experiencing were merely oestrogen dominance, they do go! As for asthmatics, progesterone has been given successfully by medical practitioners for asthma, generally via injections. I've copied below an excerpt from Dr Dalton's book 'Once a Month', first published in 1978, updated in 1999:

"Fifty years ago the six initial PMS patients, two of whom suffered from migraines, two from epilepsy, and two from asthma, were all housewives with children. Not only did they all report spontaneously that their symptoms always occurred before menstruation, but it was also noticed that they were well during pregnancy, although they all had severe symptoms immediately after pregnancy.

Intramuscular progesterone is the most effective treatment for PMS, so it should be the first choice for those at risk of severe premenstrual symptoms, such as asthma, suicide, assault, or alcoholic bouts, or those at risk of a prison sentence following recurrent conflicts with the law."

Take care, Wray

Nov 02, 2009

Progesterone trouche
by: Marina

Hello and help please. My progesterone I have just found is down and I need to take it in troche form...

(a) are there any side affects?
(b) are creams or the injection more effective?
(c) this is all new so do any of you out there know of any great sites I can look at as I didn't realise I was even close to this time of my life and don't really know anything about all this in its 1st stage.
Thanks!

Hello Marina, thanks for asking these questions. They are good ones and often raised by people new to progesterone therapy. My best advice is... explore this website. There are almost 1,000 pages of pure content including the links and references to the latest research papers. Take care, Wray.

Nov 05, 2009

Low progesterone/estrogen dominance
by: Cindy

Two years ago I took a hormone/thyroid saliva/blood spot test. All of my levels were low, along with estrogen dominance. Now 2 years later and still no weight loss all my levels came up normal except for progesterone, which is actually a bit worse. My levels are now .20 prog. and 3.3 est. My doctor raised the progesterone from 75 mg to 100mg and a 35mg pill to take at night, while leaving all the others the same. It's been 4 days, and I feel so angry all day, and sad as well.

Until I read this website, I didn't understand. I had previously read that progesterone is the "happy" hormone and thought I should be feeling better with each day. Although I gained a better understanding here, can you give me any more advice given my results and new dosage? My 50 pound weight gain is hideous, and I am so desperate to start losing.

Nov 11, 2009

Low progesterone/estrogen dominance
by: Wray

Hi Cindy. I'm a bit confused when you say your doctor 'left all the others the same', what others? Does he have you on other hormones, eg., thyroxine, testosterone? And you say he raised the progesterone to 100mg, is this in a cream form? I have never heard of progesterone in a 35mg dose, it's usually 100mg or 200mg. An internet search confirmed this, but makes me suspect you are being given a progestin, which does come in 35mg doses. If this is the case it would make you feel worse. Please consider using a cream and a dose of 200mg/day progesterone, divided into two, and please read this web page on oestrogen dominance.

If your thyroid is under active, it could be you need the amino acid tyrosine, a lack of this causes the thyroid to slow down. And I believe you have insulin resistance, please see this web page on it. Low vitamin D levels affect the functioning of the thyroid and are behind insulin resistance, please have a test done. Your level should be between 50-90ng/ml. Take care, Wray

Jan 29, 2010

Progesterone cream
by: Glenice

I have used progesterone cream for 6 years, it gave me back my life. l have had no side effects from it whatsoever and find it far better than HRT ever was to my body. At least I can lead a normal life now.

Feb 14, 2010

Temporary side effects?
by: Janet

I started using the natural progesterone cream about one week ago and have broken out in terrible acne all over my face and am badly constipated. Will these problems go away after a while?

Feb 22, 2010

EMAIL ME!
by: Anonymous

Please email me personally I am in a similar situation and would love some support! Thank you, Amy.

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Amy, sorry but we have a policy not to publish email addresses on the site as it can lead to all sorts of spam problems and tends to undermine privacy issues. I hope you understand. Webmaster.