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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.

Comments for
Natural Progesterone side effects

Click here to add your own comments

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.

>>>
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.
Apr 20, 2010
 severe side effects
by: maryanne

I used the natural progesterone cream in Feb 2010 for 14 days. then came my period 2 days earlier. During the follicle phase I was feeling awful... heart pounding, chest discomfort, tight throat, anxiety, panic attack. Then I felt better during the luteal phase. Now in April I still feel uneasy and irritable, with less discomfort since I stopped using the cream. Should I resume using it since so many people benefit from it. Will the side effects go away soon? Should I give it another try? How much should I use? I am only 44 and still having periods regularly. Please help.
Apr 22, 2010
 Dose and times?
by: Chris

Hi Wray, after reading your replies, I will eventually aim to increase my progesterone dose, I'll do this slowly, I got a mixed result so far, it feels like my imbalances are starting to get sorted although I'm not quite over powering them on 10-20 mg and cortisol still feels pushed.

if I get to 100mg a day for example that a fair bit of cream 5 teaspoons, where can that be applied and how many times a day, e.g. 20mg five times?

Just to confirm... is 20mg progestrone one teaspoon?
Apr 22, 2010
 Severe side effects
by: Wray

Hi Maryanne. You are suffering from oestrogen dominance, this does go with continued use of progesterone. But how much progesterone are you using, as it should be between 100-200mg/day? We do have a web page on oestrogen dominance, please see here. As you are now in the beginning stages of peri-menopause you might like to read more about it here. Take care, Wray
Apr 22, 2010
 Dose and times?
by: Wray

Hi Chris. I think you'll be pleased you increased the amount, it really does work. Symptoms can be worse for a bit, but do go! 20mg/day is the amount we make in a normal monthly cycle, useless if symptoms are being experienced. For instance one woman was using only 30mg/day, feeling better but still had severe PMS and cravings 3 days before her period. I asked her to use 200mg/day, she agreed, but was very apprehensive! She wrote back after her first month saying she had actually gone up to 2tsp, about 330mg/day of progesterone and had sailed through the month, with no symptoms at all. The cream you are using must be a very low dose, for 1tsp to give you 20mg! You would have to use it 5 times a day, costly too. 1tsp of Natpro will give you ±170mg progesterone, 3ml (0.6 tsp) will give you 100mg. The cream can be applied anywhere, as the skin comprises 95% kerotinocytes, these have many receptor sites for progesterone, even hair follicles absorb it well. For more information on how to use it please see here. Take care, Wray
Apr 28, 2010
 reply
by: Chris

Hi, I did up the dose I did struggle quite badly although I'm certain that was the "estrogen reaction" and that will die off, I calmed down on about 40mg now feeling decent/steady, I may push it again soon and just battle through the estrogen feeling.

My only concern I have is if the male body produces 10mg progesterone daily and if I go to 100 mg progesterone, couldn't that excess progesterone lead to excess cortisol, testosterone and estrogen.

If cortisol gets too high it would become a problem hormone?

Progesterone is great so far though I'm almost certain I'm on to a good thing. I've always been the guy that does too much so I'm fighting the waiting game here.

I wish I knew before about the "estrogen effect" in the first week, it completely put me off in the past and I stopped using it, all them years I had progesterone in the bathroom and was searching elsewhere for answers that didn't work.

I got your product on Thursday, I can tell it's much stronger.
Apr 29, 2010
 reply
by: Wray

Hi Chris. I do understand your concern, but progesterone is as safe for men as it is for women. It's so easy to lower the dose once you're feeling fine, I don't think you should worry unduly! It's far better to get rid of adverse symptoms quickly than to suffer from them.

Excess progesterone suppresses cortisol, testosterone and oestrogen, as will any one of these hormones if in excess suppress progesterone. Before you panic about suppressed testosterone and low libido, let me reassure you we have many men using progesterone to increase their libido! Progesterone's affects in men is little known, but the few studies show it's importance in libido, one paper quoting...
"This review attempts to outline specific progesterone mechanisms involved in male sexual behavior, showing that this hormone plays a more relevant role in the control of male sexual behavior than commonly assumed. Although progesterone is a sex steroid, it stands at an important crossroad of these pathways and may be converted either into other sex steroids, to glucocorticoids, or to reduced neurosteroids. Thus, progesterone is of paramount importance and essential in the synthesis of other hormones, specifically of supra-renal corticosteroids, estrogen, and testosterone." And further... "Thus, it may turn out that the significance of testosterone in determining libido and potency has been overstated... the importance of testosterone for central sexual function such as libido or whether it also has an effect on the end orgasm tissues in the penis is still debated." See here. And here.

I do wish the 'oestrogen effect' didn't occur, but it does, even in men! There are over 90 oestrogen mimics now, in our food, water, air and the skin 'care' we all use. The only safe way to suppress it is with progesterone. For more info on these please see here. Take care, Wray
May 12, 2010
 Natural Progesterone side effect question!
by: Anonymous

Please help. I am taking natural progesterone - 100 mg
and as soon as I start it each month after my period I lose my libido COMPLETELY and bloat. The swelling abdomen gets worse each day until the end of the month when I get my period. It hurts like crazy at the end and feels like when you have to hold your pee for a whole day!

As soon as I stop the progesterone I feel much better, my sex drive returns, my puffed belly/ swollen bladder/ colon goes down and because of this my pelvis (which gets displaced by the bloat) shifts back to the proper position which in turns helps my back and neck pain. During my period (not on progesterone) my libido increases to a scary heightened point so by the end of that week I have to start the progesterone to calm it down, but I otherwise feel great during that week and my back hurts less. I have endomitriosis (or at least I did) and I had high estrogen when I was tested, but I HATE the progesterone! I have been on it for at least a year and a half and the side effects never went away. Please help.
May 16, 2010
 I need an advice please!!
by: Anonymous

I am 36 and 4 years ago I had a big emotional chock in my life that lead me to a depression and changed everything about me. At first I thought it will take only few months then I will be better but I was wrong and the stress got worse until I had my hormones tested and when I saw my results I was concerned about my estradiol level which was 526. I thought it was high because I had my test done 2 days before my period and I know it shouldn't be at that level. But my GYN Dr said that wasn't a problem and I shouldn't worry about it but I do. The fact is that I know I have something wrong in my body and I felt the estradiol has something to do with it so I called my family Dr and he advised me to take natural progesterone 50 mg pill everynight before bed. I just started 5 days ago and I don't see a bigger difference but I really wish to go back to be myself again. I really hate how I feel everyday. No energy, sad and angry. How can I make this stop? I have kids that I love with all my heart and I wish I could feel better so I can enjoy being a mom again. Please can anyone tell me what should I do?
May 18, 2010
 Natural Progesterone side effect question!
by: Wray

I can understand you not liking the progesterone, with continual oestrogen dominance symptoms! Progesterone activates the oestrogen receptor sites, so initially making it the dominant hormone, hence your adverse symptoms. So each time you start it they occur, and this is because you are not using enough. If you had endo, which is an oestrogen stimulated problem, and you say you still have high oestrogen, you will have to use at least 200mg/day progesterone to prevent the oestrogen dominance occurring each time. Some women with endo or high oestrogen use up to 400mg/day, so you will have to play around with the amount to find the one which suits you best. Certainly much more than 100mg/day. You might like to see the web page we have on endo here. Take care, Wray
May 18, 2010
 I need an advice please!
by: Wray

Your oestradiol should not be that high before your period, as it's dropping then, it fact it's high for when it should have been taken. The range is 30 - 400 pg/mL for a premenopausal woman. Stress of any kind, and yours sounds like it was bad, causes neurotransmitters to crash, hence your depression. It also causes hormones to become unbalanced too, as stress drops progesterone levels sharply. As progesterone also helps with stress, having little would not have helped the situation. Progesterone activates the GABA receptor sites, GABA is one of our most calming neurotransmitters. Oral progesterone is mostly destroyed by the gut and liver, so it's not a good delivery system. Please see here. And here. Far better are injections, suppositories and creams. The creams have an advantage over the two other systems as it can be used anywhere. The progesterone is absorbed well, please see here. And here. To be effective progesterone should be used twice a day as it's half life is about 13 hours. And please try to use between 100-200mg/day, I think you'll find this helps. You might like to look at this page. It gives info on nutrients which could also help you. If you decide to use a cream, there's more info on how to use it here. Take care, Wray
May 21, 2010
 "Estrogen Dominance"
by: Robin

I'm putting my 2 cents in for the many woman who do NOT have estrogen dominance but who are told over and over and over that that is the cause of their symptoms by well-meaning, but incorrect practitioners. I was told my problems were becuase of estrogen dominance and so I took a very good natural progesterone and for the first day or two I felt great! Then gradually I felt worse and worse and worse and got so bad that I would only walk a few steps and get an asthma attack, whereas I had not had asthma before. I was nauseous, dizzy, exhausted, gained weight, racing heart, etc. etc. I kept hearing, oh that is estrogen dominance and that is just the progeserone activating the receptor sites, just keep taking more!

Well, finally I developed a huge cyst in my right breast, the size of an egg before common sense got a hold of me and I checked out some info and got a saliva test for hormones. Guess what?! Two of my estrogens were normal and one was slightly elevated (as far as I know, women have 3 different types of estrogen in their bodies), but my progesterone was dangerously high, along with cortisol now dangerously high and testosterone dangerously high! I had had these tests previous to taking the progesterone and they were normal. (Actually, estrogen and progesteone were both in the low normal range.)
If I were to have continued taking the progesterone at the advice of women and doctors insisting it was all just estrogen dominance, even though doing no test whatsoever, then I would be dead!

I really do know that most people's intention is to help. And that many women benefit from hormone replacement. But please don't just tell someone their symptoms are all caused by estrogen dominance unless you have some proof to back it up! It can be very very dangerous!

I'm passionate about this because of my terrible experience and the terrible experience of others I know, but I don't mean to be rude to anyone here, so please forgive if it comes across that way!

Best to everyone :)
May 24, 2010
 Estrogen dominance
by: Wray

Hi Robin. I do know how you must have felt and don't think you're being rude, but do have to side with the well meaning practitioners! I have no idea how much progesterone you were using, but it seems from your description far too little, believe it or not! I know your level was high when you had it checked, but saliva values for supplemental progesterone can reach as high as 10,000 to 100,000 pg/ml if 100-200mg/day progesterone was used topically. Were you using this much, and were your levels this high? Please see here. I believe you suffered all those adverse symptoms, because you were continually activating the oestrogen receptor sites with too low a dose, without ever getting to the stage of progesterone dominance. So they continued to blight you. Oestrogen is an excitatory hormone, progesterone is calming, with reference to your heart racing, see here. And here.

Oestrogen is a mitogen, causing cells to divide and multiply, progesterone stops this, hence your breast cyst, please these papers:
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Paper 4
Oestrogen also causes weight gain, as it stimulates the fat cells, these in turn produce oestrogen so a cycle is set up. Oestrogen also causes water retention, whereas progesterone is a remarkable diuretic, see here. Progesterone is essential for normal lung function and is effective against asthma, see here.

Space doesn't allow me to give you more papers on the benefits of progesterone, but I can assure you there are hundreds! I hope these are sufficient to help you. Take care, Wray
May 29, 2010
 Estrogen Dominance
by: Robin

Thanks for posting my comment & also your reply. Haven't read all the articles yet, but am eager to. I did read the one on hormone testing, especially the disadvantages of saliva tests. I had a very good lab, I don't ever chew gum, was not taking hormones sublingually or on my face and had actually stopped the cream a month before the test (I was doing topical progesterone for 7 months - EVERY DAY! as my practitioner suggested.) So I think the tests were pretty good as per the article. What is curious is that even in the article, he says that the studies they did did NOT include saliva tests when they did the biopsy of the breast tissue for example, but he said that he could infer that the saliva tests would show high levels even though the blood tests did not. (Because saliva tests do show high levels from topical app.) He did not say that ONLY progesterone would show up high. On my saliva test my progesterone was indeed very high, but my estrogen was normal for 2 and slightly high for one estrogen. From what he says, my estrogen on my saliva test would also have shown up as high if it were high, not just progesterone. Same with testosterone and cortisol, which were way too high as well on my test. I don't have any evidence as of yet that my estrogen was too high. I am eager to read the rest of the articles to see if there is some scientific evidence or proof or testing of me having too much estrogen.

I looked at his chart of symptoms... a very handy chart! I'm going to show it to my doctor as I think she can use it. But honestly, I did not have most of those symptoms before I started taking the cream. I had low body temp and fatigue and hair loss, brittle nails, so some of my symptoms COULD be assumed to be from sex hormone imbalance, but they are also completely consistent with low thyroid! I got male docs who refused to consider that and insisted because I was a woman that something must be wrong with my female bits. Tests did not show this, but they didn't care. I was getting worse and worse and worse, even though taking more and more cream. And I felt better once stopping and have continued to feel better... it would truly have been insane to have taken more cream.... I was going into a coma!

The article states:
"When hormones are delivered topically, serum hormone testing grossly underestimates the bioavailable fraction of hormones in blood and tissue hormone uptake and response. This often leads to continued escalation of dosing despite tissue saturation and symptoms of hormone excess."

This is exactly what happened to me! The article does not say that all saliva tests are wrong. Or that it is impossible to have progesterone excess. I feel like you are saying that it is impossible to have too much progesterone in your body and that you can't have any adverse symptoms at all from too much progesterone. But according the chart in the article, a person CAN have symptoms of excess progesterone.
May 29, 2010
 Estrogen Dominance
by: Robin

Sorry my comment was too long to fit in one post!

As I was saying... I quoted in the article where he says that because blood tests don't show true levels of topical hormones, it can lead to over dosing and negative symptoms. Maybe this is what happened a couple decades ago when estrogen was prescribed for women left and right as the cure all and for menopause symptoms... but it turned out, although it helped some women, that was not what was needed by all women, and in fact, was causing a lot of problems! If women reported adverse effects from taking estrogen, what did the doctors say? That the symptoms were from too LITTLE estrogen and women just needed MORE estrogen! Keep taking more and more, and the women got sicker and sicker. It was all blamed on their bodies, never the hormone they were being given. Yes, some of it was because of synthetic, but what if they just kept taking a beautiful natural estrogen? Would their symptoms have gone away? This is now what is being said about progesterone - now it is all the rage and is being said to be the cure for everything and that everyone needs tons of progesterone and that it can't possibly do any harm at all... just like used to be said about estrogen. And that any adverse reaction you have from it is just because you need more!

What I am promoting is that one thing is not true for all women. That getting a good test is invaluable and should not be ignored. It seems that you are saying to ignore my test and just keep taking more progesterone? I did not get that from the article.

I read on your site I think that NO side effects have ever been reported with taking natural progesterone, but that is not true... they are reported, but either not taken seriously, or are suppressed, or are written off. But even that article says you can have symptoms from excess progesterone. It only makes sense really, because we have many hormones in our body and too much of any would not be healthy. Best!
May 30, 2010
 Estrogen Dominance
by: Robin

Can you give scientific references regarding the idea that progesterone "activates estrogen receptor sites" and how this causes negative side effects and why this would cause a breast cyst?

When I did my saliva lab tests, many considerations were taken into account by the lab, for example, luteal phase, etc., the fact that I had been doing P cream, etc. Some interesting notes the lab gave were:

"Several reproductive hormones exert trophic effects on breast tissue, i.e. cellular division and differentiation. Unchecked trophic stimulation can lead to undesired proliferation of the tissue. Over time breast cysts, hyperplasia and lesions are promoted. Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), and Estrone (E1) in descending order of potency exert proliferative influence on breast tissue. PROGESTERONE ALSO EXERTS A PROLIFERATIVE INFLUENCE WITH INCREASING CONCENTRATION. (Their emphasis) On the other hand, testosterone, in the normal to mildly hyper-physiologic range exerts a significant estrogen antagonizing effect..."

They say elsewhere again that progesterone exerts a "concentration-dependent" contribution to proliferation of tissue"... meaning, in greater amounts, vs normal amounts. This is what I had and why my breast seems to have developed a cyst.
May 30, 2010
 Be Careful
by: Anonymous

Everyone please listen to what your own body is telling you and be careful with this stuff. We are all different and react differently to hormonal shifts.

Think about it: When things are running smoothly our bodies produce both estrogen and progesterone at different levels at different times. We don't have constant high levels of progesterone being produced.

I agree with Robin. Diagnosing everyone with the exact same problem and prescribing the exact same solution is dangerous.
May 31, 2010
 Excess Progesterone symptoms
by: Robin

I looked at the chart of hormone symptoms, and one thing I got a lot of on the P cream was headaches... and particularly weird ones, like my head was filled with fluid. I often felt like I wanted to drill tiny holes in my head to drain the fluid.

According to the chart, headaches are also a symptoms of too much progesterone. Also, water retention can be caused by both too much estrogen AND too much progesterone. Progesterone might be a diuretic in some cases, but it was definitely not for me. I saw the article on using P for head injury, but it also GAVE me the symptom of headache and weird fluid retention in the head and elsewhere. I am anticipating you will say that is becuase the P activated the estrogen sites, but the doc's chart says that excess P can cause fluid retention, too. The chart also says a deficiency in P can cause water retention, but I definitely did not have a deficiency in P per my saliva tests.

I had racing heart, but that can also be caused by too much cortisol, which tests showed I had.

All these symptoms have diminished from getting off P cream.

I got one huge cyst in my breast from taking P cream, but I don't have fibrocystic breasts.

But I'm still really curious about how P activates estrogen sites....!

Thanks!
Jun 02, 2010
 Short term benefit long term problem
by: tiara

I first tried OTC progesterone about 8 years ago when hitting perimenopause and major stress at the same time. The remote area I lived in had no natural hormone replacement savvy doctors within a 3 hour drive. After joining several menopause chat groups and reading Dr. John Lee's books I had my hormones tested via saliva and showed low in everything but cortisol.
I started progesterone cream at the recommended dose as soon as the test results came back. I found quick relief--starting within 48 hours, of most initial symptoms from insomnia and anxiety to brain fog and mood swings.
However, after about 8 months, I started getting extreme lethargy in the mornings, brain fog as bad or worse than I had initially, short term memory bad again, hard to focus, balance and coordination off, and blood pressure dropping quite low, as in 85/45 plus hot flashes and night sweats. I initially thought my estrogen dominance was getting worse and increased the dose to a maximum of 1/2 teaspoon twice daily for 3 weeks and a week off. it got much worse. I ran out of cream at one point and that extended break showed me that it was the progesterone triggering it. I cut way back to sort of an on demand when feeling tense or irritable for a night or two with good results. The stress resolved and my other perimenopause symptoms decreased to minimal levels--occasional hot flashes and irrational anger.

Several years later again with extreme stress I found that increasing the dose helped with sleep, etc. again after about 8 months, the dizziness, low blood pressure and brain fog were intolerable. This time it took almost 2 weeks after my last dose of cream for the symptoms to resolve. Hormone testing again showed low levels across the board, this time including cortisol to slightly below normal. However, this time I have access to a qualified bioidentical doctor. Low dose estradiol/estriol cream from a compounding pharmacy is what works for me now. I tried both oral micronized progesterone at low dose and had horrible results again with feeling slow and groggy until mid afternoon. I tried going on and off it without telling my fiance when I had used it. Each and every time he could tell the next day and sometimes for 36 hours. A very low dose of topical cream from a compounding pharmacy can help me if I'm feeling a bit wound up but even that dose paradoxically again I will get hot flashes and night sweats even a couple of hours after application--it will wake me up sometimes and continues the next day.

I'm working with my doctor to balance what works for me. Progesterone alone did not help with and even made worse some symptoms such as vaginal dryness and lowered libido. Simply going off of it resolved those 90% and a few days after starting the estrogen have me feeling much closer to my best.
Jun 03, 2010
 Excess Progesterone symptoms
by: Wray

Hi Robin. I admire your tenacity, and all the reading I gave you to do. I still don't know how much progesterone you were using. You said you used it for 7 months, but every day, why? Unless your symptoms were severe, or you were in P-M when cycles are too erratic to follow, or menopause when we have none, I see no reason for it. It should only be used from ovulation, for the 14 days of the luteal phase.

It would help me to know this to better understand why you had such problems, as I'm still convinced you were using too little and possibly at the wrong time. Both breast cysts and fibrocystic breasts, which can have definitive cysts, are caused by an increase in oestrogen levels, as the papers I sent you point out. Having helped thousands of women (men too) with progesterone, I have yet to find it causes harm, only good. I have yet to find a paper which shows adverse side affects too, but there are thousands on the web, so there could well be one. As for progesterone activating oestrogen receptor sites, there are many ligands, hormones, proteins, oils which all have a bearing on how a particular receptor site responds. There could well be mitigating circumstances in your case, but it's beyond my capabilities and the scope of this site to know what. If you wish to find more papers on the subject Google Scholar is a good place to look for more.

Oestrogen is a known mitogen, one paper says..."Apparently, progesterone can be both proliferative and antiproliferative. Is there a unifying hypothesis that can reconcile this paradox?... with the demonstration of clear biphasic effects on cell cycle progression... In sum, a single pulse of progesterone is transiently growth stimulatory... However, despite the initial proliferative burst, subsequent effects of a single pulse of progesterone are growth inhibitory, characterized by arrest in the late G1-phase of the second cell cycle... In vivo studies involving treatment of patients with high doses of progesterone before breast surgery show fewer mitotic figures when compared with estrogen alone"

These might be of help...
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3

You might like to look at the web page on cancer too, there are many papers you could look at. Take care, Wray
Jun 05, 2010
 Short term benefit long term problem
by: Wray

Hi Tiara. Progesterone does have a paradoxical affect. As I mentioned in the last comment I made on this page, you might like to read the paper I gave. You might like to read this page too.

If you were using the normal dose recommended by manufacturers, the 1tsp a day would be giving you approximately 80mg progesterone per day. I've found it has to be at least 100-200mg to be effective. I still use about 170mg/day and that's after 14 years of using it. By stopping and starting it you would be continually dropping the progesterone level, which then had to pick up again. And each time it would have the same stimulatory affect as before, causing your adverse symptoms. Oral progesterone would have caused problems too, as most of it gets destroyed by the gut and liver, so you would have been getting a very low dose. It's the least effective delivery system, please see here. And here. A low dose topical cream would have the same effect. Progesterone cream is very helpful for vaginal dryness, especially putting some in the vagina at night, and as for libido, many men are using it for that! You might like to see this paper, very interesting, as it explains that testosterone normally given for low libido is probably not the answer but progesterone is. You might like to see this comment on estradiol cream. And these papers on oestrogen. Take care, Wray
Jun 13, 2010
 Week one on natural progesterone
by: Poeme

I have been reading this thread with interest. I have heard so much positive feedback about natural progesterone and couldn't wait to try it. I am 49, menopausal and have dragged myself around for months with menopausal symptoms, such as exhaustion, sleeplessness and hot flushes. I think symptoms have been further exacerbated by Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Well, it's been 5 days now and I feel terrible on the troches. My heart feels jittery, I have been having headaches and I have been tearful and anxious. I wonder if people with autoimmune thyroid conditions have difficulty because it alters the levels of thyroid in the body? I am devastated that I feel worse on natural progesterone.
Jun 15, 2010
 Week one on natural progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Poeme You should have been warned about the initial stimulatory affect progesterone has. It is very disconcerting, I'm not surprised you feel devasted. All autoimmune diseases are low in progesterone, high in oestrogen, hence your bad reaction to progesterone. For more info on this, please see here. Using the troches much of the progesterone is swallowed, it then gets destroyed by the gut and liver. I don't beleive they are a very good delivery system, please see here. So the dose you are actually getting is low, this will merely keep stimulating the oestrogen receptor sites. To overcome this the amount used should be between 100-200mg/day, nearer the 200mg/day initially. The best delivery systems are injections, suppositories and transdermal creams. Absorption of progesterone via a transdermal cream has been found to be as effective as injections and to enter circulation rapidly. Please see here. Please have a vitamin D test done as this is also always low in autoimmune diseases, for more info please see here. Please also see here Take care, Wray
Jul 08, 2010
 just began with progesterone
by: Lisa

Hi Wray, Thank God I found this site!

I have been having severe heart palpitations for a few years now that get worse during the week of my period. I am 47 and because of the cyclical implications my gyn is guessing it is hormones. I have had no other symptoms besides the palps, all cardio tests came back as benign pvc's. They don't feel benign! This has lead me to extreme anxiety, focusing on my heart. I'm not an anxious person typically. I went off the bcp this month and began using the progesterone (dissolving in mouth kind) two nights ago. I have requested the cream instead after reading your advice. I am less anxious this morning, but now I'm really concerned about having the palps return if I go through estrogin dominance! I have had very few palps in the past week.

Is it common to have the estrogen dominance or is there a chance I will not have a worse before it gets better experience?
Jul 22, 2010
 "Natural" progesterone cream ! Go away of it as much as you can ! ASAP !!!
by: Anonymous

Dear all,

Don't listen to this persons who only want to sell their products ! I have terrible asthma since I used this cream and now is very hard to keep it under control !! THERE ARE NOT NATURAL PROGESTERONE CREAM IN THIS WORLD, EXCEPT YOUR PROGESTERONE MAKED BY YOUR OWN BODY !!! I was perfectly health with my lungs before using this cream and since then I can't control this asthma !!! Do not try it ! Do not use more if you feel bad already from it, just stop it forever !!!! Asthma is a very strong allergy to this progesterone cream ! And yes, because it is not natural and the body cannot recognise it as a natural hormone !
Write me to [email address omitted by webmaster as it is against this website's policy to publish emails in order to prevent spam] and I can tell you more things.
Jul 22, 2010
 STOP GIVING YOUR WRONG ADVISE TO ALL THIS POOR WOMEN !!!
by: AYLIN

STOP GIVE YOUR COMMENT TO ALL THIS POOR WOMEN ! ROBIN IS RIGHT ! ROBIN, PLEASE CONTACT ME AGAIN !
I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ROBIN AND I AM SURE A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE THIS PROBLEMS TOO ! I HAVE TERRIBLE ASTHMA SINCE I USED THIS CREAM !!! I HATE THE DAY I CHOOSED TO USE THIS CREAM !

Note from webmaster... Aylin, please refrain from using 'all caps' as this is the web equivalent of shouting and is not in keeping with the spirit of this website. It is our policy to publish all posts irrespective of opinion but any future posts from you that show clear evidence of ill manners will not be published. Thank you.
Jul 23, 2010
 just began with progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Lisa So sorry I missed your comment. Oestrogen is an excitatory hormone, progesterone is calming. It calms by activating the GABA receptor sites, GABA is one of our most calming neurotransmitters. Another calming amino acid is taurine, and I think you are probably lacking this. There is more taurine in the heart than all other aminos combined, it's vital for the heart. Please consider taking it, from 2000-5000mg/day. Please see here. Probably a lack of this, combined with the stimulating affect of excess oestrogen prior to your period, caused the palps. I wish I could say if you would get oestrogen dominance or not, but I can't. It could be you won't as you say you've had very few recently. I'm not sure how much progesterone you were using, but troches are generally about 100mg each, which means you were getting about 10-20mg/day. If you start with the equivalent amount when using the cream, and increase gradually, you might find all is fine. But do try to increase to between 100-200mg/day. I've found it has to be this high to have any real affect. Progesterone should always be used going by symptoms, the more severe the more is needed. Thanks for the kind words! Take care Wray
Jul 23, 2010
 "Natural" progesterone cream ! Go away of it as much as you can ! ASAP !!!
by: Wray

Hi there The asthma you had when using the progesterone was due to the same problem many women have, progesterone initially stimulates oestrogen. This is an excitatory, pro-inflammatory hormone, whereas progesterone is calming. So much so it's used for asthma. And contrary to what you say there is such a thing as natural progesterone, it's used in many different fields. It's given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims, it's used to prevent miscarriages and pre-term births, for migraines, for neuroprotection, for ageing including Alzheimer's, for cancer and heart disease, for myopathy and much more. You might like to read these papers on it's use in asthma, here and and here. Take care Wray
Jul 23, 2010
 STOP GIVING YOUR WRONG ADVISE TO ALL THIS POOR WOMEN !!!
by: Wray

Hi Aylin None of the advice that is given is wrong, as I give plenty of papers to support the use of progesterone. And as many women testify, progesterone has helped them immensely. I wish you had listened to my advice about your endometriosis, as you could be out of pain too. I've recently helped one woman with pain 24hrs a day. She had booked to have a hysterectomy, which she has now cancelled. She's only been using it for 2 1/2 months, but was pain free within the first month and is feeling wonderful. She is using the amount I suggested to you and it worked, 500mg/day reducing gradually to 250mg/day. No one is forcing any woman or man to use progesterone, the decision is theirs, but to aid them we give as many research papers as we can find on the topic. Take care Wray
Jul 24, 2010
 Side effects of progesterone
by: Mich

I've been taking progesterone cream for 11 days and I too have begun to feel awful. Very lethargic, dry mouth, miserable, easily upset by nasty comments or unpleasant visual sights. I started using it because I read about it on a website, I had problems with hit and miss menstrual problems because of the perimenopause, (I'm 47), plus going from a size 8 to a size 12, I'm not eating anymore than usual and I regularly take cycling exercise, so when I read things like, lose 10lbs in 7 days, I thought, I must try it. Trouble is, I just feel too lousy to continue with it. I've not lost weight either, so ignore that advertising. I think I'll stick to being a bit fatter, at least before the cream I didn't feel at 'death's door'.
Jul 24, 2010
 Progesterone, testerone, and bi-estrogen
by: Patricia

In 2007 I had a complete hysterectomy with bi lateral ooperectomy. My problem is headaches. I get the left sided migraines. Is this from not enough estrogen? I am getting confused with all the contridictions. I have read Breakthrough by Suzanne Sommers and I understood the headaches were from not enough estrogen. My Dr. also gave me testosterone and I have to say I think the testosterone took away my backache and joint pain. I myself have been taking the Bi-estrogen and progesterone and I feel like I am having a hard time breathing while I am running. I also am experiencing heavy leg feelings and skipped heart beats. I was wondering, to save money, can I have the estrogen and progesterone cream combined, or will the molecules become damaged? Kindest regards.
Jul 25, 2010
 heart palpitations from Progesterone
by: Sandy

All very interesting information.

I too have recently started to take P cream and for the first couple of weeks had minor issues and feeling unwell, then things settled and I feel well again... mostly.

The note about the heart palpitations made me want to add my comment. A couple of years ago I had significant scary palpitations and after the better part of a year discovered that it was due to an allergy to bananas. Every 6 months or so I try bananas again and the palpitations come back, so I am fairly sure I stumbled upon the issue. This is just to say that there may be other causes for the palpitations and not necessarily caused by hormonal issues. My experiences have shown me that there are many possible causes for symptoms that are not obvious, so one should never make assumptions without trial and error, as everyone is a bit different.

Good luck. Your posts are all very thought provoking. Thanks for the information.
Jul 30, 2010
 Side effects of progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Mich I'm shocked anyone would suggest progesterone as a quick weight loss solution! Yes it is thermogenic, so speeds metabolism slightly, but it certainly isn't a quick fix. And in their hurry to sell it to you they failed to mention a most important fact, initially it stimulates oestrogen production. Oestrogen is an excitatory, pro-inflammatory hormone and will cause all those symptoms you mention. For more info please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance It is also a mitogen, it stimulates cells to divide and multiply, including fat cells. It also causes water retention. Progesterone suppresses excess oestrogen, but only if enough is used. What amount were you using? It should be between 100-200mg per day, anything less and it will continue stimulating oestrogen causing you to gain more weight, either as fat or water, or both. Yes it's wonderful for peri-menopasue, it saved me from a multitude of unpleasant symptoms, but enough has to be used. For more info please see our page on Peri-menopause. The most probable reason you have gained weight is insulin resistance. This can set in during P-M, as progesterone levels are dropping, but oestrogen remains normal to high. Oestrogen causes insulin resistance. For more info on this please see our page on Insulin Resistance.
Take care Wray
Jul 30, 2010
 Progesterone, testerone, and bi-estrogen
by: Wray

Hi Patricia There are many contradictory things said about progesterone, so much confusion arises. Oestrogen is an excitatory, pro-inflammatory hormone, a high level is found in all inflammatory disorders, including migraines. Progesterone is a calming hormone, and an anti-inflammatory, it's used effectively for migraines. Please see here and here. The breathing difficulty when running is due to the oestrogen again, progesterone is excellent for the lungs. It opens the airways as it's a vasodilator, in fact it's effectively given for asthma too, please see here and here. I don't believe we need extra oestrogen or testosterone for that matter. There are over 90 oestrogen mimics we have to contend with in our environment, and the jury is still out on whether testosterone increases libido, which is what it's normally given for. In fact the evidence is pointing to progesterone for this. There are progesterone/oestrogen combo creams on the market, but I really think you don't need the oestrogen. It's a mitogen, causing cells to divide and multiply, including fat cells. Any form of oestrogen, whether endogenous, bio-indentical or synthetic comes with an increased risk of cancer. Please see our page on HRT. Take care Wray
Jul 31, 2010
 heart palpitations from Progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Sandy Thanks for your excellent comment about other factors causing problems. Unfortunately when starting progesterone a host of unpleasant symptoms occur, which in some instances can cause unnecessary anxiety. We do have a warning about this on the site and the leaflet which comes with the cream. It's essential to be aware of this before using it. It's easily resolved if enough progesterone is used, but often too low an amount is, which stimulates oestrogen further still, and merely prolongs the transition to progesterone dominance. For more info please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance. I've found between 100-200mg/day is needed, in some instances where symptoms are severe more will be required. Take care Wray
Aug 08, 2010
 Just starting progesterone
by: Deirdre

I am 37. Since coming off the pill 2 years ago, I have had severe PMS symptoms (VERY sore breasts, depression, anxiety). As soon as I get my period, I feel great again. My dr. just put me on 20 mg. a day of compounded progesterone cream. After 2 days I feel so much worse. I feel so tired and irritable. I'm reading here that 20 mg. is much less than you would recommened. Do you think, at my age, I should just stop and try to combat the symptoms with diet and exercise? I'm afraid if I start now, I'll be on this forever (and, as of today, it's not helping).
Aug 11, 2010
 Just starting progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Deirdre You are right, I do recommend a far higher amount. In fact between 100-200mg/day, for most women anything less is merely going to make matters worse. Progesterone initially stimulates oestrogen, which is what's happening to you now. Please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance for more info. The pill does upset things too, as it stops all ovarian function. Once off it the ovaries do start up again, but slowly, so often ovulation can take many months if not years to occur regularly again. As you are now 37, anovulation is an increasingly common event anyway. It's only after we ovulate that progesterone is made by the ovaries. What this means is the oestrogen and testosterone your ovaries are making in the first half of the cycle, are not being countered by progesterone which is normally made in the luteal or second half, hence your severe PMS symptoms. The only way to prevent the symptoms is to use about 200mg/day progesterone during your luteal phase. Please see our page on How to use progesterone cream for more info on cycle lengths, the luteal phase, and when progesterone should be used. Once symptoms have resolved the amount can be reduced very slowly. I understand your frustration, but I have yet to find anyone able to combat severe PMS with diet and exercise. Mild yes, as mild means lower oestrogen levels than you have, and exercise does help. But all of us have higher oestrogen levels than we should, men included, as there are over 90 oestrogen mimics found in our food, water, air and the skin care we use. Please see this excellent site Our Stolen Future for more info on endocrine disruptors. Research has found progesterone excellent for ageing too, as it prevents lipid peroxidation, atherosclerosis, platelets aggregating and forming clots, dementia and nerve degeneration. It's for these reasons I for one will be using it forever. Take care Wray
Aug 14, 2010
 just started progesterone
by: jovita

Hi! Thanks for allowing us to make comments here. This is very helpful. I started taking progesterone 2 days ago. My doctor said i was in the normal range on all of my hormones but since I have fybrocystic breasts she decided to start me on progesterone. I am taking 50mg orally on days 11-25. I had a hysterectomy 8 years ago which left me with one ovary. I take 2 capsules (25mg) at night time. I sleep very well and when I wake up in the morning I have a lot of energy and I feel like my throat is tighter than normal and I am much more talkative and feel excitement which is not normal for me. By the afternoon I feel sad and less energetic almost like I have the blahs. I also feel more hungry and crave sugar. I am getting scared and it is only my 2nd day of taking this product. Any advice? Thank you!
Aug 16, 2010
 horrible side effects
by: maryanne

Hi Jovita, I had the same side effects that you got, and it only gets worse the longer you use it. Since you just started, I'd recommend you stop using it before full blown of side effects which are much worse than your current symptoms.
Aug 18, 2010
 just started progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Jovita I'm pleased you find the site helpful, the more women are able to ask questions and understand hormones, the better. Although you were told your hormones were in the normal range, undoubtedly the ratio of progesterone to oestrogen is too low if you have fybrocystic breasts. These are caused by excess oestrogen. Please see the following papers here, here and here. Oral progesterone is not the best delivery system, as most gets destroyed passing through the gut and liver, please see our page on Progesterone application methods. Progesterone must be used a minimum of twice a day, as levels drop after about 13 hrs. This is the reason you feel sad, have cravings etc in the afternoon. Oestrogen is rising again, and oestrogen upsets blood glucose. I don't believe you are using enough progesterone either, I generally recommend 100-200mg/day, but via a system which does not destroy it, ie injections, suppositories or a cream. For more info please see How to use progesterone cream. If you wish to continue taking it, the dose should be 300mg/day, as this has been found to work, please see here. Take care Wray
Aug 22, 2010
 Feeling worse...
by: Lara

I've read many comments here and have read the replies- I'm getting that when one starts the nat hormones, you go through a 'worse before it gets better' stage? I'm 39, have had no libido for the past couple of years, extreme PMS- Irritable ALL of the time and just a general sense of feeling depressed- Go in and get a hormone panel done- Results last week cam in Testos-.2 Progest- .3 Estradiol 91.4--- I was prescribed topical cremes for T(15 1mg every other day) and P (.5ml once daily thru days 1-14 then 1ml days 14-21)--- I've been taking these for 5 days now and am having headaches and extreme nausea along with highs and lows of moodiness- Is this typical? Would you up the P creme level? And in your experience, applying Testosterone along with Progesterone... is 'normal' and beneficial to my situation? Thanks so much for everyone's insight- Best, L
Aug 22, 2010
 Progesterone & hormonal seizures
by: Lisa

I started taking the cream a couple of months ago cause I have hormal siezures (Epilepsy) I am perimenapausal & must keep my progesterone up. (I'm staying one step ahead of having seizures cause of the changes occurring). Estogen promotes seizures & progesterone acts as an anti-seizure. So I have to keep my P up during the times it withdraws. (Since I'm losing my own during this stage of my life.) The cream has been good to me, no side effects & has taken care of all the Peri symptoms. It was so hard to find a dr who would prescibe it! I have a prescription which I go to a coumpounding pharmacy to get it.
Aug 22, 2010
 Thinking about starting natural progesterone
by: C. Sue

Hi there. Thank you to all who have commented here, it's been immensely helpful in research for my own personal use.

I'm fairly certain I'm suffering from Estrogen overload. Weight gain, depression, anger, irregular and/or missed periods, and almost debilitating insomnia. My sister said I should look into natural HRT.

I am very concerned that the initial month (or more?) would worsen my depression which can border on suicidal at times, and cause further weight gain which would make me want to jump from a bridge at this point. I just started exercising heavily and any further setback would be too hard.

What am I really getting into and for how long if I take a natural progesterone cream topically (days 14-26 seems to be the advice, day 1 being start of my period)? If it's only a rough patch for a month but then all the other symptoms will ease, I can make it. I just need to be informed before I start what I'm in for.

Much thanks!
Aug 23, 2010
 This is a bunch of Crock!
by: Anonymous

Why are you reccomending 300 mgs of this stuff? Every other site I have read and talked to people say you should not use more than 30 mgs a day of cream. No wonder all these people are having side effects. You are just trying to sell a product not looking our for peoples welfare.
Aug 26, 2010
 Feeling worse...
by: Wray

Hi Lara Yes you are right, progesterone does stimulate oestrogen, vice versa too. You don't give the measurements the hormones were taken in, or whether it was a blood test or saliva. But if you have them, divide the progesterone result by the oestrogen result to get the ratio. But the two hormones must be the same measurement, ie convert them both to the same. So if the oestrogen was done in pg/ml which is normal, but the progesterone was ng/ml which is normal, multiply the progesterone result by 1000 to reduce it to pg/ml. The ratio should be over 300:1, progesterone to oestrogen, although I've found 600:1 is better still. I don't believe you are getting anywhere near enough progesterone if you are using 0.5ml of cream once a day. Because this low dose is merely stimulating oestrogen and will continue to do so. Progesterone should always be used twice a day too, as levels drop after about 13hrs. The amount should be between 100-200mg/day for best results. But before you increase it please see this page on Oestrogen Dominance. You might like to read this page on How to use progesterone cream. I don't know why you've been given testosterone, unless your doctor thought the results warranted it or to increase your libido. But there's evidence it's not testosterone which increases libido, but progesterone, please see here. I don't know how they measured it either, or whether it was serum or saliva, levels for saliva for women over 30 are 16?47 pg/ml or 0.56-1.65 nmol/L and blood are 30 - 95 ng/dL or 1.041 - 3.297 nmol/L. Take care Wray
Aug 26, 2010
 Progesterone & hormonal seizures
by: Wray

Hi Lisa I'm pleased the progesterone has helped you, it does help catamenial seizures. Please see Please see here. And here. And here. You might like to read our page on Peri-menopause. Take care Wray
Aug 26, 2010
 Thinking about starting natural progesterone
by: Wray

Hi there Progesterone does initially stimulate oestrogen, for more info please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance. It's very difficult to judge how long it will take to pass. What I have found is the higher the endogenous oestrogen, the worse the symptoms. The only way to overcome it is with a high amount of progesterone, as it's essential for this to become dominant. Quickly too, otherwise adverse symptoms linger for far too long. I generally recommend 100-200mg/day, but in your case the higher amount would be better. It might be you need more, but only you can judge that. To give you an idea of it's safety and the high amounts needed, hot flushes stop or are dramatically reduced with 400mg/day for 4-5 days. Severe, heavy bleeding needs 400-600mg/day before it stops. As you have many adverse symptoms I suggest you try 200mg/day to begin with, if your symptoms get worse increase to 300mg/day etc. I also suggest you split the amount and use it hourly, as this keeps the level topped up. I'm not sure of your age, but it appears you could be going through peri-menopause. For more info please see our page on Peri-menopause. If I'm right, then it will be impossible to follow your cycle. You say they are irregular too, which is always the case in P-M. If this is the true I suggest you use the cream daily, through your periods too. These will come and go when they wish. Once your symptoms have abated you can slowly reduce the amount you're using till you find the optimum. Please remember stress drops progesterone levels, so more is always needed during a stressful time. There are many nutrients which help with depression, insomnia etc, please see our page on Anxiety. Progesterone can help as it raises levels of serotonin, but I don't think it will be sufficient. Although if you use a high amount it might be all you need. Take care Wray
Aug 26, 2010
 This is a bunch of Crock!
by: Wray

Hi there If you care to read the papers on progesterone, you'll find many on Google Scholar, and not web sites, you might find that the amounts I suggest are all within normal range. I would also point out that over half the questions on this site are from women using other products. I am happy to answer their queries too. The following paper is from June 2010, 2 months ago, and the amount used was 300mg. Please see here. Take care Wray
Aug 27, 2010
 Estrogen requirements
by: Betsy

I am on Vivelle Dot .0325, and a transdermal progesterone, 150mg per day. I was on Prometrium, 100mg per day, but wanted to switch to a natural cream. I am having difficulty adjusting to the cream, but I am willing to give it a chance, based on the information provided here. My question is about estrogen. I am aware that the Vivelle Dot has no estradiol, but I am curious if I need to be on estrogen at all, or can I just take the progesterone? The symptoms that caused me to speak to my doctor about hormones were: Hot flashes at night precipitated by anxiey, racing heart rate, aching joints, lethargy. My periods were not occuring every month, and still only come once in a while. I am 53, but have taken very good care of myself. I have gained a few pounds since taking the hormones, but it is not unmanagable. My hair is falling out though...more than normal...tons of hair loss and that is scaring me. That started about 4 months after starting the hormones. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Aug 27, 2010
 How long do you continue using natural progesterone
by: Anonymous

I have just started using natural progesterone cream (20mg a day). Within a half an hour my asthma systems and chest discomfort abated. I was in disbelief. I have continued to use it and have been system free ever since (less than 2 months). I am peri-menopausal, and have always had regular periods. Had night sweats since I was 36 but didn't think much about it. I can not believe how great I feel. In the past 5 days I have been able to ride my bike a total of 56 miles, run 12 miles and hike 8. A perfect week as far as I am concerned & not bad for 52 years old. What I haven't been able to figure out from books or the web is how long I will need to continue using progesterone. From what I've read through menopause, (which my mother reached at 56 and I appear to be following that track) when will I know it is time to stop using it?
Aug 30, 2010
 Estrogen requirements
by: Wray

Hi Betsy Vivelle does contains oestradiol and only oestradiol! Please see here. I don't believe anyone needs extra oestrogen in any form, for more info on it's adverse side affects please see our page on HRT. For more info on endocrine disruptors please see the website Our Stolen Future. We all get far too much oestrogen, it's in our food, water, air and the skin care we use. Oestrogen is a known initiator of inflammation, hence your aching joints, please see here and
here. Hot flushes are reduced dramatically or stop on 400mg/day progesterone if used for 4-5 days. Oestrogen does cause a racing heart as it prolongs the QT interval, this starts up tachycardia and arrythmias. Please see here, here, here and here. The racing heart and anxiety if at night only, could be caused by a drop in blood glucose. Avoid all carbs at night, no grains in any form, no legumes, no dairy, and no sugar or anything that contains it. If blood glucose drops too low overnight, a message is sent to the adrenals to make adrenaline, this prompts the liver to release glycogen our stored glucose. But adrenaline causes the heart to beat too fast plus causing anxiety, please see our page on Anxiety. Please see our page on Peri-menopause, it's such a difficult time. The weight gain is due to oestrogen, plus being in peri-menopause with it's dropping progesterone levels. Oestrogen causes Insulin Resistance, please look through the page for more info on it. As you are not ovulating every month, your ovaries are making mainly oestrogen and testosterone, the latter is causing the hair loss. Progesterone suppresses it. Consider taking 2000mg/day N-acetyl cysteine, 2000mg/day inositol and 2-3mg/day biotin. Take care Wray
Aug 30, 2010
 How long do you continue using natural progesterone
by: Wray

Hi there I'm so pleased the progesterone helped the asthma, but I'm amazed the 20mg helped, it usually has to be much higher. It is a vasodilator and an anti-inflammatory too which is why, please see here and here. It's entirely up to you when you stop, I for one never will! It's very helpful for ageing, for the skin, atherosclerosis, nerve degeneration, even Alzheimer's. Please see here, here, here and here. Take care Wray

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Although this web site is not intended to be prescriptive, it is intended, and hoped, that it will induce in you a sufficient level of scepticism about some health care practices to impel you to seek out medical advice that is not captive to purely commercial interests, or blinded by academic and institutional hubris. You are encouraged to refer any health problem to a health care practitioner and, in reference to any information contained in this web site, preferably one with specific knowledge of progesterone therapy.

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