No progesterone!

I'm a 33 year old woman, and am incredibly confused about what's going on with my body. Recently, I started seeing a holistic cardiologist for a fainting disorder, and he suspected hypothyroid, even though I'm being treated for hyperthyroid by my GP. The new doc did a whole bunch of blood tests, and it turns out my progesterone level is at zero!

I still menstruate, though lightly, and haven't had fertility issues because I have never tried to get pregnant. My cortisol is about half of what it should be. So the new doc put me on a few supplements to help get my thyroid up, as he is sure that it's the hypothyroid that is causing my progesterone to be depleted. Other problems I have, including the fainting disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, and sleep apnea, he also believes are result of the hypothyroid.

What I'm wondering is, should I be on a progesterone regimen too? Or should I wait and let the supplements do their job? It's hard to have two docs with entirely differing opinions. I really don't know what's going on at this point, but am just trying to track symptoms so I can get an idea of what's working and what's not. I'm definitely out of whack, and just hoping that something will make me feel better!

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No progesterone!

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Dec 31, 2010
 No progesterone!
by: Wray

Hi there I find it very strange you have been diagnosed as both hypo- and hyperthyroid. Do you have your test results from each doctor, because I suggest you check for yourself by looking at the Medline TSH page. This has links to T4 and T3 levels. Did they check iodine, see ATA. Did they check parathyroid levels, see Medline PTH. A higher than normal level suppresses the thyroid. But high PTH is caused by a vitamin D deficiency, please have a test done, see the Vitamin D Council website. So many things can cause fainting. Have they checked blood glucose, as a severe drop in that can cause it. A lack of glucose in the cells can cause excessive tiredness too, see Insulin Resistance. I know from personal experience that progesterone stopped my chronic fatigue, so I believe it's well worth you trying it. The thyroid does influence the ovaries and therefore progesterone production. But so do all the other organs/glands, the body works as a whole. If your progesterone is that low I feel it would be foolish not to raise it now. There is obviously something disturbing the ovaries sufficiently to prevent ovulation, often it's only a lack of progesterone. Were your LH and FSH levels checked too? If these are higher than normal they also upset ovarian function, progesterone suppresses these, so helping the cycle to flow normally. Often it's oxidative stress causing teh ovaries to malfunction, due to toxins in the environment, a lack in the diet, stress etc. Vitamin D is critical for the ovaries, as are a number of other antioxidants. Have they checked for poly cystic ovaries? We do have a page on PCOS, please read through it in case. If you should consider progesterone, please read this page on How to use progesterone cream. But before you use it, please read this page on Oestrogen Dominance. Take care Wray

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