Oral Progesterone

by Lynn
(Akron, OH)

I was recently diagnosed as having estrogen dominance via the saliva test. My DC put me on oral progesterone (ProgonB), two tablets per night.

How effective is this dosage, and when can I expect relief from my symptoms: excess weight gain, mood swings, low libido, etc.
Everything I have read so far states that progesterone cream is the best way to increase that hormone, and I am wondering why my DC put me on tablets. Thank you.

Comments for
Oral Progesterone

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Jul 01, 2010
 Re: Oral Progesterone
by: Eve

I just looked up ProgonB - the dose of natural progestene per tablet is 12.5mg? Even at two of those, that is a laughable dose if you have severe symptoms. I had severe symptoms - I had to elevate my dose while on oral natural progesterone which did not have all those additional ingrediants added, to 600mg/day during half of the month (300 Am/300PM). ProgonB lists there are other ingredients to the tablet as well....I think you need to look further at the dose, the product and the application. There is an abundant amount of information on this website to help you. Educate yourself before you return to your doctor. This is your health and you know your body better than anyone else! Good luck!
Jul 02, 2010
 Oral Progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Lynn You are right, oral progesterone is the least effective delivery system, please see here and here. Injections, suppositories and creams are the most effective, the cream the most versatile of the three. Please see here and here. I see from the Progon B web site, you should be taking 8 per day..."Use 4 pellets twice a day, a total of 8 per day" Each pellet has 12.5mg progesterone, giving you a total of 100mg/day. But you are only taking 2, giving you 25mg/day, of which only about 2.5 to 5% is getting through. So you won't get any relief. The amount of progesterone to use is about 100-200mg/day, dependant on symptoms. If you decide to change to a cream, please read our web page How to use progesterone cream for more info. Progesterone will help the low libido and mood swings, but it only raises metabolism slightly, so don't expect any huge changes regarding weight. It seems you could have insulin resistance, for more info on this please see our page Insulin Resistance. Take care Wray
Jul 04, 2010
 re: Oral progesterone
by: Lynn

Eve:
Thank you for your kind comments. I did look up what was in ProgonB, and did not like what I saw. However, I thought I would ask others what their experience had been. I am post-menopausal (finished by the time I was 50, actually). I can actually pinpoint the day I became perimenopausal. The slow inexorable march of time, and the slow outbreaks of symptoms associated with heading into menopause had me confused, since I was so "young."

You are right, 12.5 mg is a small amount, I think the manufacturer recommends 4 - 5 tablets in the am and 4 - 5 tablets in the pm. Think I will try that while I am waiting for NatPro to arrive! Wray, please feel free to add your own comment!
Jul 06, 2010
 Oral progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Lynn I did, but see it went up after Eve's, who gave very good advice too! Even the full dose they recommend would not be very effective. I see the one page I should have given you I didn't'! It's essential you read our page on Oestrogen Dominance first, it can occur and is very disconcerting if it does. Do let us know how you get on. Take care Wray
Jul 08, 2010
 re: Oral progesterone
by: Lynn

OK, I did talk it over with my DC, who said I should go another week at his advised dosage: 2 pills of ProgonB nightly. Ha! I have read a couple of books by this time (wish I had gotten these sooner!), which say if I must take oral progesterone like ProgonB, I should be taking 4 -5 pills in AM, plus 4 -5 pills in PM. I started doing that this week, and many symptoms are starting to disappear: most noticeabely the weight.

Awaiting your NatPro which I ordered, should be here soon! I suspect insulin resistance also, so will talk to DR about that and also my thyroid function is down. I think there is something for that but I am assuming, from what I read, I won't need Metformin or anything for thyroid once I get the correct amount of progesterone in my system!
Jul 09, 2010
 re: Oral progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Lynn Progesterone should always be used a minimum of twice a day, more if needed. I have some women using it hourly for very severe symptoms. So pleased you've opted for the cream, it will give your liver a break! This has to metabolise oral progesterone. But please don't forget to read the page on Oestrogen Dominance, as the progesterone is absorbed very well, very quickly. So you could well experience those adverse symptoms again, or maybe you never did with the tablets. Insulin resistance affects so many of us, but please be wary of the thyroid. Often it's nothing more than a low level of vitamin D, this causes parathyroid hormone to rise, which slows the thyroid. Oestrogen also slows it down, so rather have a vitamin D test done, or a parathyroid test, or both, in preference to the usual thyroid tests.
Jul 12, 2010
 Oral Progesterone
by: Lynn

Wray, Your NatPro cream arrived on Thursday, and I immediately began using it. I use it on my face, neck and heels--which mean the palms of my hands are probably absorbing it, too. I did read all suggested links you sent me, thanks. On Sunday, I noticed that my arms somehow looked different: more definition or something. Same with legs. Could not quite put my finger on it, but assume you maybe can (without seeing me, that could be tough).

I do feel better, though. I added Vitamin D to my vitamin regime, even though I am outdoors almost every day, just to be on the safe side. That has helped, too, somehow. Right now I feel very calm, yet full of energy. Thanks for all the feedback!
Jul 18, 2010
 Oral Progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Lynn You say your arms and legs have more 'definition', I can only assume you are loosing water. This is as it should be, progesterone is an excellent diuretic, so good it's given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims, to prevent the oedema that occurs after the injury. So pleased you're already feeling better, and it seems no oestrogen dominance symptoms either! I'm really pleased you've added the vitamin D, but it's always best to have a test done for this. Although I have yet to find anyone with a level high enough. It should be a minimum of 50ng/ml or 125nmol/L year round, but better in the 80-100ng/ml region. Take care Wray

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