Progesterone, periods and PCO

by L
(UK)

I am 29 years old and was diagnosed with PCO when I was 20. I came off the pill in 2000 for 9 months and didn't have a period, so I had blood tests and scans and they found cysts on my ovaries.

I was not overweight and didn't have any other symptoms, no plan for children, so my doctor just told me to go back on the pill, which I did.

I am at the age where I am starting to think about trying to conceive and so I decided to stop taking the pill 8 months ago (Dec) mainly to see if my periods would start.

I felt awful within a few weeks of coming off the pill, was not myself at all - crying all the time, stressed out, foggy thinking and generally feeling very depressed and unable to sleep. I was also craving alcohol and eating badly.

A friend recommended progesterone cream and I started using it in March. Within a week I started to feel better and things only got better over the next few weeks. Symptoms stopped and I lost bloating and weight - began exercising and stopped craving alcohol. The difference in my mood and insecurities/anxiety is amazing.

Since I wasn't having periods, I wasnt sure how to use the cream so started using it for 25 days and then had a 5 day break.

The first time I had a break I had a period! Since then I have had 3 periods, and they seem to be anywhere between 7-10 weeks apart - however they no longer coincide with my break in progesterone.

I have carried on using the cream for 25 days and having a break, although initially I reduced the length of the break as the symptoms came back after a day or two and I couldn't bear it without my fix of the magic cream! :)

I wonder if i have been using the cream too much as I started to feel the foggy thinking symptoms coming back towards the end of the 25 days this time and when I stopped using the cream for a break, I actually felt better.

I'm not sure how to proceed on the doses now - should I assume my cycle is 7-10 weeks and only use it in the second half?

I read that your receptors can stop working if you use too much cream?

I haven't advised my doctor I am using the cream and haven't had any tests to confirm if cysts are still present, although I do sometimes get slight stabbing pains in my ovaries when I twist my body in a certain way... so think they may still be present. Would you recommend me getting another scan?

I don't want children just yet, maybe next year but want to make sure everything is working properly before I start trying to conceive.

I will never go on the contraceptive pill again as I believe it has been to blame for my problems.

I have been using Serenity and wonder if I should switch to your cream? I also want to get some for my mum, who is going through the menopause. Does it help with hot flushes?