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Progesterone & Weight Gain

by Brianna
(California)

I have been on Bioidentical Progesterone cream for almost two weeks now and have almost gained 10lbs. My saliva test showed that my progesterone level was 59 and my cortisol was 1.5. Im 32 years old. I have noticed many benefits as far as my moods and libido etc., however, I am very worried about the weight gain.

What should I do? I am taking 30mg of the cream once daily. Please help! Thanks

Comments for
Progesterone & Weight Gain

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Jul 01, 2009
 Progesterone and Weight gain
by: Aylin

Do not worry, I don't think so it is from progesterone, especially because you use natural progesterone. I use sinthetic progesterone and I didn't take any gain plus... It can be just your body which keeps the water and does not eliminate it. Try to drink green tea every evening and morning. Good luck !
Jul 02, 2009
 Progesterone and Weight Gain
by: Wray

Hi Brianna. Weight gain can occur when first using progesterone. The reason for this is progesterone initially stimulates oestrogen, which causes the water retention. Progesterone is such a good diuretic it is now being used via IV transfusion for brain trauma victims. Please read our web page here on oestrogen dominance.

Although the progesterone has helped you in other areas, I don't believe you are using enough. All the successful studies have used between 100-200mg/day, so I would suggest you increase the dose, you should find this helps. Take care, Wray
Aug 15, 2009
 Be careful
by: Anonymous

Not to bust anyone's bubble, but you need to be careful about progesterone. My doctor told me if I continued to take progesterone cream that it could give me masculine traits. He said it is the reason men get a "beer belly" and "man boobs". I did get a belly after being on Depo Provera for six months... thank goodness I got off it. Just get your blood tested (or saliva) or whatever your dr. thinks is the best test and do it under strict supervision by a liscensed physician. I am also training to be a nurse and I hear about women with DVTs from the progestin in birth control pills and just sensitivity during pregnancy. My friend told me it does something to the fibrinogen in the blood.That is why they warn you about blood clots while taking the pill.
Aug 18, 2009
 Be careful
by: Wray

You are so right about the progestins, whether found in the contraceptive pill or HRT, all of them come with adverse side effects, please see this web page for more info.

Progesterone on the other hand has no such side effects and most certainly does not cause masculine traits in a woman. If it did we would be grossly changed whilst pregnant, as we make over 400mg/day in the last trimester! For your doctor to say it causes 'man boobs' is a contradiction of the above. Progesterone cannot cause masculine traits in a woman and feminine in a man!

Progesterone is not a sex hormone, it has no influence on the secondary sexual characteristics which develop at puberty or the problems which can affect us later in life. Oestrogen, and only oestrogen, can cause cells to multiply and grow, hence the gynecomastia in men. Progesterone is excellent at reversing this is men. Take care, Wray
Oct 14, 2009
 Progesterone intolerance
by: gin

Not all women tolerate progesterone. For example, I've had diarrhea for 5 years and have had every test imaginable to discover what was going on... no celiac disease, no parasites, on and on... until I heard that progesterone can cause (in 8%) diarrhea. I stopped the HRT (bio-identical cream) and within 3 days all symptoms had disappeared, but my weight still hasn't budged. Plus I still have joint pain (which is also another side effect) I've been off of it for 3 weeks now, and yes the night sweats and hot flashes are strong, but I don't have to go to the bathroom countless times a day. So my advise is listen to your own body and check with a different doctor. I tried 5 different doctors and then I asked my compounding pharmacist.
Oct 25, 2009
 Progesterone intolerance
by: Wray

Hi Gin. I'm puzzled you say not all women tolerate progesterone. It's the most vital hormone for pregnancy, without which no woman would carry a child. We not only tolerate it but thrive on it! As evidenced by the 90% of women who experience greater well being when pregnant. Those that don't and suffer adverse symptoms like nausea, headaches etc are deficient in it while pregnant. You say you were on bio-identical HRT... did it contain oestrogen too? If so this will explain your adverse reaction to it. Joint pains are alleviated by progesterone which is an excellent anti-inflammatory. In fact so good that it is now being used via IV transfusion for brain trauma victims. Take care, Wray
Oct 31, 2009
 Progesterone and weight gain, sleepy head
by: Anonymous

I have been using Natpro for almost a year now and have just started to experience the benefit of a reduction in menstrual pain the past few months. I am very thankful for this and consider it a great blessing to the quality of my life. When I first started using the cream I experienced bad headaches which subsided after a few months passed by. I also gained a significant amount of weight. I was a size six and I am now a size 12. I find that in order for the cream to work I use a bit in the morning and a bit at night. It makes me a bit sleepy or foggy in my head. It is terrific at night, because it helps me sleep well which I am thankful for. However, it doesn't help me during the day when I need to be alert. I have tried doing without it during the day, but it doesn't work as well for my menstrual pain and if I stop using it altogether during my period, the pain worsens again.

I am trying to balance it all out to get rid of the negative side effects and still maintain the benefits. From what I have read online, I am not the only woman who has been healthy and at a healthy weight prior to using progesterone cream and then experienced a significant weight gain. I have stuck with it to give it ample time to work and regulate itself in my body and while I don't like being larger than I was to start with, it is better than living with the terrible pain I get each month. Any tips or advice?
Nov 11, 2009
 Bio-Identical Progesterone
by: Anonymous

I've been on bio-identical HRT for 6 years now. Sad to say, my life has been a living hell. I had a hysterectomy at 33 and it was a huge mistake (I had gone through ovarian cancer and endo before that in my 20s). In addition to feeling "flu-like all the time, I have severe joint and nerve pain, edema, headaches, and HUGE weight gain in spite being very active (exercise very regularly) and eating very healthy. So... After going nuts trying to find out what is wrong with me, I'm becoming more and more convinced that even the bio-identicals are not some magic cure-all for all women. After 6 years of this hell, I've had enough. I want my health and my sanity back. I can deal with hot flashes but not with all the other issues.
Feb 17, 2010
 Progesterone for migraines and sleep
by: Anonymous

I have been on progesterone - first the cream - but was not absorbing enough. Now I am on the pills. It does help with sleep. I have gained 25 pounds since I started and I am thinking of going off. It's not worth the weight. I exercise daily, and have always eaten healthy. It's ridiculous and my doctors are being rude about it.
Feb 20, 2010
 Bio-identical progesterone
by: Jamie

It seems like I can't drop the fat around my belly and lower back. I eat a healthy 5 times a day and exercise at least 4-5 times a week and I eat under 1500 calories a day. I started taking 15mg of the bio-identical progesterone 3 months ago. I just want to know if this could be the reason for the weight not coming off. I am 39. I want to know if anyone else is having this problem. It just seems like it's a coincidence.
Mar 22, 2010
 Sick of the tyre around my middle
by: Anonymous

I have been on progesterone cream for just over a year. The benefits have been great as far as sleeping and my moods, however, I too have experienced weight gain. I exercise 4 to 5 times a week and eat healthy but just can't seem to shake this added weight. I'm seriously thinking of stopping. So hard to decipher everything you read on-line and the doctors don't help either. What's a women to do?
Mar 23, 2010
 Progesterone for migraines and sleep
by: Wray

You probably weren't absorbing enough progesterone in cream form as the amount in the cream was not high enough to have any effect. Between 100-200mg/day is needed to gain any benefit. The pills are not the solution either, as oral progesterone is mostly destroyed as it passes through the gut and liver, please see these papers...
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Paper 4

Weight gain is unfortunately experienced by many women when first using progesterone, it's activating the oestrogen receptor sites, oestrogen causes us to retain water. Progesterone is such a good diuretic it's now being used via IV transfusion for brain trauma victims, please see papers...
Paper 1
paper 2
Paper 3
Take care, Wray
Mar 23, 2010
 Weight Gain
by: Anonymous

My progesterone level is very very low - found out yesterday. I had a partial hysterectomy at age 27 (ovaries intact) and now at 45 experiencing all the loveliness associated with perimenopause. Since I have no period to gauge anything, I had to rely on changes in mood, sex drive and those crazy night sweats. The weight gain in the last 3yrs around my middle has been quite a pain-in-the-rear. The weight gain did not happen BECAUSE I was on progesterone so I have a hard time believing the handy-dandy little orange pill (natural, not synthetic) I was prescribed yesterday will add weight - in fact, my Doctor told me the opposite! She said, because it will help me sleep and feel more energized, weight LOSS might occur - YAY! Oh yeah, I run/walk incline 15mls a week and strength train 3-4 days per week for the last 8yrs.
Mar 25, 2010
 Bio-identical progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Jamie. Progesterone does initially cause weight gain, as it activates the oestrogen receptor sites, oestrogen causes us to retain water and it stimulates more fat cells to develop. Please read more about it here. But once this initial phase is over and progesterone becomes the dominant hormone, the water retention stops. Progesterone is an excellent diuretic. As oestrogen is suppressed the fat cells are no longer stimulated either. But it sounds as if you could have insulin resistance, you might like to read more about it here. Take care, Wray
Mar 25, 2010
 Feeling really bad!
by: Anonymous

I am on bio identical progesterone with dhea and just a little estrogen. These were compounded just for me. I to have gained weight in my middle. I have also been having terrible headaches and feel just like I have the flu all the time. I also am having hot flashes with these hormones. Never had hot flashes when I was just on estrogen. Also, I have been having terrible vaginal dryness. My question is... Do I really need progesterone if I had a total hysterectomy? I just don't know if I will continue these hormones, I might go back on my estrogen hormones again. I can't live like this much longer.
Mar 26, 2010
 Weight Gain
by: Wray

As I've explained to the women with weight gain, progesterone doesn't cause it, in fact it's thermogenic, which means it speeds metabolism slightly. What does cause the gain is oestrogen, and as this becomes the dominant hormone when first using progesterone, some weight gain can be experienced. It's usually just water retention, although oestrogen does stimulate mitosis in fat cells, so some extra fat can be gained too. Both this and the water normally falls away once progesterone becomes dominant. Oral progesterone is not the best route to take it, please see these papers...
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
The weight gain in the last three years could be caused by insulin resistance, please see this page. Take care, Wray
Mar 26, 2010
 Feeling really bad!
by: Wray

I don't think oestrogen only is an option, the dangers are not worth it, please see this page. Even if they are bio hormones, it's still not worth it, please see this.

Progesterone is very protective, not only against oestrogen, but against ageing too, including Alzheimer's, see these papers...
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Paper 4
Paper 5

Finally you should not touch DHEA, it causes both oestrogen and androgen levels to rise, and can cause cysts and cancer,
please see this. And this. And this. Take care, Wray
Mar 27, 2010
 Progesterone during pregnancy... major weight gain
by: Anonymous

I take Cyclogest 400mg (progesterone suppository) twice a day since I got pregnant 2 months ago. The reason I do is because I had several miscarriages before... but since I have started I have gained 12 pounds although my food intake is not over 1200 Cal plus I'm having 24 hours nausea... is it related to progesterone? When I stop taking Cyclogest on my 4th month will I lose this weight or will it stay until after delivery?
Apr 01, 2010
 Progesterone during pregnancy... major weight gain
by: Wray

You have gained more than normal, and it's caused by excess oestrogen. So is the nausea. When initially using progesterone it activates the oestrogen receptor sites, so making oestrogen the dominant hormone. Oestrogen causes water retention, hence your weight gain. You were evidently very low in progesterone, hence the miscarriages, and had high oestrogen levels. High oestrogen suppresses progesterone.

You should have been started on the progesterone weeks before pregnancy, so that your body could adjust. I'm surprised you still have nausea using 800mg/day, as that's a very good amount. I would suggest you talk to your doctor about the nausea and weight gain, as excess water can lead to high blood pressure. He might have to increase the amount of progesterone you're using. The nausea in particular shows you don't have enough progesterone in your system. Please read this article by Dr Dalton, there are links at the bottom of the page to her books, you might like to get one, as she goes into pregnancy in detail.

I would be cautious about stopping the progesterone at 4 months. Although this is normally sufficient time for the placenta to be making enough to retain the foetus, with a history of recurrent miscarriages it's advisable to continue for longer. If not for the entire pregnancy to prevent pre-term birth, see these papers...
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Paper 4
Take care, Wray
May 13, 2010
 Progesterone/estrogen
by: Anonymous

Why is estrogen the enemy? Don't we need both it and progesterone to maintain balance?
May 21, 2010
 When does the weight gain stop on Progesterone?
by: holly

I was taking it a few years ago just cream and a bit of estrogen.
Then I got a better balance and then my weight went back to normal.
Now I am on 5mg 80/20 Biest a day and 200 mg progesterone for half my cycle only. + 2.5 MG testosterone and 25MG dhea. I am gaining weight again and am on the third month of this regime. I feel much better but the last time it just crept up and up and up over 6 months. I do not want to put any more weight on, I am very tall and slender by frame and nature and this does not suit me. So Wray, you say it will even out, WHEN? Thanks.
May 24, 2010
 Progesterone/estrogen
by: Wray

You are right we do need both. Oestrogen is vital during puberty when it causes our breasts and hips to develop, and the fatty layer women have. Vital once a month when it stimulates an egg/eggs to grow and mature. Vital too in stimulating the endometrium each month to grow and thicken ready for a possible fertilised egg. But in excess it stimulates cells to continue growing, and grow they will with no progesterone to suppress the oestrogen. Our bodies must be kept in balance. But without a check, the excitatory hormones like oestrogen would continue stimulating. We now live in a world where there are over 90 oestrogen mimics, in our food, water, air, the skin 'care' we use and more, please see here. Thousands of women are making no ovarian progesterone, as they are on contraceptives. These stop ovulation, if we don't ovulate we make no progesterone. Many more take HRT, which supplies none. Low vitamin D levels reduce the benefits of progesterone, up to 50% of us are deficient in vitamin D. So what little progesterone we are making or using is not being fully utilised. Take care, Wray
May 24, 2010
 When does the weight gain stop on Progesterone?
by: Wray

Hi Holly. It will even out, but only if you use progesterone, which you're not. The oestrogen and the testosterone will be suppressing the progesterone you are using. I take it you are using a cream, or is it oral progesterone? If oral most of it will be destroyed by the gut and liver, please see here. And here. This means very little will be left to 'even' things out. Oestrogen is a mitogen, it stimulates cells to divide and grow, including fat cells. It also causes water retention, plus insulin resistance, all these would increase your weight, for more info on IR please see here. Progesterone is excellent at reducing oedema, please see here.

I don't believe any woman needs supplemental testosterone, many are given it because of the misguided idea it increases libido. The jury is still out on this, please see here. In fact we have many men using progesterone to increase their libido. And as for DHEA, please stay off this, it increases both testosterone and oestrogen, it can also cause cysts and cancer to develop, please see here. And here. And here. Take care, Wray
May 25, 2010
 I am using progesterone
by: Holly

I am using 100 x 2 a day for half the month. I am using troches. So hoping that it is being absorbed. I will find out with my blood test on day 21. I definitely feel the progesterone when take it, I feel much calmer. As I said when I was taking progesterone alone, I blew up like a ballon and put on a lot of weight. As I now recall I was not using estrogen at all. So I am still a bit mystified.
May 27, 2010
 I am using progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Holly. Troches are not the best delivery system, in fact no oral method is reliable as much of it gets destroyed by the gut and liver, please see here for troches. And here for oral. And here.

The progesterone is calming, as it activates the GABA receptor sites, GABA is one of our most calming neurotransmitters. The reason you blew up using only progesterone was due to oestrogen dominance. Initially progesterone activates the oestrogen receptor sites, oestrogen is a mitogen so causing cell division, including fat cells, it also causes water retention. Progesterone opposes both these actions of oestrogen. But once progesterone becomes dominant the increase in either fat or water diminishes. In fact progesterone is such a good diuretic it's now given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims, see here. Take care, Wray
May 27, 2010
 Progesterone weight gain
by: Rose

I am on bio progesterone 100 x3 daily and I am gaining weight so bad. My saliva test says that may Estradiol is 1.1L pg/ml luteal and my progesterone is 134 pg/ml luteal and my ratio Pg/E2 is 122. So my question is: Do I need to take estrogen also since my estradiol was low? Thanks.
May 28, 2010
 Progesterone weight gain
by: Wray

Hi Rose. The weight gain is caused by oestrogen, you should have been warned of this. It occurs so often in women when first using progesterone. Once progesterone becomes the dominant hormone it should fall away. For more info please see here. I don't believe any woman needs more oestrogen, we have more than enough in our food, water, air and skin 'care' we all use, please see here. Oestrogen is a mitogen, it stimulates cells to divide and multiply, hence it's danger in cancer, for more info please see here. Are you taking the progesterone or using a cream? The dose you are on is higher than need be if a cream. But if you are taking oral progesterone it does have to be high, as most is destroyed by the gut and liver. Oral progesterone is not the best delivery system, please see here. And here.

Although the tests show one thing, symptoms are quite another. Have yours been helped? If they have then I would have no worries, saliva levels from supplementing via a transdermal cream can go as high as 10 000 to 100 000ng/ml. But I would suggest switching to a cream if you are using oral progesterone, it's a very effective system, please see here. And here. For more info on using a cream see here. Take care, Wray
Jun 11, 2010
 I want to gain weight
by: Anonymous

I want to gain weight, so I decided to use the Depo shot which is a progesterone based birth control. I've seen and heard that it causes weight gain. Well, I was on it for about 3 years and nothing. I actually think I loss weight. Why didn't I gain weight from the progesterone?
Jun 12, 2010
 If we have too much estrogen then why?
by: holly

When my blood is tested it shows barely none, when not on hormones? Why do I have hot flushes and all the symptoms of menopause without it? Progesterone alone did not help, it just made me fat.
Jun 14, 2010
 I want to gain weight
by: Wray

Hi there Unfortunately depo provera is not progesterone, but a progestin. I'm glad you seem to be off it, it might interest you to read what it does to us here. Progesterone does not cause weight gain, it's slightly thermogenic, which speeds metabolism slightly. The women who gain weight using it are not using enough to counteract the oestrogen dominance. Oestrogen and only oestrogen causes fat cells to divide and multiply. Oestrogen also causes water retention, whereas progesterone is an excellent diuretic. Take care Wray
Jun 14, 2010
 If we have too much estrogen then why?
by: Wray

Hi Holly Did they check your progesterone level too? If the ratio is out between the two hormones that would explain it. Progesterone should be higher than oestrogen at all times, otherwise we have adverse symptoms. Progesterone cannot make us fat as it's thermogenic, meaning it speeds metabolism slightly. It sounds as if you weren't using enough, between 100-200mg/day is needed to help. Hot flushes stop within about 4 days if about 400mg/day is used. So if you still have hot flushes please try this amount. Take care Wray
Jun 16, 2010
 When to stop taking prog. cream during pregnancy?
by: Marie

I am very thankful for my bio-identical progesterone cream that finally made it possible for me to get pregnant without miscarrying (so far). I have also gained weight (a lot!!! just in a matter of few weeks and this now puts me in the category of obese... not so good for the baby and for me either).
Anyways, there is different information out there as far as when it is safe to stop the progesterone cream during pregnancy. Week 12 -14, or post 20 weeks? Please help! I want to stop it as soon as possible because this weight gain will kill me (I am eating healthy and exercising as much as I can but as you can imagine it's not easy with being pregnant) I need to stop gaining massive amount of non-pregnancy related weight, but I want to do it safely to not to hurt the baby. The ob-gyn is clueless! Please help!
Jun 19, 2010
 When to stop taking prog. cream during pregnancy?
by: Wray

Hi Marie Progesterone is not causing you to gain weight, oestrogen is. Unfortunately progesterone does have a stimulatory affect initially. But it's only oestrogen which can cause cells to divide and multiply, including fat cells. These in turn produce oestrogen so a vicious cycle is set up. Oestrogen also causes water retention, which only adds to the problem. Progesterone is such a good diuretic it's now given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims to prevent oedema forming. It's difficult to advise on when you should stop. If you've had recurrent miscarriages I would advise 4 months, if not then 12 weeks should be fine. If and when you do stop please do so very slowly, ie take a month to reduce the amount. Any sudden drop causes a miscarriage. Don't forget your body is now making it's own progesterone, so reducing the dose is not going to make much difference to your weight. Although in the early days it's low, sometimes too low and a miscarriage occurs, but once the placenta takes over production which is normally around 8 weeks, then production increases considerably. Until we can make up to 400mg/day in the third trimester, far more than you are using now! It almost sounds as if you have developed insulin resistance, you might like to read more about it on our web page Insulin Resistance. We also have a web page on Conception and Pregnancy. which you might like to read too. Take care Wray
Jul 07, 2010
 Spare tyre still!
by: sara

Hi, I have been using the cream for 6 months now (increased to 2 x 50m a day for the past 3 months) and still I have a roll of fat around my stomach. I have always been naturally slim and have not changed my eating habits or exercise, but I have stashed all my crop-tops as I cannot wear them now :-( I would have thought the weight would have shifted by now, is this normal?
Jul 09, 2010
 Spare tyre still!
by: Wray

Hi Sara 100mg/day is the minimum I generally recommend, it could be you need more. But progesterone is not something I would suggest for weight loss. Yes it does suppress oestrogen, which being a mitogen does cause fat cells to multiply and grow. It's also an excellent diuretic, whereas oestrogen causes water retention with it's resultant weight gain. But there is often insulin resistance behind weight which won't shift. Oestrogen, both endognenous and that found in the contraceptive pill and HRT causes this. It could be this is your problem, please have a look at a web page we have on Insulin Resistance for more information. Take care Wray
Jul 09, 2010
 reply
by: sara

Thanks Wray - please don't get me wrong, I'm not taking the progesterone to lose a bit of belly fat!! It's helped me enormously with peri-meno symptoms, it's just that I grew this gut a year or so ago when the symptoms appeared, and I would have thought with a rebalance of prog/oest it would have sorted itself out. I will reseacrh insulin resistance, thanks.
Jul 10, 2010
 reply
by: Wray

Hi Sara I'm relieved! So many think it is, and the last thing I want is disappointment that the weight didn't drop off. I'm pleased it's helped with the P-M symptoms, but it could be you need to increase the amount you're using to 150mg/day for a month and see if that helps. I can't say if it will, we're all so different. The amino acid arginine does help reduce fat and increase muscle mass, you could try that. Taurine, another amino, has helped others. You'll need about 2000mg/day of each. Take care Wray
Jul 12, 2010
 Thanks again
by: Sara

Thanks Wray, I will look into the supplements you advised - most of the insulin resistance info I found seems to assume a person is overweight, which I am not at 52kg and 5'5" - I even did an online test and it told me I was obese! Lol!!
Jul 16, 2010
 Progesterone and DHEA
by: Danielle

My naturopath put me on Progesterone 50mg/day and DHEA 10mg/day to help with an adrenal deficiency problem. So far I have not read anything too greatly positive about taking DHEA. I do want to feel better, however, I am not happy with things I have heard about progesterone either (weight etc...) Is there a natural way to restore your adrenals? How are your adrenals related to progesterone?
Jul 16, 2010
 I lost...
by: Anonymous

After hyst 4 years ago I have gained and gained. Afer reading for years about this I had my doc check my hormones... of course they were 'normal' but I didn't buy it.

Last month I got some progesterone cream and had no idea I would feel this much better. Though I am hot and sweaty a lot (now I know why) I have dropped 20 pounds by doing nothing, have way more energy and a lot LOT less aches and pains. Less depression and so much more.

I had no idea that progesterone played this big of a role, I thought it was just pre menapausal symptoms. Yeah. Don't ever give up till you figure out what your body needs. And I do take vitamin D as well after reading all the research published the past year or so.
Jul 18, 2010
 Thanks again
by: Wray

Hi Sara As you might have seen from our web page on insulin resistance, not everyone is over weight. Currently no one knows why, but it could be those that are have reactive hypoglycaemia too. Blood glucose drops too fast, too low causing hunger, depression, tiredness. Instead of eating some protein or slow release carb, they eat a fast pick-me-up like bread, chocolates or a drink full of sugar. This would certainly cause weight gain. And obese at 5'5" and only 52kg?! Something wrong with the test! Take care Wray
Jul 18, 2010
 Progesterone and DHEA
by: Wray

Hi Danielle The progesterone will help, but not that amount, it really needs to be between 100-200mg/day to have any affect. And DHEA should be avoided as it can increase the risk of cancer and cysts, please see here and here, and here. Although the ovaries are the main source of progesterone in women, the adrenals make it too. It's made in the adrenal cortex and then converted into cortisol, before this is released into the blood stream. Cortisol is one of the stress hormones, so if stress is high, the adrenals will be working overtime making progesterone. High stress means the adrenals are stressed, so supplementing with progesterone takes the pressure off this process. Progesterone initially stimulates oestrogen, hence the weight gain. This can be both fat and water retention, as oestrogen causes both, it's essential enough progesterone is used to overcome this quickly. By using too low an amount it merely keeps stimulating oestrogen. Take care Wray
Jul 25, 2010
 Weight Gain!!! Help!!!
by: Cynthia

I've been using transdermal progesterone 9.5mg. Using 6 drops twice aday for days 1-12 and 8-10 drops twice aday for days 13-26. I've done this for 7 months & have gained 20lbs. Went to my GP doctor and blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol was all great, my thyroid was 2.8. Saliva testing showed normal estrogen, low progesterone, high testosterone, high coritsol. The progesterone has really helped my perimenopausal symptoms but I hate hate hate this weight gain. Is there any thing I can do to reverse the 20lb. weight gain to a weight loss?
Jul 30, 2010
 Weight Gain!!! Help!!!
by: Wray

Hi Cynthia Does the progesterone contain 9.5mg per drop? Assuming this to be the case you're getting about 114mg/day for days 1-12 and about 190mg for days 13-26. If so you are getting a very good amount of progesterone, which should reflect in the saliva test as high. And the oestrogen and testosterone as low, as progesterone suppresses these. Although you say it's transdermal, are you taking the drops? As this would account for the low progesterone, high testosterone, normal oestrogen. Oestrogen is a mitogen, stimulating cells to divide and multiply, including fat cells. It also causes water retention and insulin resistance. Unless progesterone is the dominant hormone, you are going to continue gaining weight and water. Progesterone is thermogenic, so increases metabolism slightly, it's also an excellent diuretic. Apart from the fact it suppresses excess oestrogen. So it's essential for it to become dominant for this to occur. The ratio of progesterone to oestrogen should be no less than 300:1, better still if it's 600:1. To find this divide your progesterone result by the oestrogen result. I would never recommend progesterone during the first half of the cycle either, the idea is to follow the cycle. Unless symptoms are very severe when I recommend using it daily. Otherwise it should be used from ovulation for the last 14 days of the cycle. This varies dependant on the length of the cycle, but in every women it's always 12-14 days before we bleed. For more info on this please see our page on How to use progesterone cream. As you mention peri-menopause you might like to see our page on Peri-menopause. Take care Wray
Aug 08, 2010
 Too litte progesterone, too much estrogen?
by: whozy

I have a question, it is clear from reading the previous texts that progesterone can cause weight gain by stimulating oestrogen when rx'd in lower doses, so then why is it rx'd in lower doses? I have been on natural progesterone cream for about two months at 20mg per day, also estrogen cream 1 mg a day. I have gained 10 lbs and cellulite which I never had before, I won't even wear shorts, I look horrible. It sounds the estrogen cream may only be making the problem worse. Should I quit it? No levels were done before putting me on the creams I am 54 and was having terrible daytime, nighttime sweats, poor sleep and extreme mood lability. I am feeling great in those regards but wonder if I should quit it all, I cannot continue with this weight gain. Seem to be retaining water too. Thanks for any help.
Aug 09, 2010
 Translating recommended 100/200mg to tsp
by: robin

Dear Wray, thank you for connecting the dots of adrenal insufficiency, progesterone, cortisol and (hopefully temporary) weight gain.

You advise between 100-200 mg/day. I feel like an idiot, but I've tried to do the math on my Emerita Pro-Gest progesterone cream (450 mg USP prog/ounce) directions. The directions read 1/4 to 1/2 tsp twice a day. So: 100-200 mg = how many (fraction) tsp?

Main complaint: fatigued to the point of disability, starting when my period returned 8 months after completing chemo, which had put me in temporary menopause (breast cancer at 33; now age 43 = ten years of hell). Now - severe adrenal insufficiency, so on lots of adrenal supplements; supposedly hypothyroid, so on Armour; 5 mg DHEA daily). This is getting expensive and who knows what's doing what at this point. Hard to discern any benefits.

Thank you very much for your detailed and informed responses.
Aug 09, 2010
 low/no testosterone
by: Robin

I can find almost nothing in the medical literature on low testosterone in pre-menopausal women! The only lit is on menopausal women, addressing low libido.

I don't care about libido. I just want the energy to break through cognitive hell. (I have an MPH and PhD.) At age 43, pre-menopausal, I have "undetectable levels" of testosterone. Because I have a history of breast cancer, no doctor will take the risks of any supplementation, so I have started on DHEA myself. I can find nothing on how to interpret lab tests (I've given up on endocrinologists), to monitor my good/bad estrogen levels/ratios.

Any comments on undetectable testosterone in pre-menopausal women? I can't even find a menstrual cycle curve for women that includes testosterone, as if we don't even have it!

Thank you so much.
Aug 11, 2010
 Mirena IUD with progesterone
by: Anonymous

I have never been a thin girl... always over weight... but I have been the same size FOREVER. Last January after being told that the fibroid tumors I had had made me infertile I got pregnant. I terminated the pregnancy (spare me the lectures I'm 40, single and unemployed) and at the same time had an IUD implanted to prevent future pregnancies.

I have since gained 20lbs. I am not sedentary. I am not a gym goer at all but I have not lessened my activity in the least... nor have I increased my caloric intake. I have recently secured a job and have been doing more running around than I had the 6 months prior to this event and have made a conscious effort to eat less meat and increase my veggies. I'm no dietary angel... but I would have to say I am doing better than I was a year ago.

The only difference is my Mirena IUD that contains progesterone.
Given my history with uterine fibroid tumors I couldn't take an estrogen rich birth control method and without health insurance a tubaligation surgery was not a possibility.

Could my IUD be doing all this? I LOVE what it has done for my cycle, love not getting pregnant, love not having to have a hysterectomy and most of all LOVE not having to think about any of it. I read in another post that the side effect is an increase of estrogen produced. Do I need to be wary of future tumors? Not sure what to make of all this. Help.
Aug 11, 2010
 Too litte progesterone, too much estrogen?
by: Wray

Hi Whozy Progesterone can cause weight gain initially, please see this web page on Oestrogen Dominance. It explains why it occurs, but you should have been warned it could happen. Briefly it stimulates oestrogen, but as you are adding more with the cream you're using, it will only compound the problem. I don't believe any of us needs more oestrogen, whether it's synthetic, natural or our own endogenous oestrogen. Please see our web page on HRT for more info. I generally recommend 100-200mg/day of progesterone. The 20mg amount you are using will only exacerbate the situation. And progesterone should be used for a minimum of twice a day as levels drop after about 13 hrs. As for why progesterone is made in such low strengths, and why such low doses are recommended, it depends on which authority one listens too. I was fortunate enough to meet Dr Dalton while she was alive, she advised me on several occasions about how to use progesterone and the amount too. It most certainly is not 'dose' related, but is entirely dependant on symptoms. The minimum she recommended was 100-200mg/day, but on occasion she would give 2400mg/day for her patients with post natal psychosis. Oestrogen is a mitogen, causing cells to divide and multiply, including fat cells. As these are also a non-ovarian source of oestrogen a vicious cycle is set up. Oestrogen also causes water retention. Progesterone on the other hand inhibits mitosis, and is such an excellent diuretic it's now being given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims to prevent the oedema that forms. So it is essential that progesterone becomes the dominant hormone before symptoms can resolve. Take care Wray
Aug 11, 2010
 Translating recommended 100/200mg to tsp
by: Wray

Hi Robin It can be confusing! Of course I'll do the math for you. 450mg prog/oz (or per 30g), so each gram contains 15mg progesterone. So 100mg will require 6.6g cream, 200mg will require 13.3g. In teaspoons this is 1 1/3rd tsp for the 100mg and 2 2/3rd tsp for the 200mg. So the container would last 9 days if using 100mg/day or 4.5 days if using 200mg/day. Please see this page on How to use progesterone cream. My reason for using 100-200mg/day is based on my own experience using it, of the many thousands of women I have advised over the past 14 years, but most of all on the advice from Dr Dalton. She was the foremost authority before her death, having used it for her patients since 1948. She gave me her advice freely, as she knew I was trying to help other women. She would in fact use up to 2400mg/day for her very ill patients, ie those with post natal psychosis. I'm so sorry to hear of your 10 years of hell, many nutrients could have been given to help you over it. The one that concerns me the most is vitamin D, a lack of this leads to cancer, to fatigue, to hypothyroidism. Please have a test done. The following gives an indication of levels found in the blood. The test should be done for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, also called calcidiol. Sufficient - 50?100ng/ml or 125-250nmol/L, Hypovitaminosis - less than 30ng/ml or 75 nmol/L and Deficiency - less than 25ng/ml or 62.4nmol/L. For more information please see here. Plus a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. The fatigue also leads me to believe your cells are not getting the nutrients they need. Although you probably don't have Insulin Resistance, please read our page on it, as it explains what happens if no fuel is going where needed, ie into the cells. As the fatigue also started when your periods returned it's indicative of a lack of progesterone, myopathy too is helped by progesterone. And it seems you also suffered from this, when you mention "to the point of disability". I'm surprised you have been given DHEA, it can cause cancer and cysts, please read these papers here, and here and here. You might like to read this story and this story too. Take care Wray
Aug 11, 2010
 low/no testosterone
by: Wray

Hi Robin The jury is still out on whether in fact it's testosterone that increases libido, in fact it looks increasingly likely that it's progesterone. Please see this paper. Although anecdotal, we have many men using progesterone to increase theirs, they find it more effective than testosterone. The following are the ranges of testosterone found in women. Serum: 30-95 ng/dL or 1.041-3.297 nmol/L. Saliva: 16?55 pg/ml or 0.56- 1.91nmol/L. References from Medline and ZRT Labs. I believe your cognitive fog is due not to low testosterone, but to too high an oestrogen level. Whether it's from our own endogenous oestrogen, or natural or synthetic supplements, high oestrogen increases cognitive decline and dementia. Please see our page on HRT. Peri-menopause can start 5-10 years before menopause, which on average occurs at 51. Please see our page on Peri-menopause. With it comes dropping progesterone levels and normal oestrogen levels. When the ratio is skewed too greatly, problems start occurring. You don't give your levels, but to find the ratio divide the progesterone result by the oestrogen result. Bear in mind oestrogen is often measured in pg/ml and progesterone in ng/ml, to convert, divide the progesterone result by 1000, to bring it to pg/ml. I've found to be really well progesterone must be the dominant hormone. So the ratio should be well over 300:1, better still if it's 600:1 or more. Like you I have yet to find what the ratio of testosterone to the other hormones should be. But as I believe oestrogen is the problem hormone, I prefer to concentrate on getting the level down, and the progesterone up. So I recommend between 100-200mg/day progesterone, it must not be used as a 'dose' but is entirely dependant on symptoms. The more severe, the more progesterone is needed. If you should consider using it please see this page on Oestrogen Dominance first. It can occur and is disconcerting if it does. Finally I would avoid DHEA as it can cause cysts and cancer by increasing oestrogen and testosterone levels. Please see these papers here, here and here. Take care Wray
Aug 11, 2010
 Mirena IUD with progesterone
by: Wray

Hi there Unfortunately the Mirena does not contain progesterone, but a synthetic progestin. These have many adverse side affects, please see our web page on Contraceptives. It won't increase oestrogen levels, but it can induce insulin resistance, this is turn causes weight gain amongst other things. For more info please see our web page on Insulin Resistance. There is a link on this page to another giving advice on food. For an equally effective contraceptive, far safer too, please consider the copper T IUD, it leaks no progestin into the body. And please avoid a tubal ligation, even if you get health insurance! For more info please see here. Fibroids are stimulated by oestrogen, for more info please see our page on Fibroids. As you have them, it's evident you have excess oestrogen, so you might want to try progesterone to suppress it. For more info please see our page on How to use progesterone cream. But before you do please see the page on Oestrogen Dominance. This can occur, specially if there is excess oestrogen, and it's disconcerting if it does. Take care Wray
Aug 17, 2010
 Androgen Deficient
by: Anonymous

In October I came off my birth control because i thought it was giving me low grade fevers. Since then, I have had blood work and saliva tests done to see what my levels are. My Estrogen is very normal and my Progesterone is within expected range (while using progesterone cream) but because estradiol is very high, the progesterone/estradiol balance is not optimal. The cream was making me very hung over the next day and now i am on 100 mg progesterone pills a day. Testosterone is within normal range. DHEA is within low-normal expected age range. They suggested i use .25 mg DHEA which i have been doing but according to your recommendation, it is not safe. My thyroid levels are fine even though i have many symptoms that it is low. Please let me know your thoughts. Before I started using the cream, the progesterone was on the low side. Obviously not balanced since my estrogen is very normally high. Thanks Michelle.
Aug 20, 2010
 Androgen Deficient
by: Wray

Hi Michelle I'm pleased you've come off the BC, for more info on them please see our page on Contraceptives. All contraceptives stop ovarian function, so no oestrogen, testosterone or progesterone is made. Once stopping them the ovaries can begin working again, but initially they only make oestrogen and testosterone. It can be weeks, if not months before ovulation occurs. Which explains why your ratio is out, in spite of supplementing with progesterone. Oral progesterone is the least affective delivery system, please see our page on Progesterone application methods. Most of the progesterone is destroyed by the gut and liver, which is why you are better able to tolerate it. The progesterone from the cream is absorbed without destruction, so you were getting a higher level. This is the reason for the 'hung over' affect, for more info on this please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance. I don't believe we need supplemental DHEA, please judge for yourself by reading the papers here, here and here. Low thyroid symptoms are very similar to low progesterone symptoms, in fact progesterone can help the thyroid, as it suppresses oestrogen which slows it down. I generally suggest 100-200mg/day progesterone, but in a delivery system which is effective, ie injections, suppositories or a cream, not oral. In fact for oral to work the dose has to be 300mg/day. Take care Wray
Aug 22, 2010
 Which is better synthetic or bio Progesterone?
by: dawn

I currently have hypothyroidism and take 5mg of Armoud daily. I also take hydrocortisone for my adrenals which are flatlined. I just took a saliva test and am awaiting the results on my progesterone. My Dr. said that she can tell my progesterone is very low as my adrenals were flatlined because your body pulls from the progesterone when your adrenals are shot depleting your progesterone also. Over the course of 5 years I finally got a doctor to do the right tests and see that I had a thyroid problem. I always ran 5 miles a day and worked out with weights and ate so healthy it's ridiculous. I was a fanatic! I gained about 30 pounds and can't lose a pound no matter how I work out. If my progesterone is put back in check will this finally be the missing piece to help my body get back to where it was?
Aug 24, 2010
 Androgen Deficient
by: Michelle

Thanks for responding Wray. This is so confusing UGH - may I ask some more questions? You are right, after 5 months my dr. put me on progestrin for 7 days for me to start my period. It worked. Although I know progestrin is not good for me, my hair stopped falling out, my libido went out the roof and I felt so good! Is there a natural dosage that equals the progestrin? Will the higher dosage of progesterone make me sleepy as well? Will the progesterone help the androgen deficiency? I can tell the 100 mg dosage of progesterone is not enough because of the acne, libido, pms, excessive retaining water. I am assuming I am getting enough progesterone just to stimulate the estrogen. please help :(
Aug 26, 2010
 Which is better synthetic or bio Progesterone?
by: Wray

Hi Dawn The missing piece could be a lack of vitamin D, was this checked? A lack of this leads to weight gain, it also leads to hypothyroidism and insulin resistance, plus many other things. IR leads to weight gain too, which no amount of exercise or good food will reverse. For more info on this please see our page on Insulin Resistance. Supplemental progesterone does help the adrenals, as these have to produce progesterone before converting it to cortisol one of our stress hormones. Stress drops progesterone levels too, so does excessive exercise, as it depletes cholesterol from which progesterone is made. Progesterone is thermogenic, so speeds metabolism slightly, but it's not a weight loss solution. But if your oestrogen is higher than it should be, this is another possible cause for the weight gain. Oestrogen and only oestrogen stimulates cells to divide and multiply, including fat cells. Fat cells are also a non-ovarian source of oestrogen, so a vicious cycle starts. Again no amount of good food or exercise will help. Progesterone does suppress excess oestrogen, but the level used should be between 100-200mg/day, preferably as injections, suppositories or a cream. For more info on delivery systems please see Progesterone application methods. Avoiding all carbs, legumes and dairy would be a good plan, please see this page of more info on Nutrition and Diet. Please have a vitamin D test done, for more info please see the Vitamin D council website. Take care Wray

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