Should I use Progesterone cream?

by Stacey
(Houston, TX)

I had a complete hysterectomy over a year ago and I've gained 20 lbs. I also have water rentention on and off. I'm not taking HRT at all. Should I use progesterone cream? Is that my problem?

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Should I use Progesterone cream?

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Should I use Progesterone cream?
by: Wray

Hi Stacey Taking out the ovaries creates turmoil in the ovarian hormonal system by shutting down the production of both oestrogen and progesterone.

Unfortunately fat cells continue to make oestrogen but not progesterone. Oestrogen also stimulates fat cells, so the more fat cells we have, the more oestrogen is made, a vicious cycle is started. With no progesterone to counter the oestrogen this continues to rise and fat cells continue to be made.

Oestrogen also causes water retention, progesterone is an excellent diuretic. In fact so good that it is now being used via IV transfusion to prevent the oedema that occurs after a traumatic brain injury. With very little progesterone being made (the adrenals, brain and glial cells also make tiny amounts), supplementing with it would be a good idea.

Excess oestrogen causes insulin resistance, which would be compounding the problem. I would hazard a guess your liver is struggling to metabolise the oestrogen too. It needs the amino acid methionine to do this, so it might be an idea to get some. We do have some info on insulin resistance on our PCO web page you might like to read:

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/faq-pcos.html

Hope this helps, take care Wray