Use of Soto-Pelle bio-identical hormones and progesterone

by Sandi
(Midwestern USA)

I am 44 and I have a regular 25-day cycle.

Blood tests show that I am not peri-menopausal. Blood tests also showed that I was very low in testosterone and my estrogen levels were within the range of "normal".

I investigated and started receiving bio-identical estrogren and testosterone via the soto pelle method because I was suffering from extreme fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and migraine-like headaches. I had also started experiencing dizzy spells that a neurologist could not chart as anything being neurologically evident.

The first injections of pellets (estogen and testosterone) went well and my headaches disappeared almost immediately. I was able to sleep through the night (a good thing), but my anxiety increased ten-fold. After about 5 weeks, my libido increased (another good thing), I was a bit more even keeled mood-wise, but the anxiety was still with me.

I attributed the anxiety to the small amount of estrogen they gave me and the increase in libido and mood stability to the testosterone.

I started to do some research on progesterone when I went back in for a second set of injections (~six months after the first), I was armed with questions and got very strange answers contradicting everything I had read about hormone levels during a "Normal" cycle.

The doctor and his nurse countered my comments that the anxiety was not from estrogen, but progesterone. That the estrogen relieved me of my headaches and allowed me to sleep and that if I increased my progesterone that I would be more anxious, more irritable, have more severe headaches because progesterone responds that way. They were even throwing out diuretics to me saying that I might need them since I was refusing the estrogen pellets.

I refused any more estrogen because my blood tests showed my estrogen to be quite high. I only took the testosterone. I started a bio-identical progesterone cream shortly after my second round of pellets (Renaissance brand).

WHAT A ROLLER COASTER RIDE during that first two weeks! I can only assume it was the estrogen and the progesterone fighting for "control". I resumed sleeping through the night, headaches went away, my mood was a wreck, and libido was so-so.

I leveled out after about two weeks and stopped the progesterone when I got my period. A day later, I started having horrible migraine-like headaches that have continued for the past two weeks despite my resuming the progesterone cream. I've increased, decreased and nothing seems to help.

I hope I level out again by taking the progesterone daily (despite the point in my cycle and have this feeling that I need to "pop" an egg).

So, after my background and the fact that I don't trust these docs administering the hormones via soto pelle (and it is not covered by insurance and is expensive):

Is it necessary to have testosterone? although I did get more energy and could stay up past 8 p.m. and wake up in the morning.

Can I get increased libido and energy from progesterone?

Do you agree with continuing the progesterone despite the point in my cycle to alleviate the headaches?

Can I also add, I have a very stressful life, working fulltime, four young children and one who has autism and my own struggles with a perfectionist personality... so, I can guarantee that my progesterone is out of whack and my adreneal gland is on overdrive... I see its results in my belly fat. lol

Thank you.

Comments for
Use of Soto-Pelle bio-identical hormones and progesterone

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 15, 2010
 Use of Sotto Pelle
by: Anonymous

Wow! I wonder if you live in Arizona and visited the same doc I saw back in 2008. When my hormones started to go crazy due to excessive stress in my life (I was still on birth control pill) the first doctor I saw used the Sotto Pelle hormones estrogen and testosterone (never even mentioned progesterone to me - which I din't know what it was at that time anyway).Some of the symptoms diminished and then I gained about 20 pounds in 30 days. I DO NOT RECOMMEND using the pellet system ever!! You can't adjust the levels or remove it if you don't feel well. Also, so many of those docs don't even look at you progesterone levels which is likely the only one that needs supplementation. It is sad they are even allowed to practice considering they are clueless in the matter - obviously by the conversation you had when you brought progesterone up. Your headaches reoccuring could actually be from left over estrogen from the pellet. I am not sure that it is really clear how long that will take to get out of your system. You are experiencing estrogen dominance and the way to tame it is with natural progesterone. You may have not used a high enough dose to combat all the extra estrogen from the pelle and also to consider excess testosterone can convert to estrogen as well...you might have hit a double whammy with the sotto pelle just as I did....Good Luck!!
Sep 19, 2010
 Use of Soto-Pelle bio-identical hormones and progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Sandi I don't believe any woman needs extra oestrogen or testosterone, whether it's bio-identical or synthetic, the affect is the same. For more info please see our page on HRT. The jury is still out about testosterone increasing libido, as the evidence points to progesterone being responsible, please see here. The roller coaster you've experienced by adding progesterone to the protocol is due to the initial stimulating affect progesterone has on oestrogen. For more info please see this page on Oestrogen Dominance. Progesterone is excellent for migraines, whereas oestrogen is a known initiator of inflammation, please see here, here and here. As for needing diuretics, oestrogen causes water retention! Progesterone is such an excellent diuretic it's now being given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims to prevent the oedema and inflammation that occurs after the injury. Please see here. Where do they get their info from? Another error, progesterone has potent anxiolytic properties, please see here and here. Stress drops progesterone levels sharply. The adrenals make progesterone before converting it into cortisol, but if stress levels are high it will rob other sources, notably ovarian. So your symptoms don't surprise me as you say your stress is high, together with your age. P-M can start 5-10 years before menopause, it's essential to check progesterone levels too, I see you don't mention this. For more info please see our page on Peri-menopause. You don't mention how much you are using, but it should be between 100-200mg/day. I suggest you use the higher amount initially, and using it daily is safe, it's easy enough to reduce once symptoms abate and return to following your cycle. Please have a vitamin D test done, your autistic child too. There is strong evidence autism is caused by a lack of vitamin D. Please see here. A lack also reduces the benefits of progesterone. Take care Wray
Oct 06, 2010
 Use of Sotto Pelle
by: Wray

Hi there It's most interesting you also used this system but have nothing good to say about it. I can find little to recommend it. Oestrogen is oestrogen, it matters not which form it comes in, synthetic, endogenous, oestrogen mimics, bio-identical, or even the soy isoflavones genistein and diadzein. They all stimulate mitosis, including that in the fat cells, which incidentally are also a non-ovarian source of oestrogen. Take care Wray
Jan 02, 2011
 Sottopelle rollercoaster ride to hell!
by: B.B.

It is has been one month since I had the sottopelle pellets inserted. I am 50 and had a super flat belly December 4th. The first week I had lots of energy, a bit too much. I was very happy and positive. However after 10 days on progesterone my belly began to swell. I do not use salt and eat mostly protein and low carb, so I know for sure its not what I eat. I began to drink more hoping it was water and I could just flush my system. NO! I can't fit into any of my clothes and I look like I ate a watermelon. I feel great except for this huge belly? Dr. said it's water from the testosterone, but it's just my belly. My rings fit and my eyes never swell. She gave me mild water pills that do nothing. The fact that I have one kidney is an issue with taking a stronger water pill. I'm depresssed because I feel so fat. I have lots of energy but the belly bloat is so heavy I can't have a good workout? Could this be estrogen? Although I want to have sex, I DONT feel sexy with a belly???? Help does this go away? I have read every post and have not seen or read of any other person growing a BELLY???? Dr. said it SHOULD go away in 8 to 12 weeks? I don't know if I do another round if this will continue to happen? It stinks especially if you were thin and now while on the pellets you actually get fat????
Jun 21, 2011
 buddha belly
by: Anonymous

I was also on soto-pelle for one year. Initially I felt I was on top of the world. Then this awful "belly" started. I eat very, very healthy. Organic, no preservatives etc. I could not figure out why I gained 15 lbs. around my middle. It was very difficult as I have weighed the same since high school. I am now 62! Yes, my skin was horribly greasy,I had pubescent breakouts. Which, by the way I never had as an adolescent. My hair got thicker, yes, but the facial hair was a nightmare! I did have more energy, my libido did increase. The down side was I did not feel good about my appearance, so.... I have stopped the soto-pelle now. My last injection was last November. Suddenly a month ago I started bleeding vaginally with cramps. Was like a period, and lasted for 10 days. Low and behold, 30 days later, it has started again. The weight came off very easily. But, now this. I must say, my Dr. did seem very complacent in November when I mentioned the weight gain. His answer was, "well, some women gain and some lose". Really not what I thought was a good medical answer. I plan to stay off the soto-pelle, but obviously will need to address the bleeding. Does anyone know anything about this? A side note, when I asked my husband about being moody on the soto-pelle, he said I was awful. He has noticed a considerable difference in me.
Dec 20, 2011
 Love my Soto-Pelle
by: Anonymous

I have been on the Soto Pelle bio-identical hormones for almost a year now and would not be without them! I started with progeterone only for the first two rounds. Approaching 50 my period became very irregular. I first tried to go back on the pill to regulate but that resulted in raising my Blood Preasure. I have never felt better! I started loosing weight, no more headaches, hot flashes or night sweets. Libdo is through the roof....no they are not covered by insurance but worth every penny!
Dec 27, 2011
 Wow what is wrong with this Picture
by: Rose

Everyboby on this topic has complaints about the Soto Pellet therapy. I started out on the Bio Identicals in Jacksonville Fl with a renowned OBGYN and was on Progesterone, Estrogen and a Testosteron injection once a month. I live in TX but had blood work and phone consults and yearly visit.
I saw improvement almost overnight. My libido went from zero to outstaning and my energy was great. However I got tired of the trips to Fl so I investigated the Soto Pellet and Six Moths ago I had my first Soto Pellet implant. My Doctor told me that there is no Progesterone in The Sotto Pellets. I do not have a Uterus so I don't really need the Progestrone as it only helps if you have periods. I am 73 and have never felt better in my life. I am due to get my 2nd implant in a few weeks and will ask again about the Progesterone. I will say the Pellet is not as effective as the pills and Testosteron Shot, But the difference is not enough to stop the Pellets. I do not understand those writing that the Soto Pellets contain Progesterone when I was told by my GYN that they don't have Progestrone in them. But I could take pill by mouth if I wanted. I will say I have the belly thing going on too but as I understand it is the Progesterone that causes that to occur? I also have had 4 episodes that may or may not be related-- 4 times in the last three and a half months I have gone to the ER because my tongue would swell threatening to cut off my airway. There doesn't appear to be any reasons that we can come up with as the cause and the episodes are random. I can't associate any food, drink or anything else that could be causing it. Someone did mention it could be Hormonal? If anyone here knows anything about the tongue swelling from Hormones or other things I sure would appreciate any feed back.
For the record Some one needs to make sure about the Soto Pellets containing Progesterone. Either my Doctor is misinformed or their Doctors are.
I am going to try the next implant because I think it has improved my overall health well being. The belly gain I think is my fault I don't get enough exercise and don't count calories. BUT I will ask about this complaint too.
And by the way Estrogen is not all the same. Synthetic Estrogen is made from Mare Hores Urine. I do not want Horses Tee Tee in my system since the last time I checked I only have two legs, not four.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Progesterone faq

Return to Home Page

Search over 3,000 pages on this site...

Do you have a progesterone deficiency?

This free questionnaire will tell you in 10 minutes

Just enter your email address and click the button...

Why do I ask for your email address? Simply so I can stay in touch. Your details will not be revealed to anyone


Do you have a question or concern?

See what's being discussed, ask for help, give your thoughts or experiences, or just browse...

See the FAQ pages...


Natural Progesterone Cream

Discover the facts...


Health care practitioners and therapists

Here's an
Associate Program
that may be a good fit for your practice


Your language

Translate this website into your language