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Anxiety

by Crystal
(California)

Hi, I am a 34 mom and I have had some anxiety problems starting in July(2012). I am pretty sure I've been estrogen dominant for many many years, but this anxiety is not the norm for me. For more information, I've had acne, increasing facial hair, fat around the middle, thinning hair, dry skin, and irregular cycle lengths with major PMS depression before my period starts. I always feel like my period wants to start and it has trouble doing so... and I get impatient when it doesn't. My cycle lengths are usually between 31-45 days. I also gave birth prematurely in 2006, then breastfed for 3 yrs. I was so exhausted the whole time and was told by my doctor to go on the pill to regulate my cycle when I weaned my son. I finally did in summer 2010(yaz) and felt much better emotionally. It acted almost like a antidepressant it seemed to me. But then after maybe a year I began to realize that it had taken away my libido. I decided to go off the pill because of this, and did so in Jan of this year. My libido came back immediately, and everything seemed ok(except for the symptoms I listed above) until this summer when my anxiety began followed by a 44 day cycle.
I have started progesterone therapy, 10 days ago, and felt a lot better at first. I could feel the calming effects of the prgesterone(progestelle brand is what I had) using about 100mg per day, split between AM/PM. But then just yesterday I had another anxiety attack followed by crying. I am wondering if I need to use more progesterone(I have Natpro ready to go) or if this is just a normal estrogen dominance reaction to using progesterone. From what I have read, it would be worse to use less or stop. I am concerned that I might be messing around with my hormones too much, but I am desperate to get back to feeling good again. Even if that means dealing with some side effects temporarily. I want to feel normal and healthy and calm. Help! I want to make sure I'm doing this right!

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Nov 28, 2012
 Anxiety
by: Wray

Hi Crystal Please can you clear something up for me. I'm not sure if the 'acne, increasing facial hair, fat around the middle, thinning hair, dry skin, and irregular cycle lengths with major PMS depression before my period starts', are something you've always had, or only since Jan this year, or only since July this year. And that your 'cycle lengths are usually between 31-45 days', have always been the case, or only recently. The reason I ask is most of those symptoms are those of PCOS. Has anyone checked for it? Drug based contraceptives stop ovarian function, so not only does oestrogen and testosterone drop, but ovulation normally stops. This means no progesterone is made. When stopping them, the reproductive cycle can start again, but initially only testosterone and oestrogen are made. It can be many months before ovulation starts up again. I think this is what's occurring with you. High testosterone causes Acne, Hair Loss and facial hair. It also causes visceral fat to increase, i.e. fat around the middle, see here and here. And depression too. If bound to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) testosterone becomes inactive, progesterone raises levels of SHBG, see here, so preventing the rise of free testosterone. SHBG drops if sugars are eaten, even those found in all grains, legumes, dairy and sweet starchy fruits and vegetables. Fructose, sucrose and glucose, reduce SHBG by 80, 50 and 40% respectively, see here. Thereby allowing testosterone to rise. It's best to avoid all the foods and sugars mentioned. Wine and beers contain carbs, so it's best to avoid those too. Sugars and large meals also drop progesterone levels, which means SHBG also drops, another vicious cycle. You'll notice in the paper above how high amounts of progesterone increased the SHBG and the PMS lifted. I feel you do need to use more progesterone, maybe try 200mg/day. But please look at our page on Anxiety, it explains the panic attacks, plus there's a list of nutrients which all help. Please consider taking some of them, don't rely on the progesterone alone. Continued below
Nov 28, 2012
 Anxiety Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Crystal And please have a vitamin D test done, a lack of this reduces the benefits of progesterone, plus it causes depression, see here, here, here, here, here. and here. For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml (175-250nmol/L) and not the 30ng/ml (75nmol/L) most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although recent research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Take care Wray
Nov 28, 2012
 Thank you!
by: Crystal

Thank you Wray for writing back! To clear things up, yes the symptoms of acne, facial hair, irregular cycles, PMS etc. have been going on for years, but have gotten worse since my son was born in 2006. Also I didn't mention that in 2008 I developed some abdominal pain, which led to the discovery of an enlarged ovary. Unfortunately my doctor didn't run tests for PCO even though I had done some research and suspected that. During my time on the pill, the pain went away, then came back when I stopped earlier this year. I looked at the info on PCO you wanted me to read and I have to say that sounds a lot like what I'm experiencing. My left ovary has been hurting again so I am going in to get it checked out. I plan on using natpro, the PCO formula, and vit D. I also plan on being really careful with my diet(I've already been doing pretty well as I knew carbs were not good for me).
I feel a lot better just knowing what I need to do to take care of myself! Thanks for validating what I suspected years ago, but without this important information!
By the way I have increased my natpro to about 400 mg/day and the anxiety has gone. Should I stop for my period, or just reduce the amt? I don't know if my anxiety would come back or not, or whats best for my(suspected) enlarged ovaries. Thank you so much!
Nov 30, 2012
 Thank you!
by: Wray

Hi Crystal Thanks for clearing up my confusion! I'm glad the info on the PCOS page helped you, it all made sense to me looking through your symptoms. When you have the ovary checked, please ask them to look for PCOS. An ovary or ovaries would become enlarged if covered with cysts. Maybe you could get your testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone levels checked too. Although as you've already started the progesterone, that will give a higher reading than it would have been. If they do a Saliva Test they will freak at the level! Have a look at those from the tests we run periodically, you'll see they've risen from very low levels to high levels. Taking the pill could have prevented the pain, as it stops ovarian function. But that's not the solution, you need your ovaries to work! The solution is reversing the oxidative stress which caused the PCOS in the first instance. I'm pleased you're going to try the formula, it has worked for others, as it's high in the antioxidants needed. But please have a vitamin D test done, there is 5000iu's in the formula, but that's a maintenance dose, you could probably do with a higher one. A test will show how much you need to take. Very pleased you are aware carbs are not good for you. You might be interested in looking through our Nutrition page. There are a number of eating plans to choose from, I tend to follow the Paleo Diet, adding in some raw foods. So delighted the anxiety has gone with the 400mg/day. You should find with the PCOS formula that that will help too, and hopefully you'll be able to reduce the progesterone slowly. I feel you would benefit from using the progesterone daily for about 2-3 months, without taking a break. Then once you feel stable you can begin following your cycle again. Stopping for your period will allow testosterone and oestrogen to rise again, and as I suspect your progesterone is low, and your testosterone and oestrogen high, it will hit you. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Dec 15, 2012
 Anxiety still!
by: Crystal

Thank you Wray for responding again. An update. My right ovary does look polycystic on ultrasound. Haven't yet had the blood test for my hormone levels. I have started taking the PCO formula and also continuous use of Natpro at 400mg/day. I've also been taking magnesium to help with constipation(but it also is neccessary for vitamin D I've read)
Unfortunately I still have some anxiety. It isn't bad everyday, but it is affecting my marriage and how I mother my 6 yr. old. At first the progesterone seemed to help, but now it seems to barely be enough. I've had to use extra on a few occasions when the anxiety was really bad. I am pretty sure(after reading lots of stories online) that the Yazmin I was taking has created my anxiety problems because I was always a calm relaxed person before. These days I worry about things that only bothered me sometimes in the past. I even feel paranoid about trusting my husband(who is really a wonderful supportive caring person). Apparently the anxiety can take awhile to show up after stopping the pill. Is this just because of estrogen dominance? Or is it the high androgens? I understand how being on the pill for a year and a half lowered my progesterone, and how if my ovaries aren't functioning properly that would lower it too, while increasing male hormones.
I am so tired of the emotional instability I have been going through and I just really really want to feel like myself again. What do you suggest? Should I increase my progesterone? Should I take GABA? I'm feeling kind of lost right now and I could use some help.
I don't drink coffee or tea and I have been trying to eat as well as I can(although it isn't perfect).
Thanks for helping all of us lost and confused women who might end up on antidepressants or some other drugs that end up making us worse!
Thanks for your time.
Dec 19, 2012
 Anxiety still!
by: Wray

Hi Crystal That's very interesting your right ovary looking polycystic, your symptoms certainly fit this. I'm glad you decided to increase the progesterone too. You are right, magnesium is needed for the vitamin D, it's the most important co-factor. You would still have anxiety, it's only been a month using progesterone, and initially you were using only 100mg/day. I'm pleased you're using extra when you feel you need it, that's how it should be used. Undoubtedly the Yazmin has contributed to the anxiety, that will take time to correct too. It's filled you with synthetic hormones, toxins which have to be eliminated. Plus depressing normal reproductive function, including suppressing ovulation and progesterone secretion. You could consider taking calcium D-glucarate. Oestrogen is metabolised in the liver by glucuronic acid, the process is known as glucuronidation. Glucuronidation is one of the major detoxification pathways of the liver. It removes carcinogens, toxins, tumour promoters, the sex hormones ie, the androgens and oestrogens, mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, aromatic and heterocyclic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, various nitrosamines, drugs, fungi etc. It's then excreted in the bile, but an enzyme in the intestine called beta-glucuronidase reverses the glucuronidation process. It breaks the glucoronide bond between a toxin and glucuronic acid, and releases carcinogens, toxins and excess steroid hormones back into circulation. There's evidence beta-glucuronidase activity is increased in breast and prostate cancer. Calcium D-glucarate inhibits beta-glucuronidase, see here, here, here and here. Incidentally this enzyme is produced by undesirable gut bacteria, supplementing with probiotics suppresses the bacteria, and subsequently the beta-glucuronidase. Silymarin from milk thistle also inhibits beta-glucuronidase, plus it helps the liver detox. High androgens also cause extreme PMS. If bound to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) testosterone becomes inactive, progesterone raises levels of SHBG, see here, so preventing the rise of free testosterone. SHBG drops if sugars are eaten, even those found in all grains, legumes, processed milk and sweet starchy fruits and vegetables. Fructose, sucrose and glucose, reduce SHBG by 80, 50 and 40% respectively, see here.
Continued below
Dec 19, 2012
 Anxiety still! Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Crystal Thereby allowing testosterone to rise. It's best to avoid all the foods and sugars mentioned. Wine and beers contain carbs, so it's best to avoid those too. Sugars and large meals also drop progesterone levels, see here. Plus insulin drops levels too, see here. This means SHBG also drops, another vicious cycle allowing testosterone to rise, and anxiety to return. GABA is good, but I prefer taurine, it's another very calming amino acid, but is also a neurotransmitter. Glycine calms, so too does tyrosine if thoughts are erratic, if the mind is over active. You might like to look at our page on Nutrition for helpful ideas on food. I try to follow the Paleo Diet. And please don't forget to have a vitamin D test done, and get your level up high. You might like to read these comments here, from women who once their level was high, found persistent symptoms resolved, in spite of high amounts of progesterone. Thanks for the kind words! Take care Wray
Dec 21, 2012
 Feeling better
by: Crystal

Wray, Thank you for the helpful information. I feel like I have a better understanding. The good news is the anxiety has stopped for now. I have continued the natpro, pco formula, and vit D/magnesium supplementation through the worst of it. I realize now that all the stress was lowering my progesterone levels and wreaking havoc on my system. I wanted the natpro to take away all my anxiety and make me feel better right away. Now I realize that I was dealing with (in addition to high androgens and estrogen) some unresolved emotions from the past and once I worked on that, then I could move forward. I was so desperate that I tried the emotional freedom technique(EFT). It seems to have helped me, I don't know how. Anyone having emotional instability should try it. It can't hurt! There are free instructions available @ www.eftuniverse.com. And maybe the vit D has been helping too, who knows. I just know that I feel so much calmer and able to handle life again. Thanks for reminding me that the therapy will take some time. Anxiety can make you feel very impatient with the process. Perhaps I will write again in a month or so to tell you how it's going! Thanks again!
Dec 22, 2012
 Feeling better
by: Wray

Hi Crystal I'm so delighted the anxiety has stopped. Stress does play havoc with our reproductive system, it can actually stop it. Unfortunately this means ovulation also stops, so no ovarian progesterone is made, which only makes matters worse. It was in fact a life saving system, well it still is. If any stressed mammal, including humans should fall pregnant, the added strain on the body would affect the foetus hugely. Plus affecting the mother, who would probably abort, this is one reason women have miscarriages. I had 5, and looking back, all were due to stress, including stopping a dog fight! I can't tell you how delighted I am that you tried EFT! I often give the link to the EFT Universe site. Or I give the link to a friend of mine in London who is a registered EFT therapist. She is also well versed in both progesterone and vitamin D therapy too, as passionate as I am about them. I will be giving the link to this page of yours to other women, to encourage them to use EFT, a remarkable therapy. Undoubtedly using the progesterone, the vitamin D, the complex and EFT, would have all contributed to getting better. The length of time it all takes to have an affect, is the one thing I have the most problems with. Trying to encourage people to preserve through it all. Please do keep in touch, feedback is so essential to me. Take care Wray
Jan 14, 2013
 A few more questions...
by: Crystal

Hi Wray I am still doing much better than I was but I have a question about spotting while using natpro. I started light, brownish and red spotting around Christmas. After a week of this I decided that my period was trying to start and thought I would stop the natpro for a day or two to let it begin( by the way I did this last month for my period too). That worked and I had a period(the first painless one of my life! Thank goodness!). Depression set in and weepiness. No real anxiety, just more worry and insecurity. So I started the cream again after only a day and a half so I wouldn't take too much of a step backwards in my therapy. It's actually taken until last week to feel back to where I was again. Still, I have to admit I still have some waves of sadness hit me out of the blue, but it passes fairly quickly. I think progesterone hasn't yet become dominant even using 400mg natpro/day, 10,000 IU vit D, the PCO formula, and cutting out most treats and carbs. From all the reading I've done, it might just take more time.

Just yesterday I began spotting again(day 13 after my period). I had just started trying to decrease the amount of natpro by 1/8 t. Perhaps this was the reason for the spotting? I've read that when progesterone is too low, the spotting occurs. So if I don't want any spotting(puts a dampener on my sex life), do you think upping the natpro to 500mg might work? Or just during the week before my period wants to start(even though I want to use it continuously this next time?). I don't want to use more cream than I need for no reason, but if it stops the spotting, I would be happy to do it. I know you say that progesterone can make your cycles irregular at first, but my periods actually seem to be regulating to about 31 days even on progesterone at 400mg. That's the shortest my cycles have ever been! It's wonderful.
Anyways, thank you again for helping clear this up for me. No matter how much I read on this site/forum there are still things I don't quite understand. I think in the future, all women will be very familiar with natural progesterone.
Thanks so much!
Jan 15, 2013
 A few more questions...
by: Wray

Hi Crystal Thanks for the feedback, I always find it so helpful. I'm so delighted things are slowly getting better like the anxiety, the shorter cycles and the pain free period etc. How awful to have had pain every month your whole adult life. But you are right about needing time for the healing to occur, you only increased to 400mg about 6 weeks ago. Stopping the progesterone would have caused depression etc to set in, as it's still such early days for you. Although the PCO complex contains 1200mg and 1000mg of NAC and taurine, it could be this is not enough to stop the spotting. I've generally found at least 2000mg/day NAC and 2000mg/day taurine is needed. Please would you consider taking extra. The NAC inhibits the MMPs which cause the lining to break down, see our page on Menstruation for more info. And taurine is always low in dysfunctional uterine bleeding or hyperplasia, see here. I always ask people to take a high dose vitamin D too, but see you are which delights me. Please have a test done about 3 months after starting it, as you are taking 15,000iu per day, there are 5000iu in the complex too. The small decrease in the progesterone could well be the reason for the spotting, your uterus is still very sensitive. Try those added nutrients I suggested and see if they help, rather than increasing the progesterone. One clue to the spotting starting at Christmas is alcohol and sugar. I don't know if like most of us you had wine or spirits over that time. And some of the 'treats' you've been avoiding? I mentioned this in my first reply to you. It happened to a young woman over Thanksgiving, suddenly all her symptoms came back. She admitted to drinking far too much wine, plus indulging in the food too. It can all be very confusing, in fact my brother has suggested I write a short ebook, trying to put all the info into one, and making it clear. Quite a daunting task, as I've written about 200 pages of info text on the site! How to put that into a short book makes me put off doing it. Please keep in touch. Take care Wray
Feb 08, 2013
 More improvement!
by: Crystal

Just wanted to post an update. I'm doing so much better right now. What I did was start taking the extra NAC and taurine(2000mg each) like you suggested. But I also went up to 500 mg natpro. The reason was a trip to Italy. I knew I would be indulging in espresso, treats, and wine so I wanted to do what I could. I also started taking some calcium-d-glucarate like you suggested in a previous post. The week in Italy was fabulous! I had no spotting at all(no period at all this cycle so far), I enjoyed the food, I walked all over, and I even got to the bottom of an emotional issue that has been causing me stress. I wish I knew which part of what I did helped the most, but honestly I'm just glad to feel like myself. Almost all my symptoms are gone. The remaining two are some acne flare ups and hair on my chin that I still have to pluck. I guess these are from excess free testosterone right? I know that insulin resistance might be causing this still. I have started drinking peppermint tea 2x daily because I read it's good for high androgens. No change yet.
Just wanted you to know what helped!
Thank you so much for all your time helping me understand how to heal myself! I just wish I could continue the natpro indefinitely and not have to start my cycle again. I'm worried that I'll get off balance again.
P.S. I ran out of PCO formula and waiting for it to come back in stock. It's really convenient. I'll be glad when I can order it again.
Feb 11, 2013
 More improvement!
by: Wray

Hi Crystal I'm so delighted you're feeling better, and that you increased the progesterone. Too many women when travelling find they start bleeding again, usually out of sync too. And I'm very pleased you started the NAC and taurine, they're such powerful antioxidants, I take them every day and wouldn't be without them now. I'm so happy your trip was fabulous! The problem with taking too many nutrients is finding which one worked. But in the case of those you're taking all of them would have helped in different ways. I've found many women with heavy bleeding didn't respond to the 400-500mg/day progesterone. Further research lead me to include the NAC and taurine to the protocol. The acne flare ups and facial hair would be due to testosterone, but helpfully that will settle in time. Peppermint and/or spearmint tea does reduce testosterone, see here. Please do what I suggested and at least use the progesterone daily for 2-3 months. Then if you feel stable, you could try following your cycle. You'll soon know if it's too soon! I feel now that the travelling and excitement of that is over, you could begin reducing the amount back down to 400mg/day or less. But please drop by no more than 20mg per reduction, staying on that a few days before reducing again. I'm sorry about the PCO formula being out of stock. Our problem is supply and demand, we can miscalculate! I take the energy boost formula we have, find that keeps me going, I don't crash in the afternoon as I used to. And it is convenient, plus the dose is high, unlike those found in caps or tabs. Please keep in touch, I appreciate feedback. Take care Wray
Mar 05, 2013
 How to begin my cycles
by: Crystal

Hi Wray,
Could you tell me how you would go about switching from continuous progesterone cream to using only half the cycle? I know you say to reduce slowly so that symptoms don't reappear. But what about when I'm ready to try to have a menstrual cycle? Do I reduce slowly to 100mg (or some other amt?)and then stop, or do I have to just stop cold turkey?
I would like to know because when I stopped cold turkey before, my mood would drop very low so that I felt emotionally unstable, weepy, crazy, uncertain, and unworthy. Basic PMS. Is this inevitable?
I also suspect endometriosis, due to pain in a certain place, especially when I bleed. I don't know for sure since I don't really want exploratory surgery. But perhaps thats why I didn't feel 100% until I dosed up to 500mg/ day.(by the way is that because the more estrogen dominant you are, the more progesterone you need to oppose it?)
I guess what I really want to know is how do I know when to transition to having a cycle again? If I get PMS, does that mean I'm not ready?
Thank you Wray for always writing back to me.
Mar 07, 2013
 How to begin my cycles
by: Wray

Hi Crystal Yes the idea is to stop 'cold turkey', but not from the amount you're currently using. I suggest you begin reducing slowly, no more than 20mg per reduction. Stay on this lowered amount a day or two, or longer and see how you feel, then reduce again. You'll soon know if you've gone too low as symptoms will come back. Gradually continue like this until you feel ready to stop it. I suggest aiming for the 100-120mg/day before attempting to stop. If you do suspect Endometriosis then you would need higher doses of the nutrients in the PCOS complex. I suggest increasing the NAC to 2000-3000mg/day, the taurine to 2000mg/day. Have you managed to have a vitamin D test done? Although you're taking a good dose, it could be it's still not high enough. You are right, the worse the symptoms, the more progesterone is needed to overcome them, so if you get PMS you're not ready to stop it cold turkey. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Jul 03, 2013
 Fairly successful
by: Crystal

Hi Wray I have started following my cycle again. Things are much better, especially with pms, but I've realized an interesting pattern to my anxiety. My anxiety(feeling emotionally unstable with crying and feeling "unsafe") always hits right when my period stops. This would be day 3 or 4 in my cycle when I am not using the natpro. Even before starting progesterone this happened, so I know it isn't progesterone's fault. I just had this happen a few days ago. It does seem to be the drop in progesterone that causes it. I stopped the natpro and got my period 3 days later. The pms symptoms were pretty mild, a little teary with low self esteem, but lasted only until I got my period. Then day 3 was horrible for me. I ruined my family outing on the weekend. Now I feel back to normal again. So, is the anxiety likely caused by excess unopposed estrogen when I stop natpro? I read another post where you said using a little progesterone in the follicular phase(50mg) might help symptoms and would not prevent ovulation. But elsewhere online I've read that using it during the follicular phase will screw up the cycle. Here's my basic question, sorry for the long post, If I use 100mg progesterone a day during the luteal phase and then jump down to 50 mg, will It be enough of a drop to start my period? Or would it be better to stop completely and then do the 50 mg for a few days when I normally get anxiety? Your wisdom on this matter would mean a lot to me. I feel like I am VERY close to being balanced, if I can just stop the anxiety. Progesterone has changed my life. I think my life would have gone down a very different path if I had not discovered it AND your advice on how to use it correctly. Thank you again!
Crystal
Jul 04, 2013
 Fairly successful
by: Wray

Hi Crystal Thanks for this feedback, always so vital to me. Oestrogen normally begins rising on day 4-5, but it can rise earlier, depends on the individual. This paper give a good idea of the cycles of six women, see here. Scroll to page 5 for the graphs. You'll notice how in some the oestrogen doesn't drop much, or rises early. According to the study it varies even within the woman from month to month. It would suggest your oestrogen doesn't drop as much as some, so the ratio is out from the beginning of the cycle. Or it could be your rise begins earlier than most. Both your suggestions are good. I've had a thought about it and suggest you drop from the 100mg, this has worked before in initiating bleeding. Then a day or two later start the 50mg, I'm concerned your anxiety occurs so early and feel this might help. Don't leave it too late to start up again as it's only a very short time afterwards that the anxiety occurs. Only by trying will you know, and of course it will help me no end too. I'll be able to advise others if they have the same problem. I have advised some to use a little in the follicular phase, but not many are good with feedback! It certainly shouldn't screw up your cycle, although any disruption to a pattern can initially upset it, but it does settle in time. The only thing which will really upset it, is using it before ovulation in high amounts then stopping too early. It seems all women are told to start on day 12 and end day 24 or 26, this baffles me! It's lumping all women into the same cycle, when in fact we're all different, as you can see from those graphs on the paper I've given you. Some had exceptionally short and long follicular phases, ranging from 7–59 days! Starting progesterone on day 12 with ovulation on day 7, would really upset the cycle. Likewise starting on day 12 with a 35 day cycle for instance, would stop ovulation if the amounts I suggest are used. Not if it's 20mg as others recommend. But the woman would stop the using the progesterone on day 26, 9 days before bleeding would normally occur. It doesn't surprise me women have such problems with progesterone! Incidentally normal cycles range between 21 days to 35 days. A 59 day cycle would indicate something is wrong. So delighted the progesterone has helped you, it saved my sanity too! Let me know if it's help you, as I said feedback is so essential. Take care Wray
Jul 05, 2013
 Thanks
by: Crystal

Thank you Wray, I will try that in my next cycle. Yes I have been researching a lot and see that the closer you can start progesterone to your actual ovulation date, the better. Makes sense to follow your own individual needs. I actually bought LH test strips to get an idea of when I ovulated last cycle. Had my LH surge on CD 13, started progesterone the next day. Last day of progesterone was CD 27, period started 3 days later(cycle length of 29d!). I was very glad to have a normal cycle. I think in the past I had long follicular phases and an imbalance during the luteal phase. But perhaps I wasn't ovulating some cycles...who knows. I'm only 34 so I should have many more years of cycling before menopause.
Thanks again and I will give you feed back in about a month!
Jul 08, 2013
 Thanks
by: Wray

Hi Crystal Yes it makes great sense to follow your own cycle, something I keep stressing to the women who are told to use it following a 28 day cycle, daft. Incidentally a 28 day cycle is only the average. Take the normal range of 21 days to 35 days, add these together and then divide by 2 you get 28 days. So for convenience all the drug companies package their Contraceptives into 28 days, which seems to be regarded as the norm by everyone, including the medical profession. It is normal we get some cycles when we don't ovulate. When younger this is infrequent, but as we get older it becomes more frequent. Which is one of the reasons women have such problems in Peri-menopause. And please do let me know how you get on. Take care Wray

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