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Do I need progesterone?

by Heather
(U.S.)

I am 25 years old. For many years I was on birth control. However, I started having constant yeast infections and had vaginal pain that made sex completely unpleasurable.

I did a lot of research about candida and vaginitis. I did everything I could, probiotics, garlic, yogurt, no laundry softner, mild soap, fungal cleanses, but to no avail, my vagina was in hell. Finally I decided to get off the birth control about 2 years ago. My vagina problems went away hallelujah! I did end up getting pregnant after a year with no birth control, but that's ok, I love my son to pieces, just no more accidents!

My period has always been regular. However, I have horrible pms, in fact I believe I have pmdd. Two weeks before my period I start feeling on edge, I get really bitchy and have horrible self deprecating thoughts. I feel completely out of control. I also usually have slight "yeast" symptoms for like a week or so before I bleed, but they go away once my period starts, along with the hopeless, awful feelings. For a long time I took gaba to help with this time of the month, but it's gotten really bad and I did some reading and realize it's probably too much estrogen and I need to balance my hormones before I go off the deep end.

So I bought some progesterone cream. I took a little and I haven't been feeling as on edge. I still feel a little depressed and now it seems I'm having trouble sleeping. Should I take more through out the day? That is what you seem to tell everyone else on this site...

Comments for Do I need progesterone?

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Sep 28, 2010
 do you need progesterone?
by: Anonymous

I would definitely take more, it won't hurt you at all. When you were pregnant, the placenta was producing over 500mg of progesterone daily - do you remember how good your body felt? Yeah, progesterone is awesome stuff.
Oct 03, 2010
 Do I need progesterone?
by: Wray

Hi Heather All contraceptives have adverse side affects, you might like to read about them here and be relieved you've come off them. If you want a safe contraceptive, use the copper T IUD, it leaks no progestin into the body. It doesn't surprise me you had yeast infections while on it, contraceptives stop all ovarian function. So ovulation does not take place, therefore no progesterone is made. Progesterone is protective against yeasts, whereas oestrogen exacerbates them. Please see here, here, here and here. Judging by your PMS you do need progesterone. GABA is good, but it needs progesterone to activate it. Please see here. You might like to read our page on Anxiety too. You say you are only using a little progesterone, this could be the reason it's not helping sufficiently. I recommend 100-200mg/day, dependant on symptoms. Low amounts stimulate oestrogen, causing Oestrogen Dominance, please consider increasing the amount you use. It can be used at any time and more than twice a day too, specially if symptoms are troubling you. ie if you feel 'out of control' rub some on. It's essential to make progesterone the dominant hormone. Take care Wray
Dec 13, 2010
 You may have endometriosis
by: Anonymous

Heather,

Your symptoms sound very similar to endometriosis. I am wondering if you had it before you started on the birth control and when you stopped it, the endometriosis got worse. Doctors will often put women on birth control to slow the growth of it. I have it and I have been put on several different birth control pills including a depo lupron shot for about a year. I have had two laperoskapys and each time my symptoms cleared up immediately. (my symptoms sound exactly like yours) All this was about 5 years ago and now I have been managing my endometriosis by avoiding dairy products and that's it. I avoid anything unnatural so birth control pills aren't an option. I am starting to have mild symptoms again so I can tell that it is coming back. When I took myself off dairy, I noticed that my symptoms got better. I have almost no menstrual pain and they are regular for the most part. I am going to try the progesterone cream to see if it helps with some of the other symptoms. If I were you, I would ask your doctor to check for endometriosis. For one it's a relief to find out what is really wrong with you and for two there are things you can do to make the symptoms way more manageable. Experiment on yourself...usually the pain is triggered by food. Start taking out dairy or potatoes...but you will have to supplement with vitamins and minerals you are taking out from avoiding these foods. Good Luck!

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