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Estrogen Surge

by Katy
(Florida)

Hi all.. I've been on 400mg progesterone for 4 years. It took a long time to 'kick in', but eventually it worked and almost all my symptoms went away.

About a month ago I used a body lotion with some herbs in it that are considered high in phytoestrogens. Didn't read the label close enough. Anyway, some of my symptoms have reappeared. I have gotten off the body lotion and have also gotten off all herbal supplements just in case. As a result of that lotion I got a spike in estrogen. I am super sensitive.

Should I just stay the course with the 400mg and just wait until the progesterone becomes the dominant hormone again? I don't really want to raise it.

Comments for Estrogen Surge

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Dec 05, 2020
 Estrogen Surge
by: Katy

I misspoke in the earlier post. I am currently taking 500mg of progesterone. I am also 57 years old
Dec 07, 2020
 Estrogen Surge
by: Joy

Hi Katy

I am so sorry to hear this. I don't think people realise just how important it is to check ingredients on ALL products used. They are full of estrogen mimics which of course affects estrogen levels. The same applies to our Environment.

It's important to make progesterone dominant again, so I suggest that you continue using 500mg progesterone cream and see how you get on with that. Give it time to work and if you don't see positive results increase the amount used. Find a level that suits you. Once stable you can slowly reduce to a level that suits you and your symptoms.


Good luck.
Dec 15, 2020
 Estrogen Surge
by: Katy

Hi Joy,
My doctor upped my progesterone to 600 and also gave me the progesterone oil cap for nighttime, to help with sleep. My symptoms seem to be getting worse. This is what happened to me when I first started using progesterone 4 years ago. Is this normal? Is this going to just take time?
Thank you
Dec 17, 2020
 Estrogen Surge
by: Joy

Hi Katy

Yes it is normal. Things often get worse before they get better. It can take 2-6 months, sometimes longer, before positive results are felt.
Mar 19, 2021
 Estrogen Surge
by: Anonymous

Hi Joy,
Well it has been rough since December. I had hoped that since I had already been on progesterone for all these years that my symptoms would have subsided sooner. Is it always 2-6 months even when you’ve been on it all this time? Some symptoms have let up but the main ones have not. Still have severe insomnia, tremors and increased heart rate and parasthesia. Ugh.... thoughts?
Thank you
Apr 12, 2021
 Estrogen Surge
by: Joy

Hi Katy

No it's not always 2-6 months, that is given as a guideline as so many people think that they will feel better after 2 days.  That will never happen, some women take longer than others, it could take even longer than 6 months.  It all depends on the individual and their adverse symptoms.  If not enough progesterone is being used it can take even longer. You are using a good amount of progesterone although you don't state what progesterone cream you are using, this can make a difference. Progesterone therapy is not easy, I wish it was.  It takes time and patience.  You experienced this 4 years ago.

That body lotion that you used really set you back, it's like starting all over again unfortunately. Parathesia can be caused by de-myelination, progesterone helps re-myelinate the nerves see here and here. It's quite possible that you are deficient in Vitamin D3 see here and here.  Please have a test done.  You can read more on Vitamin D3 here.
Apr 14, 2021
 Estrogen Surge
by: Katy

Hi Joy,
Thank for your response. I take progesterone from a compounding pharmacy that uses a preservative free base. It has 100mg/ml in it. So I take 6 pumps per day. 3 am and 3 pm. For a total of 600mg.
Apr 15, 2021
 Estrogen Surge
by: Katy

I forgot.... my vitamin D was 79.5 a month ago.
Apr 23, 2021
 Estrogen Surge
by: Joy

Hi Katy

Thanks for added info. If you find that the cream that you are using is not working, then please consider using a good quality cream such as Natpro, you will notice a huge difference.

Your D3 level is sufficient but it could be a little higher, mine is around 100ng/ml and I like to maintain it at that level.
Feb 27, 2022
 progesterone
by: Anonymous

I just started progesterone cream that has been derived from soy, is this a mistake to be using this type of progesterone cream. Just on it one day and feel some anxiety and hot flashes with is what I have been experiencing for months before I started it. Not Sur what is right! Thank you!
Feb 28, 2022
 Progesterone
by: Joy

Hi there

Many people are confused about how progesterone is made and where it comes from. The confusion arises because many websites and blogs provide misinformation, some say that it is made from yam, while others say that it is made from soy.

Progesterone is made from various plant sterols, all plants have sterols which are often called phytosterols. Plants such as the soybean, Dioscorea species of yams, fenugreek, sisal, calabar bean, some lilies, yucca, some solanum species, maize and many more contain phytosterols. Some of which are stigmasterol, diosgenin, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, hecogenin, sarsasapogenin, solasodine. As these plant sterols have a similar molecular structure to cholesterol, they are used as starting points for the synthesis of progesterone. So the synthesis ends with a progesterone molecule, or molecules. It is only progesterone and can only be progesterone. If it was contaminated with anything else, be it yam, soy or any other plant, it would not be legal to call it progesterone. The bottom line is, it does not matter what plant is used for synthesising progesterone, the end result is progesterone, nothing more and nothing less. One important thing to look out for. If the progesterone cream doesn't state Ph. Eur. USP. JP. then it is not natural progesterone. Natpro progesterone is natural and is a 3.33% cream.

It can take 2-6 months before one experiences the benefits of progesterone as mentioned many times on this website. Between 100-200mg per day is needed, more if symptoms are severe.

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