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How to Know If you are Someone that Should Take Progesterone Cream for only 14 days before cycle starts or continuously?

by Margaret

Hi Wray. You and I have chatted before. I started on progesterone cream late last year and felt marvelous. Only 1 issue that has driven me nuts. Weight gain. I suspect it has been an oestrogen issue and will most likely be buying your natpro to ensure proper dosage amt. (note : currently take ProgestCare). You might find it intersting that I had a physical in April and discussed progesterone cream therapy with my dr. and she looked at me as if I lost my mind. She said I shouldn't have to take anything; my body knows how to produce hormones. Foolishly,I listened and dropped off progesterone cream. I feel after a good month and 1/2 of being off, I must go back on. I must get the dosage right. I'm 44. How do I know if I am one of those people who only needs to take the cream the last 14 days of my cycle only or if I need to take it every day? The whole thing has been a bit confusing to me. I want to feel better. I felt like I was beginning to see results on how I felt but I can't deal w/ weight gain. Thoughts?

Comments for How to Know If you are Someone that Should Take Progesterone Cream for only 14 days before cycle starts or continuously?

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Jun 05, 2012
 my advice:
by: Terri

I started on Progesterone creme over 11 years ago, it has gotten me through a difficult PMS, and now, perimenopause, I use it as follows: I wait approx. 7 seven days after I start to bleed. Then I take it until the period begins again. The creme, has helped me immeasurably. It keeps my weight under control (reasonably) and my hot flashes are not severe. No night sweats either. I plan on using it until meno. and beyond that!!! hope this helps
Jun 06, 2012
 How to Know If you are Someone that Should Take Progesterone Cream for only 14 days before cycle starts or continuously?
by: Wray

Hi Margaret I wonder who's lost their minds, you or your doctor?! Of course our bodies know how to produce hormones, but what age are we talking about. You sound as if you're in the beginning phases of Peri-menopause with it's dropping progesterone levels. Yes we can all weather the unpleasant symptoms, but I for one would certainly not choose too! Particularly if there is a safe solution, which of course progesterone is. Do the doctors give any thought to the 100 or more oestrogen mimics on our planet now, all contributing to how we feel, see Our Stolen Future. Or the skin care we all use with it's oestrogenic chemicals? To the stress we all have now, which seems to be increasing with the current economic climate. Stress causes a cascade of free radicals in our bodies, resulting in inflammation and the dis-eases and dis-orders we get. Progesterone helps with all these, countering the oestrogen, reducing the stress response, it's a potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anxiolytic. I only suggest using the progesterone daily if symptoms are severe, usually 2-3 months is enough to sort them out. Then the cycle can be followed again, there's more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. But of course if there is no cycle, ie puberty or menopause, then it should be used daily. And the last few years of peri-menopause too, when cycles become so erratic they are impossible to follow. You are evidently using the recommended 1/4 tsp, which is giving you about 20mg/day progesterone, or maybe you use this twice a day. Whether it's 20mg or 40mg it won't raise progesterone levels to that found in the luteal phase, never mind trying to help with bad symptoms, see our page on Progesterone Misconceptions. It often causes weight gain too, as it's stimulating oestrogen. Oestrogen is a mitogen causing cells to proliferate, including fat cells, plus it causes water retention. Progesterone speeds metabolism, and is an excellent diuretic too, see our page on Traumatic Brain Injury. I recommend 100-200mg/day, more if symptoms are bad. I feel you will need 200mg/day, you might need more. If you wish to increase you'll need 12.5ml/day (2.5tsp) of the cream you're using. Take care Wray
Jun 06, 2012
 good to know
by: Anonymous

Thank you Teri. That is good to know. Perhaps my dosage just wasn't high enough when I was taking it before; thus, the weight gain or inability to lose weight. I am trying again and I'm hoping for better results. When I took the cream before I felt great (except for the weight) but when my period came and I stopped for 14 days, it was not a fun 14 days for me. I longed to start back on the cream. That's why I wondered if it was o.k. to take even when I had my cycle. By the way, do you take Natrpo?
Jun 06, 2012
 Thank you for info
by: Margaret

Great information. Thank you. Yes, my dr. made me think I was CRAZY. I wish I could play an instant replay. She looked at me like I was a lunatic and said there is NO need to take anything. Your website has been such a help. I'll be ordering the Natrpo soon. My other cream is close to running out and I will start with Natpro and let you know how it goes. It is such a shame that some dr's out there are doing such a dis-service to their patients and making them feel as mine did. She basically told me I was being a bunch of bull and that it was all about taking my $$. I explained how I was feeling better but just struggled w/ some weight gain and it was like talking to a wall. So glad for your support. Thanks again.
Jun 07, 2012
 Thank you for info
by: Wray

Hi Margaret I'm pleased the info helped and reassured you. All too often we are told to pull ourselves together, that it's all in our minds. Well hormones do affect our minds, bodies too, and it's very real and does not come from our imagination. When you realise millions of women have these 'imaginary' symptoms, it does make you wonder where the medical profession is coming from, are we all delusional?! Please try a higher amount, and keep a watch for Oestrogen Dominance, it can come out of the blue. The amount to use will be trial and error and it does require patience too, weight gain does not reduce fast. You might like to read these comments here. Mateja put on a large amount of weight, and it only stopped increasing when she used 500mg/day. I'm not suggesting you'll need this much, but it gives you an idea. Take care Wray
Jun 19, 2012
 More Questions on Progesterone Cream
by: Margaret

Wray, I purchased the Natpro and started using it. I think I was starting to get positive results. My period has been on a 28 day cycle and one day before my cycle came, I developed a mild, lingering headache. Once my cycle came the next day, I stopped taking the progesterone cream. I've still struggled w/ a mild headache and I feel miserable. I am so fatigued and I feel so irritable. The slightest thing pushes all the wrong buttons on me. How do I know if I should take the progesterone cream continuously through my cycle or not? Wouldn't it mess up my 28 day cycle? I feel like it seems so defeating to take the cream on day 14, only to feel good for 14 days and then to feel not so good the other 14 days that you aren't on the cream. I definitely want to do the right thing for my body so I can be happy and not miserable. Can you please give me guidance. Today is about day 5 into my cycle.
Jun 19, 2012
 More Questions on Progesterone Cream
by: Wray

Hi Margaret I feel you would benefit from using it daily for 2-3 months. It normally takes this long, sometimes longer for the progesterone to become dominant. It can upset the cycle, but a small price to pay for feeling better. Some women find it doesn't upset theirs at all, but it's impossible to tell which category you'll fall into. It can come earlier or later than normal, although I've found it's generally earlier. Each time you stop it allows oestrogen to rise again, it's not until progesterone is well and truly topped up, does this stop. We do have more info on our Menstruation page. Once you feel stable and symptoms have gone, you can try following your cycle again. There's info about how to do this on the page I gave you on How to use progesterone cream. You don't mention how much you're using but I do hope it's at least 200mg/day. Take care Wray
Jun 20, 2012
 Thanks for info
by: Margaret

Wray, thank you so much for your advice. I will start back on the cream asap, beginning today. I had only been on the Natpro for about a week when my cycle started. I was taking 1 teaspoon amount in the a.m. and then the same dosage in the evening. I have read that it is also recommended to maybe take some in the middle of the day too but I haven't done that yet. I hope the cream starts back to make me feel better quickly. I have had a headache non-stop for days now, irritability, and fatigue. It is miserable. I will be willing to have a missed period for a few months if this means I get better. Is it possible to take too much of the cream? I guess the hardest thing to figure out is the exact amount I should be taking. Does it sound like I am taking the right amount? Thanks again.
Jun 22, 2012
 Thanks for info
by: Wray

Hi Margaret Progesterone can upset the cycle, which it evidently did with you. You're currently using about 330mg/day which is excellent. You are right, I do recommend using it hourly in fact if symptoms are bad. There is no hard and fast rule about using it, one of the reasons I did the page on misconceptions which I gave you. It is difficult to find the optimum level, it can change too. I find about 170mg/day is mine, but I increase it substantially if I get stressed, up to 800mg/day. Please rub some of the cream around your neck and on your face if a headache troubles you, it works faster if applied directly to any area with pain. You might find your period stops, but generally I've found the amount has to be 400mg/day and over to do this. What often happens is the cycle becomes erratic, so please keep a watch out for this, I don't want you to come short! The upper tolerable limit for progesterone causes anaesthesia, impossible to achieve with a cream! Dr Dalton would give 2400mg/day to some of her patients, via injections and suppositories, none of them had ill affects, see here. And over 1200mg/day is given to Traumatic Brain Injury victims. Plus you might like to see this page here on high amounts. I suggest sticking to the amount you're using, there's little point in using more than needed, and if you change amounts too often it will leave you bewildered! Take care Wray
Jul 25, 2012
 Update
by: Wray

Hi Margaret Thanks so much for letting me know, I'm delighted you're feeling better. I'm pleased you've opted for the 2-3 continual months, this usually rights things. I say usually as it's impossible to tell how each individual reacts to it. Break through bleeding can occur and it's a bore. We have more info about how bleeding occurs on our Menstruation page. What you could try is stopping the cream when you have actual bleeding, maybe for only a day or two to see if that clears it. And then continue with the progesterone. Another thing you could try is 2000mg/day NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), possibly more. This inhibits the MMPs, see here and here. MMPs cause bleeding, they are enzymes which break down the lining, and if too high will continue to break it down, NAC is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It's very sour if you get it in powder form which is cheaper, and can cause nausea in some. I take it daily, but have a cast iron tummy which feels nothing! It's such a valuable nutrient, helps ageing for one thing, see here and here. It protects the skin from UV damage too, see here, and much more. Let me know if you do try my suggestions and if they work. Take care Wray
Jul 18, 2014
 Question
by: Anonymous

Terr Hi. Just wanted to know that when you take the progesterone with a break, do you stop when you bleed or do you stop and wait to have your period. I am on my first cycle of cream, osipposed to take it for three weeks off for seven days, if I would normally just have a bleed I would just stop then and start after but I Didn't know if your body would maintain any type of nleeding cycle unless you stopped the progesterone yourself. Hopefully I explained myself OK. Thanks

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