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Natural or Bio-identical Progesterone as Birth Control?

by Christine
(Northern Virginia)

Two years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS was proscribed birth control, instead I took sublingual progesterone and my PCOS symtoms resolved within 6 months. So I am very familiar with the benefits of supplementing with this hormone.

I am 23 years old and have never taken birth control, however, I am now at a stage in my life where I do not want to risk pregnancy and have been looking into taking a birth control pill (loestrin). This one seemed like the best option for me because it contained more synthetic progesterone than synthetic estrogen. However, I have not taken it yet because I am concerned about the side-effects of all synthetic Birth control options. Like the POP “Progestin only BCP” is it possible to take progesterone every day to avoid pregnancy? Can use natural/bio-identical progesterone at the same time as taking the BCP without increasing chances for pregnancy?

Comments for Natural or Bio-identical Progesterone as Birth Control?

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Jan 13, 2011
 Natural or Bio-identical Progesterone as Birth Control?
by: Wray

Hi Christine I'm so delighted you found the progesterone helped your PCOS, it should do, but is rarely used for it. It can be used as a contraceptive. It must be used before ovulation, generally half way through the follicular phase, and continued until bleeding. There's no harm in using it daily, but it can upset the cycle. The amount should be no less than 100mg/day, preferably 200mg/day. Please scroll to the bottom of this page here, to a section on progesterone as a contraceptive. But, and it's big but, stress drops progesterone levels, which could leave you unprotected. It's actually very effective at stopping ovulation, it works in the same way as the synthetic version. I would ask you to try to avoid this route, please see our page on Contraceptives and you'll see why I'm concerned. The safest and a very affective method is the copper T IUD, maybe you would consider this? It leaks no progestin into the body, as do the later versions. We do have a page on progesterone delivery systems, it lists all the options available. Finally you can use progesterone and a BCP concurrently, and it won't increase the chance of falling pregnant. Take care Wray
Mar 27, 2012
 caution
by: Anonymous

Take caution with any synthetic hormone pills I did not know natural progesterone existed and was railroaded into regular low dose birth control pills and it resulted in a stroke after ~ 10 years. Take extreme caution and ask your doctor if you should consider taking an aspirin a day as a preventative or a precaution ward off some of the stroke risk.
Mar 30, 2012
 caution
by: Wray

Hi there Thanks so much for saying this, it's something that needs to be shouted from the roof tops! I'm sorry to hear about the stroke, this risk is so often dismissed or not even mentioned to the woman when she's offered a Contraceptive. Progesterone not only has no adverse side effects, but does help in preventing clots, as it reduces thrombin by 10-15%, see here and here. Vitamin D is effective too, see here, here, here and here. Using these two there's no need for the aspirin. Take care Wray
Nov 26, 2016
 BCP and Bioidenticals
by: Judy

My daughter has PCOS and was prescribed birth control pills at 15 to regulate her cycle. I've been reading positive things about Bioidentical Hormone therapy for PCOS with better outcomes to reduce symptoms than BCP's have, ie. thinning hair, weight gain, etc.. I would love to try bioidentical hormones for her, but she doesn't want to stop taking her birth control (sophomore in college). Can she take both the pill and bioidenticals? Clarity on this would be so much appreciated. Thank you.
Jan 31, 2018
 Bioidentical hormones used as birth control
by: Katie

Heard of Natazia (USA) or Qlaira (Europe)? Instead of using the synthetic hormones found in common birth control pills, Natazia/Qlaira uses bioidentical hormones made from plants. I tried everything from Ortho Evra to Mirena to the Nuvaring and had terrible side effects from anything that had synthetic hormones in it. Very happy with Natazia/Qlaira and have had no side effects.
Aug 01, 2018
 Progesterone of Birth Control
by: TaylorC

Just to clarify, when used properly can bio-identical progesterone be used as a birth control method? TC

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