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New to Progesterone Cream

by Jessie
(Australia)

Hello

First of all THANK YOU so much for this website - I am blown away by how much information and support is provided.

I am new to bioidentical progesterone (approx 3wks in) and I am a little bit confused by all of the conflicting information. I am based in Australia and have read the free eBook "Natural Progesterone The World’s Best Kept Secret" by Jenny Birdsey and she is adamant that progesterone must be taken with phytoestrogens because they are (to use her wording) a "pigeon pair"... based on this advice I ordered a phytoestrogen cream and some evening primrose oil capsules. After reading through your website and forum posts, I am thinking now I should not start taking them.

For some context I am 43yo and have done saliva tests that indicate I am estrogen dominant. My cycles have shortened to 24-25days (used to be 30+ days) and I have always have horrid PMS (especially breast tenderness), my lifelong insomnia has worsened and I have gained several kilos without changing my diet (I eat organic, 95% home cooked meals). I've been living with post-viral fatigue/CFS for years and have had moderate success with high quality compounded supplements and lifestyle adjustments, but after a stressful incident some months ago my hormones went from not-great to totally haywire and my fatigue is back with a vengeance.

Progesterone cream dosage wise, I am waiting on more cream to arrive so am not currently able to take the required minimum amount (100-200mg). Praying the bottles arrive soon... the festive season has delayed things significantly.

Any help and advice greatly appreicated and thank you again!

Comments for New to Progesterone Cream

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Dec 30, 2025
 New to Progesterone Cream
by: Joy

Hi Jessie

Thank you for your kind words about the website. It has helped so many people, including myself.

There is indeed a great deal of conflicting information about progesterone and hormones in general, which is why we encourage people to do responsible research. The internet is full of Progesterone Misconceptions.

I am not familiar with Jenny Birdsey’s work, but I would have stopped reading the moment I came across her reference to a "pigeon pair," as she puts it. I do not believe that any woman needs to take additional estrogen. It simply adds to Estrogen Dominance symptoms. There are already well over 100 estrogen mimics in our Environment why add more? Your recent tests indicate that you are already estrogen-dominant, so it makes no sense to increase it further. Please read the Hormone Testing page.

You are in Peri-Menopause. Your monthly cycle will become erratic, and you are showing classic signs of this. Breast tenderness may indicate an iodine deficiency. Was this tested, and are you taking iodine? Your adrenals are also under strain, which commonly affects sleep. The correct use of a good natural progesterone cream, such as Natpro, can help with this, as progesterone is a calming hormone, whereas estrogen is an excitatory hormone. Please research the Adrenal Fatigue Cocktail and consider trying it. I have benefited greatly from it.

Stress is a killer. It destroys progesterone levels as well as vital nutrients such as Vitamin D3 and B vitamins, all of which need to be increased during stressful times. Do you know what your Vitamin D3 level is? A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone. Fatigue can also be a sign of Insulin Resistance. Has this been tested?

If you have not done so already, please read the How to use Progesterone Creampage.

At this time of year, the postal service is often slightly delayed. Hopefully, your order will arrive soon.

Take care,
Jan 01, 2026
 Thank you!
by: Jessie

Thank you kindly for your reply, Joy. I did not expect to hear back during the festive season! I appreciate your time.

I have been on Vit D/K2 supp for many years and get regular sun exposure. I've not have my insulin tested, it's a little tricky for me living in a remote area with no supportive practitioners. Is this normally a blood test? If so I can order online and just pay out of packet.

My progesterone arrive today (it's even day 14 of my cycle, what are the odds!) so I am hopeful I will see some positive changes.

Thank you again for your help and time.
Jan 03, 2026
 Thank you!
by: Joy

Hi Jessie

Please do not forget magnesium. It is essential, as noted on the D3 page provided.

ZRT Labs and Birmingham Hospital both offer online tests. Links given on the D3 page.

Take care.
Jan 16, 2026
 thank you Joy
by: Jessie

Hi Joy

Thank you again for your help and answering my questions.

I got my dose up to 400mgs/day (taking half in the morning, half in the evening) and after about 10 days my severe breast pain subsided.

Now I have started my period and paused the progesterone to follow my cycle (my cycle is "regular" in that it comes every 24-26 days). I'm day 2 day of my bleed and have started having sharp stabbing pains in my breasts.

After searching through the forum I found advice encouraging some women to take the progesterone through their bleed for the first few months... but I already stopped (prior to finding this information I was under the impression that continuous use was not appropriate when a cycle is present)

Any advice would be greatly appreciate.

Warmly
Jessie
Jan 16, 2026
 Thank you Joy
by: Joy

Hi Jessie,

Thank you for your update. What wonderful news to hear about the improvement in your breast pain. This is usually caused by excess estrogen, and possible iodine and tyrosine deficiencies.

You are in peri-menopause. I generally suggest that the cream be used every day unless conception is the aim. Even though your cycle is regular, your body is indicating that you need to use it daily.

My suggestion is to use the cream every day going forward. The 400 mg dose can be slowly reduced to a level that suits you, but only reduce gradually once you feel stable and all adverse symptoms have cleared.

Experiment and see what works best for you. As a reminder, it can take 2–6 months for the body to adjust to progesterone. Progesterone should be the dominant hormone at all times.

Kind regards
Joy
Jan 16, 2026
 thank you
by: Jessie

Thank you so much for the fast reply Joy.

Should I jump back on the cream straight away or wait until after I ovulate, given that I have already stopped during this cycle?
Jan 16, 2026
 Thank You
by: Joy

Hi Jessie

If it were me, I wouldn’t delay, but that is entirely up to you. You may experience an erratic cycle for a month or two, whichever option you decide on. Your cycle will revert back once your body has adjusted.
Jan 18, 2026
 timeline
by: Jessie

Hi Joy

Thank you so much - I got straight back on the cream and the stabbing pains subsided very quickly.

I understand you can't give specific advice as everyone is so different, but here's a little snapshot of what's happened with my dosing so far:

Month 1 - started day 17 (as soon as cream arrived) then kept applying right through my period

Month 2 - stayed on the cream through my period but then sadly ran out on day 10. More cream arrived so I started again day 14.

Month 3 - stayed on cream until day 25 when my period came. This brings me to when I asked about the stabbing breast pains a couple of days ago. Started back on the cream in the evening on day 2 after reading your reply.

My question now is: how many more months could I go on continually using the cream through my bleed? I am a little concerned that without any breaks I will experience the phenomenon where one becomes desensitised to the cream and ED symptoms return with a vengeance. Going through posts here it looks like the advice is 2-3 cycles with no breaks, however, I had those couple of short breaks... I don't know if they count.

I realise my couple of short stops and starts were not ideal - it's tricky living in Australia where things take a long time to be delivered :) Now I know how long the cream takes to arrive I can plan ahead carefully.

Thank you again Joy for your time - I don't know what I would do without this forum!

Warmly
Jessie
Jan 19, 2026
 Timeline
by: Joy

Hi Jessie

You are correct I can't give you and exact timeline. Progesterone therapy takes between 2-6 months before the body adjusts, sometimes longer. I am not sure where the idea that one becomes "desensitised" comes from. Our bodies produce progesterone all the time, both males and females. As we age, we need to supplement, as explained on the How to Use page.

As mentioned, you can either use it by following your cycle if it is regular, as yours is, or use it every day, which is what I believe all females in peri-menopause should do. You have already experienced what happens when you stop using it. Your body is telling you that it is needed. Of course, the choice is yours, but as peri-menopause progresses, the need for progesterone generally increases.

I have been using progesterone for 23 years now. I use it every day with no breaks at all because that is what suits me and my symptoms. I too had to experiment.

You might like to read my story about how my journey with progesterone began. I will never stop using it, but again, that is an individual choice.
Jan 30, 2026
 thank you Joy
by: Jessie

HI Joy

Thank you so much again for all of your help. I've been doing lots of reading on the FB page after joining.

I've continued with the cream each day, increasing to approx 550mg/day and am having far less breast pain, which is wonderful!

On day 13-15 of my cycle I noticed some spotting and now, day 16, I appear to have a full period. I understand taking the cream continuously can make periods erratic, I am just wanting to confirm that I should continue to take the cream without breaks when full periods come so early?

I would like to eventually take a break for my bleeds in the future but understand that I need to get my progesterone up before I start trying for this.

Any advice is much appreciated and thank you again for everything you do!
Feb 01, 2026
 Thank you Joy
by: Joy

Hi Jessie

Your posts seem to be coming through twice. Are you experiencing difficulties posting?

Wonderful news about the breast pain, but I still feel you need to have your thyroid tested, as I mentioned in my first reply. Are you taking iodine etc?

Your cycle will likely become erratic as you are experiencing. It should revert to normal as your body adjusts to the progesterone. I say "should" because you are in peri-menopause — it’s all explained on the page. You should absolutely continue using progesterone every day until your body stabilises. Then you can either slowly reduce the amount of cream, or, if your cycle returns to normal, follow your cycle and use it during your luteal phase. As mentioned, I do recommend that those in peri-menopause use it every day unless they want to conceive.

Time and patience are needed. Progesterone therapy is not easy, nor is it an overnight fix. I wish it were.

Take care.
Feb 09, 2026
 thank you~
by: Jessie

Hi Joy

Thank you again for your answer and for following up on FB. That was very thoughtful of you!

I will look into having my thyroid tested with my GP.

I am unsure why my posts are coming through twice - my apologies for this.

Things are humming along for me. My breast pain is much better though still experiencing some mild pain in one very large cyst. I am hopeful this will continue to decrease as prior to using NatPro I was having sharp stabbing pains constantly some days.

I am now day 27 of my "cycle" (onle cycle - not counting the bleed I experienced mid-cycle - heavier than breakthrough but not my usual ful period) and have started having cramping and spotting today. It will be interesting to see if I have a full bleed.

I was also wanting to ask, when I use the NatPro vaginally (one pump/50mg, just inserting with a finger) I sometimes get some mild cramping within 10mins. Is this anything to be concerned about?

My plan is to just stay on progesterone and not stop for cycles. Ideally I will be able to reduce my dose (currently around 500-550mg/day) in the future to something more like 100-200g. I am in no hurry to get there though, I understand this can take quite some time.

Thanks again Joy, your wisdom is greatly appreciated :)
Feb 10, 2026
 Thank you ~
by: Joy

Hi Jessie

Thank you again for your kind words and for trusting the website and me. As mentioned before, I used to have severe breast cysts caused by excess estrogen. My cysts never returned once I started using Natpro. It may be taking longer for you, as you mentioned your cyst is large. I can relate to that stabbing feeling — I experienced the same when I had them.

Please read the Cysts page if you haven’t done so already.

I’m not sure what the cramping could be. Try using less and see how you get on. Occasionally I get a tingling feeling when I insert it vaginally.

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