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panic attacks, cysts

by cara
(London, Ontario, Canada)

Hi Wray! I am a newbie. I am enjoying your site very much but I am confused!!! I have been having anxiety attacks and migrains before I ovulate and also before and after my period. I have had ovarian cysts (not pcos??)in the past. I also have ovarian pain during ovulation and also again before and after my periods. I went to the doctor and she did day 3 cycle testing (blood) and said that my hormone levels are within normal but because of my symptoms she put me on a 6% progesterone cream and told me to take 1ml daily. I have been on it 3 weeks and although i did have a migraine before my period my anxiety seems better. Am i on the right track and should i take it daily? I am 37 years old.

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Apr 12, 2012
 panic attacks, cysts
by: Wray

Hi Cara Thanks for the kind words about the site! It is confusing, very, there are too many conflicting instructions dished out. See our page on Progesterone Misconceptions for more info. For instance you're using 60mg/day, and I take it only once a day. Well progesterone levels start dropping after about 13 hrs, so it should be used twice a day minimum. I also don't believe you are using enough, I recommend 100-200md/day, more if symptoms are severe. In which case I recommend 400mg/day until symptoms subside, then reduce the amount slowly. See these comments here. There's more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. The page also explains about using the progesterone daily, or following a cycle. We also have a page on Anxiety. Progesterone does help, plus a number of nutrients. It also helps migraines too, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. But enough must be used. Although we think our main adverse symptoms occur the few days prior to bleeding, hence 'PMS', they are just as likely to occur prior to ovulation too. Oestrogen rises sharply a couple of days before ovulation, progesterone should too. This surge comes from the brain, it appears it's not occurring with you, or is too small an amount to counter the oestrogen. Ovulation pain occurs in 20% of women, it's caused by the follicle bursting, sometimes a small amount of blood is released. It's known as Mittelschmirz, see here and here. Continued below.
Apr 12, 2012
 panic attacks, cysts Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Cara The pain associated with our periods is caused by prostaglandins, progesterone also inhibits these. It would be interesting to know when your test was taken, it should be done ±7 days after ovulation or before bleeding, when progesterone peaks. Although you were told your levels were 'normal', were the ratios checked. These are of far greater significance than the quantity present. I don't know if you were warned about Oestrogen Dominance, but please keep a watch for it. Please have a vitamin D test done, most people in Canada have low levels, see here, here, here and here. A lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone plus causing migraines, see here, here and here. For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth, Birmingham Hospital and Vitamin D Links websites. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml or 175-250nmol/L and not the 30ng/ml or 75nmol/L most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Take care Wray

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