Progesterone advice please

[Anniewoz1]

I began to use Elan progesterone cream a few months ago, to see if it would help with hot flushes.

It did, but then I read a few comments which made me question if I should be taking it ..... were the negatives more harming than the benefits.

I’d not been tested to see if I was in fact lacking in progesterone

Well, after a couple of weeks without using the cream, the hot flushes are back with a vengeance!

Do any of you knowledgeable folk have any advice or information which would help me ?

Many thanks everyone x

[helbell]

Hi Anniewoz1,

I have used natural progesterone cream for years. What negs have you read?

[MaisieGray in reply to helbell]

Hellbell I don't know a great deal, but have read there can very definitely be side effects, that's true of everything we take into our body. I've read that progesterone cream must be used cautiously when applied to skin as it is highly fat soluble and will accumulate in fat tissue, thereby disrupting adrenal hormones such as DHEA, cortisol, and testosterone. Consequently some say that ideally, progesterone cream should NOT be applied to the skin but rather to the mucous epithelial membranes of your labia or rectum. This is apparently because absorption through these membranes is more complete than through skin, and hormones absorbed through vaginal membranes enter the same pelvic plexus of veins that your ovaries normally empty into.

[helbell in reply to MaisieGray]

That's very useful, thank you. Will look into that as a matter of urgency.

[Murphysmum]

I’d be interested to hear too.

I’m not menopausal but have suffered from really bad Estrogen dominance symptoms since having a mirena coil removed, so I’ve been using it to help that.

This is my first cycle of using it and already the symptoms are much improved. I had noticed on some days that I felt quite warm and never the end of my cycle I felt a bit nauseous some days but some of this could be attributed to my increased Levo dose.

I didn’t have my hormones measured either and I’m assuming that the nausea would be in line with the increased levels of pg when you fall preganant, so maybe normal until your system gets used to a slightly higher level again.

I don’t know but I am totally willing to put up with feeling a bit off if it stops the extreme pain I’ve been suffering each month

[Anniewoz1 in reply to Murphysmum]

Apologies all round,

I’ve got my facts muddled ... 😔

A very good source has just given me the facts about Elan, I’m going to re start and gain the benefits x

[helbell]

I have heard only the good via Dr john lees research. And it certainly got me through the menopause, bring highly eastrogen dominant. I know a lot about it on the plus sides but will research points made for the negs. Of course we are talking bio identical plant based.

[Ellie-Louise]

I got through with sage after being recommended to it by a health shop. It worked wonders on my tropical times.

[helbell]

I've looked at some research, the concerns and side effects of build up in fatty tissues seems to come from one main study in 2005. Otherwise, not much scientific data. Seems it would be wise to test progesterone levels before and during treatment. I shall do this now. Also, many suggest avoiding topical treatment in fatty areas of the body and applying to labia or anus where it is taken up more efficiently band quickly by the thinner membranes. Best to research yourself, too. So many gurus out there that rehash the same info. John Lee and one other pioneered bioidentical hormones synthesised from plants but it might be the understanding of uptake and application has advanced since then. ZRT labs offer hone saliva progesterone test for 55. Debate about which is best test method with 24 urine test coming out tops. I'm going to try my doc for a hormone test profile. Never had one before...think we should all get them during and post menopause.

[magsyh]

I have used progesterone cream for years with care! I would say don't use it unless you know what you are doing. Ive had to experiment on myself and its been quite a learning curve. You must have your levels tested regularly as depending which stage you are at your estrogen can fluctuate and thats what causes the problems. There is a lot of rubbish written on the internet and its knowing who to believe. You must also know your P to E2 ratio. Im 60 and only reaching menopause now. My estrogen has only taken a major drop now and thats what caused me problems. The half life of progesterone is only 15 hours and in the blood only 5mins. All the rubbish about it building up isnt true. You will only have problems if you use too much and dont trust your doc coz its something else they know nothing about. They will refuse blood tests and tell you they dont prescribe progesterone. They ignored my blood tests and i ended up overdosed. The headaches and body pain along with stomach cramps were horrendous and this happened because my estrogen dropped. Im now on 10mg a day and feeling well again. At my stage i have to use 10mg per day every day to protect my womb lining. Its complicated you need to know what your levels are because low progesterone and high progesterone have the same symptoms its like NDT you have to find your sweet spot. I could write about this subject for ever and still not cover whats truly important because we are all different. So please dont mess with progesterone. If you need any guidance message me please x