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Autoimmune disease and endometrial hyperplasia

I was diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis 11 years ago. Was taking prednisone and methotrexate as well as heart medication because a renal artery was damaged, which atrophied the kidney, which caused high blood pressure.

I have slowly reduced all medications, now only taking 5 mg methotrexate once a week. have been experiencing abnormally (for me) heavy periods with clotting for approximately 5 years, having to take ibuprofen to function through them. Recently diagnosed with a cyst (i think in an ovary) and endometrial hyperplasia. The gyn has taken a biopsy and am awaiting test results to see what stage it's at. Hopefully not gone as far as cervical cancer. I recently did a blood test for my hormone levels and am awaiting results. I have bought Serenity Progesterone Cream after having done some research. My reluctance to start using it is that I don't want my Takayasu to flare up with the initial reaction from the estrogen reacting to the progesterone.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Comments for Autoimmune disease and endometrial hyperplasia

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Apr 18, 2011
 Autoimmune disease and endometrial hyperplasia
by: Wray

Hi there I'm not sure of your age, but heavy bleeding with clots often occurs in Peri-menopause. If I'm right, you do need progesterone, as your levels are dropping, whereas oestrogen is not. Progesterone is successful at stopping heavy bleeding, but I've found 400-600mg/day is needed initially. Reducing slowly once symptoms have calmed down. I do understand your reluctance at using the cream, as symptoms can flare when first using it. The cream you have is not very strong, so you will have to use a considerable quantity to achieve the amount I recommend for normal use, which is 100-200mg/day. You might like to see this comment on what a low amount does, and how a high amount can help, see here. Progesterone and it's metabolite, allopregnanolone, are excellent analgesics, but enough must be used, see here, and here, here and here. Too little and it merely exacerbates the Oestrogen Dominance. Endo hyperplasia is also helped by progesterone, see here, here, here and here. Oestrogen is a known initiator of inflammation, it appears yours is too high. Progesterone is an excellent anti-inflammatory, as are many nutrients, please see our page on Inflammation. Please have a vitamin D test, if you live in the UK, you are not getting sufficient sun. For more info see the Vitamin D council and GrassrootsHealth websites. I'm running out of space, so will start a new comment below. Take care Wray
Apr 18, 2011
 Autoimmune disease and endometrial hyperplasia
by: Wray

Hi there Vitamin D is a potent anti-inflammatory, for more info see here, here, here, here and here. A lack of vitamin D is found in all autoimmune diseases, see here, here and here. Dendritic cells are implicated in the initiation of autoimmune diseases, vitamin D inhibits their production, see here. Progesterone also inhibits dendritic cells, whereas oestradiol increases them, see here. In all the autoimmune diseases I've looked at, a high level of oestrogen is observed and low progesterone. Or the ratio of the two hormones is skewed. Oxidative stress is prevalent in autoimmune diseases too, usually as a result of low vitamin D. High prolactin is implicated too, see here. Oestrogen stimulates prolactin production too, please see here. I don't know if using progesterone and taking vitamin D will help the Takayasu arteritis, but I would hope so. If you use sufficient progesterone initially, the oestrogen dominance is lessened or doesn't occur at all. Take care Wray
Apr 30, 2011
 AI disease and Endo Hyperplasia
by: Anonymous

Wray, thank you so much for your informative response. I've actually been searching the site to see if you've responded and couldn't find anything. Then yesterday I came across it by chance when I searched the internet for 'takayasu progesterone'--my comment was the first listed on the search results. It's a relief to have you guide me through this. I just wanted to clarify a few points. First point--Serenity cream has a 2.34% progesterone cream content, so if 1/8 tsp.=14 mg, then 1 tsp.=112 mg, right? And Natpro has 3.33% progesterone cream content, so if 1/8 tsp.=20.8 mg, 1 tsp.=166.5 mg? So based on your recommendation of using at least 100 mg per day I'd need to use at least 1/2 tsp. in the morning and 1/2 tsp at night? Second point--My period takes a few days to really start flowing, would I count the day it comes full on to be Day 1? Third point--I'm unsure of whether to use the cream continuously or not or whether I should use it from 'ovulation' to end of cycle. My periods are quite regular still, on a 28-day cycle. If I took at least 100 mg/day just from ovulation till last day, how would I 'taper it off' as recommended by some of the info. you've given me? I recently started taking calcium supplements again, which have vitamin D in them as well. I need to take calcium to prevent osteoporosis becaue I'm still taking methotrexate, so I'll be much more vigilant now with that...very interesting about the vit. D. By the way, I'm 41! Thank you for your help!
May 13, 2011
 AI disease and Endo Hyperplasia
by: Wray

Hi there Well I'm delighted you finally found my answer. Did you click the 'notify me' box after submitting your comment? If so you would have received an email with the link to my answer. Your maths is correct, and yes I would suggest 1tsp per day. The last thing I want is the inflammation flaring. Although no one can predict what will occur when you first use progesterone, but at least you are aware of potential symptoms. You say your period takes time to start, could it be called spotting? Does this occur within your 14 day luteal phase? If so it means your progesterone is dropping too early. So yes count the first day of full bleeding as day 1, or count 14 days from ovulation, this should coincide. I suggest you try following your cycle, at least to begin with. If you feel you need the progesterone after stopping it when you start bleeding, then I think you should try it continuously for a month or two. I wish it was possible to be more specific, but as we all react so differently, it's not. It is a question of experimenting, difficult for you with the arteritis. The tapering off was from 400mg/day, this amount was for the heavy bleeding if you feel you need it. Again the speed you reduce would be up to you, but as a guide no more than 1ml or 33mg at a time. I wouldn't recommend less than 100mg/day either. Take care Wray

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