Menu

Bee Pollen and Progesterone

Thank you Wray for your wonderful informative website.

I am 34 years old, have PCOS ( diagnosed 2 years ago ( 15 kg overweight- hard to lose weight, sugar/carb cravings with extreme binge eating/to healthy eating to being a vegetarian, vegan, raw foods, juice fasting,green smoothies,to which healthy eating gave me a better feeling but very slow weight loss and still a sense of wanting to binge to then trying several water fasts, ranging from 3 days to 21 days, as it seemed the only time I would ever lose weight, but this only creates a viscious circle as I only ended up depleting all vitamins and minerals to then only increase the desire to binge eat,and then regain the weight back even more quicker. So the whole thing ends up being a circular pattern with worse depression. And all this has been on and off since I was a teenager but more so uncontrolable binge eating for the last 9 years,extreme health diets for the last 3.5 years.

I have cysts on ovaries, but regular periods, hirituism, depression - thinking it was 'just how I am' as I forgot how it felt to not be depressed it's been so long. I beleive I am able to have children, my symptoms more appear with the struggle to lose weight, extreme quick weight gain, fluid retention,(possible)- insulin resistance, high testosterone levels,( my doctor never mentioned my Oestrogen levels) increase in losing scalp hair and gaining hair on chin, major depression. I have never taken any medication for any symptoms and have not been on the pill since I was 23, which I only took for 2 years.

I have been taking your advice from replied forum posts and for the last week I have been taking 150mg progesterone (via cream) daily and have not felt this clear headed and calm/emotionally stable for a long time and the binge eating I have noticed appears to be subsiding, so much to the point I am finding it odd not having the urge to binge, as I have been use to the binge eating as part of my daily habit and if not actual binge eating then plagued with the daily thoughts/struggle of trying not to binge eat, despite desperatley wanting to. And now I am thinking of how I am not thinking I want to binge eat, it's a bizarre feeling to not have something no longer 'urge' you, very freeing that I keep questioning can this be really true that I am not craving to binge eat or If I have somehow tricked myself and tommorrow the feelings to binge eat will all come back or could it truly just be as simple as a vitamin deficiency and lack of progesterone that has been the problem the whole time!

I must say that since starting bee pollen and also increasing my vitamin B's, my cravings and impulsive binge eating began to slow down and along with progesterone this last week, it seems to be the icing on the cake for me. It has levelled my emotions, depression lifted a lot, I have been waking up with a smile instead of a 'ugh' and this is all after one week of progesterone and 1 month of bee pollen 2tbs day and vitamin B's, D3,zinc, magnesium, Vit C. & E, Chromium.

However I did wish to ask is it ok to take Bee Pollen whilst using progesterone cream? I read that Bee Pollen balances hormones, but as I am wanting progesterone levels to be more dominant than oestrogen , I am wondering if it is counter conducive if I take the bee pollen, despite feeling good.

To note side effect of progesterone ( or possible bee pollen?) has been larger swollen breasts and fluid retention. Any help re: Bee pollen and progesterone would be much appreciated, as I cannot find much on the matter. Ps: I am sure others will agree, you should have a donation button for your site.
Thank you.

Comments for Bee Pollen and Progesterone

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 19, 2012
 Bee Pollen and Progesterone
by: Wray

Hi there Bless you for the kind words! A donation button isn't necessary, I love doing this, and sales from the cream we make cover our needs. I'm amazed the PCOS was only diagnosed 2 years ago, it's apparent you had it from puberty, if not before. It's caused by oxidative stress, and high doses of antioxidants are needed to reverse it. There is a list of them on the PCO link above. What is also evident, you are not ovulating each month, or you have a defective luteal phase. This results in very low progesterone levels, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Low progesterone would result in higher than normal oestrogen and free testosterone. This last is also increased by your past eating habits, which I'm delighted have stopped! Testosterone is notorious at increasing visceral fat, see here and here. Fructose, sucrose and glucose decrease SHBG by 80, 50 and 40% respectively, see here. It's essential to avoid sugars or food which contains them, plus all grains, legumes and sweet starchy fruits and veggies. These all contain the above sugars, and all finally get converted to glucose. Progesterone effectively increases SHBG, which in turn reduces testosterone, see here. If bound to SHBG free testosterone becomes inactive. Continued below
Apr 19, 2012
 Bee Pollen and Progesterone Part 2
by: Wray

Hi there I'm so pleased you started off on a high amount of progesterone, and not the normal recommendations of 20-40mg/day. This merely increases any Oestrogen Dominance symptoms. But please watch for this, as it can come out of the blue, even with the amount you're using. You are in fact suffering from two symptoms already, the swollen breasts and oedema. Progesterone is an excellent diuretic, now given to Traumatic Brain Injury victims to prevent the oedema. So please increase the progesterone. We have women using 400mg/day, see here, and some who use 1000mg/day, see here. The bee pollen is fine, I see no problems in taking it. Please make sure you're taking enough vitamin D. 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. 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. Continued below.
Apr 19, 2012
 Bee Pollen and Progesterone Part 3
by: Wray

Hi there Please have a blood test done to check your levels, a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone, it's vital for ovulation and conception, plus a lack leads to Insulin Resistance and weight gain, see here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Take care Wray
Apr 28, 2012
 Thank you.
by: Anonymous

Thank you once again Wray. Your knowledge and support is a blessing. I did forget to mention that I am low in Vitamin D and have been taking vitamin D supplements, but I will now increase the amount. Unfortunately at this stage I am unable to increase the amount of progesterone by large amounts. At one point I tried 240mg Progesterone, but had to drop back down (due to costs)to 160mg. However your product is very well priced, seeing as it consists of double the percent of progesterone than most other brands. I have just ordered 4 of your Natpro products so I may just be able to increase the dosage. I did however notice the difference in changing the dose, I felt even better with the higher amount. To also add on a positive note; just after 3 weeks of using at least 150mg progesterone per day, I have noticed for the second time after washing my hair, hardly any hair fell out. Such a nice relief! I still can't believe progesterone therapy has proved such a magnificent success in a short time. I can't wait to see the results after a few months.
Apr 29, 2012
 Thank you
by: Wray

Hi there I'm so delighted you've found some relief from the hair loss. I think it was simply because you used the higher amount immediately, rather than the normal low amounts which tend to worsen it. The even higher amount you tried would have increased well being. Some people noticing this keep increasing, all well and good if your purse can afford it! But it does become expensive, and I've found it's better to increase the vitamin D as you're doing. I know you'll feel a benefit from that too. It really is trial and error between too little, the optimum and needless excess. I find I tend to use roughly the same amount daily now, but increase when under stress. And do watch for oestrogen dominance, I can't stress this enough! Take care Wray
May 02, 2012
 PCOS & Daily Progesterone mg
by: Anonymous

Thank You, Thank you, Thank you Wray. You are spot on when it comes to increasing the amounts of progesterone. The last 3 days I have had to drop down from 160mg to 120 mg, per day ( as I ordered too late, and my current supplies are low) and after the second day of reducing the amount I started to feel more tired ( reluctant to get up in the morning) and waking up with tightness in hands, legs ( fluid retention).

As mentioned in the first 1-2 weeks of progesterone therapy, my breasts were very swollen, hard and sore and water retention increased, but when I increased my progesterone to 200-240mg the symptoms soon vanished and I felt better than ever. I could just balance the same feelings on 160mg, but could feel a slight drop in 'daily happiness', but nevertheless a lot better than when I was not doing progesterone therapy. So it seems I over rode the oestrogen dominance level at that stage, but after now dropping the amount of progesterone per day to 120 mg I can see how quickly the oestrogen dominance is trying to creep back in with its effects of fluid retention and fatigue and a general 'can't be bothered' feeling in the morning/depression.

I will note, however just after 3 weeks, my binge craving habits have still remained at bay, (except now last night I felt a lot more hungrier - this at a reduced amount of 120 mg progesterone). I am eating a 'normal' diet, not watching what I am eating- in that I have not reduced calories and I am actually losing weight. However as the binge habits and cravings have stopped I have naturally reduced the amount of food intake, but I am feeling satisfied 'full' a lot quicker and no longer have a feeling of 'needing' to eat.

I plan to return to a wholefoods diet, but am just playing around out of sheer amazement, as for once I feel like I can eat 'normally' without the guilt, obsessive cravings and thoughts and the fear of putting weight on immediately after eating an 'everyday' diet. I am so glad I listened to your advice on increasing progesterone amounts. It has made a big difference in a short time.

And although it can prove to be costly, I think I would sell my soul to the devil if I had to, to be able to maintain higher levels of progesterone. I really feel brand new or moreso like an old self I lost somewhere along the way of oestrogen dominance- hormonal imbalances, where I forgot who and how I really am and feel.

To note for any PCOS sufferers; for me so far I feel that at the very least 200-240 mg progesterone daily is the best to balance out my PCOS symptoms. However I have not tried more than this amount, yet.
May 02, 2012
 PCOS & Daily Progesterone mg
by: Wray

Hi there Bless you, I love your enthusiasm! It is a question of trial and error, too many are reluctant to do this. It's impossible for me to tell how anyone will react, what I do know is too little makes matters worse. But it's pointless using too much too, other factors play a role too. One of course is low vitamin D which I mentioned. We do have a page on Nutrition which has a few good links to sites on food. I try to follow the Paleo Diet which makes the best sense to me, based on our eating habits of millennia. And not the bad ones we've acquired since the Agricultural Revolution, grains are our downfall! If enough protein is eaten, we don't become hungry, plus adding in lots of raw veggies too. It's interesting how dropping to 120mg/day has made you feel more hungry. I would also sell my soul too! Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
May 09, 2012
 Oestrogen Symtpoms... again?
by: Anonymous

Thanks Wray. I have upped my Vitamin D levels. I know of the Paleo diet, I do not enjoy eating meat so much, and am currently in a country where organic and wild fish is hard to come by, but thought to trial the Paleo right now (day 4) but knowing the meats are most likely filled with hormones I keep thinking to lean to fruit/veg, without the soy products. guess it is a trial and error. But I understand how the no grain eating plan works for the body and weight loss, but in periods when I eat only fruit and vegetables I do feel better and 'clean'. I will see how I go.

I did want to please ask: I have been using the progesterone cream for 4 weeks now, for the first 2 weeks I bloated, then it settled. I used the cream throughout my period but reduced the amount as I was running low on progesterone cream. I now have gone back to 200mg for the last 3 days and I feel as though I have put on weight, ( despites ticking very strictly to Paleo, so i know it is not from eating any junk foods) I have swollen breasts and today I am feeling awfully low
I have read your information regarding Oestrogen dominance. But is this something that will always creep up when dosages change or are increased? I thought perhaps I may of gotten over it all in the first 2 weeks, but now I feel like I am having to start all over again since re-increasing the amount. To note: I applied progesterone cream for the entire 4 weeks, I did not stop before my period, as thought extra would help for the first month or so.

Should I continue to persist with the higher dosage? Should I continue to apply everyday or have a break in the month? As I am now not sure whether I was losing weight because my Oestrogen dominance symptoms subsided when I lowered progesterone level towards the end of the month. Or if the progesterone cream had overridden the Oestrogen dominance? I have so many events coming up soon, I really don't want to increase my weight any further, so I am in panic mode!

Thank you once again for all your advice and support. It is appreciated so much and rare to find.

P.s I received your Natpro cream ( thank you) and it is very lovely! I like that is has no fragrance as one other brand I tried smelt awful, love that it contains organic ingredients and it absorbs so quickly.
May 11, 2012
 Oestrogen Symtpoms... again?
by: Wray

Hi there It is a problem with the meat nowadays, so much of it is contaminated. You could try the raw food diet, it's not as easy to follow I find, but it does make one feel so good! The bloating when starting, and the weight gain which is water retention, is of course Oestrogen Dominance, such a pity it happens, as it puts people off using progesterone. Unfortunately when starting progesterone, when increasing it or when decreasing it oestrogen dominance occurs. Including increasing it after having been on a high amount previously. This is the main reason I ask women with severe symptoms to use it daily for 2-3 months, and not stop for the customary break during the follicular phase. This gives oestrogen enough time to rise again, so the whole process starts over and over. Using it daily ensure progesterone has enough time to become dominant. Then once stable, I suggest reducing very slowly. I have found using 400-500mg/day prevents it, but not many can afford such high amounts. The 100-200mg/day I suggest is a guide line only, but it does seem to prevent too many of the symptoms occurring. Thanks so much for the kind words about the Natpro! Which reminds me, were you using this the last 3 days, or using up the old cream? Progesterone creams do vary considerably in some cases, and if it doesn't carry the progesterone efficiently into the skin, I've found oestrogen dominance can occur when changing to one that does. I do know it is absorbed well with the Natpro, as we run Saliva Tests on it which shows it does. Finally please see these comments here, Mateja struggled with weight gain until she increased the progesterone. Take care Wray

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Progesterone faq.

Share this page:
Find this page helpful? Please tell others. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Search over 8,400 pages on this site...