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Cont. Birth Control Pill and Progesterone Cream

by Tammy
(Arkansas)

Wray, sorry I didn't want to leave any information out. I'm on the ortho cyclen continuously...with no breaks cause of the endo. So I figure i would continuously take the progesterone cream as well. Is this O.K.? Also my meds are Metformin, spironolactone, armour, BCP...and lots of vitamins.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS, Pre diabetic, and hypothyroid which is why i take the meds. However, I lost lots of weight and now have 1 more pant size to go to reach my high school weight. of 135-140lbs. and I'm 5'7". In my last CBC my fasting blood glucose is the best it has ever been at 88 and my thyroid is down and in a good range. The spironolactone has been doing well to keep down my androgen levels as well. Anyway, just wanted to give you the full picture so you would know how to advise me.

The two things I'm trying to fix are the hair loss and weight gain. Thank you again,

Tammy

Comments for Cont. Birth Control Pill and Progesterone Cream

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Apr 07, 2012
 Cont. Birth Control Pill and Progesterone Cream
by: Wray

Hi Tammy I'm alarmed at all the meds you are on! All your problems can be addressed naturally. You might like to read what one woman has to say about spironolactone, see here. You might be interested to hear spiro has androgenic properties. And Metformin, blood glucose can be controlled by nutrients too, see our page on Insulin Resistance. And if you are having to take armour, it could be your vitamin D is too low. This has a huge bearing on the thyroid, see here, here and here. We do have a page on PCOS too. Large amounts of antioxidants are needed to reverse it. Take care Wray
Apr 10, 2012
 Your Advice
by: Tammy

Thank you so much for your advice on this matter. I am a little scared to go to 400mg of progesterone a day, but what you say does make sense. Are you sure this amount won't cause me to gain more weight? The endo pain has stopped since switching to ortho cyclen and using the cream. I'm thinking that once I've been on progesterone cream for a good 6 mons. or so, I can wean my way off the BCP. I take vitamin D3 supplements daily at 5000 iu. For some reason the back of the bottle says to take it every couple of days at that amount. I hope I'm not overdoing it by taking it daily. Also, started the NAC dose you suggested, as well as inositol, biotin, and alpha lipoic acid. I take the armour per my endocrinologist recommendations and supplement it with Idoral and selenium so I don't have to increase my Armour dose(because I needed more). It's really helping, my TSH is lower when I added the Idoral so...I believe I can slowly lower the Armour dose and raise the Idoral to keep the TSH in an optimal range. As for the metformin...I will talk to my doctor about lowering the dose, after all my latest fasting sugars were really good. However, that may be because of the metformin I don't know. I do take lots of vitamins to try to help me with all of these processes. The spironolactone was given because my androgen levels were high and I was having some of the symptoms assoicated with that(water retention, facial hair, PCOS). I will take a look at the information you have suggested on this. Do you know of what supplement I could use that would take the place of the spironolactone? One that won't mess with my hormone levels. Just ordered some CLA to help with my weight, hope it will help. Thank you again for your prompt advice. I really appreciate it.
Tammy
Apr 11, 2012
 Your Advice
by: Wray

Hi Tammy I do understand your reluctance, it's only that I've found low amounts merely exacerbate symptoms, or add to them. I hope you got a chance to read those comments I gave you on the higher amount. It's always best to use the progesterone until stable before attempting to wean off, you've already experienced what it's like going cold turkey. I'm pleased you're taking the vitamin D, but 2500iu's per day is not sufficient. Please read those links I gave you on how much is needed to raise the level. Remember we evolved in the sun getting vitamin D daily, that's how we should take it too if we can't sunbathe. Incidentally we get between 10,000 to 20,000iu's per day when sunbathing for 20 to 30 mins in the tropics. Higher latitudes need longer. Pleased you've started the other nutrients, and give them time to work, it's never a quick fix. I'm delighted you're taking the iodine and selenium too, those are rarely thought about. I didn't realise you had high testosterone levels, I should have as you're on the spiro. Progesterone effectively raises SHBG, which in turn reduces the androgens, see here. CLA can help reduce weight, but it's an expensive way of going about it. It sounds more like you have insulin resistance, in which case the nutrients mentioned on the link I gave you, also on the PCOS page too, will help. Take care Wray

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