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Does progesterone cream help with Fibromyalgia?

by Fiona
(Dorset, UK)

I'm 51 and still having regular periods as well as hot flushes. I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and read that it can be caused by progesterone deficiency. I also have IBS, Interstitial Cystitis and am starting to suffer with vaginal dryness and have recurrent bouts of thrush.

I used Natpro before for heavy periods and it worked well so that I haven't used it for the last 2 years. I want to know if using progesterone cream would help the Fibromyalgia? I am taking 5-HTP at night and St John's Wort during the day but although I sleep ok I still wake up stiff and in pain. I am feeling quite tearful and depressed. How much progesterone cream should I use for Fibromyalgia and should I apply a seperate amount for the vaginal dryness?

Comments for Does progesterone cream help with Fibromyalgia?

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Mar 04, 2011
 Does progesterone cream help with Fibromyalgia?
by: Wray

Hi Fiona I'm happy the Natpro helped you, it's a pity you stopped. I started using it when I was 48 and I'm still using it 15 years later! Progesterone does help pain, particularly if caused by excess oestrogen. This is an inflammatory, excitatory hormone. I suggest 100-200mg/day progesterone, I use about 170mg/day. Some of this I use in my vagina at night. I've done this for five years now and don't have any problems with dryness, inflammation or candida. Candida is an indication your oestrogen is too high. I've found the amount for hot flushes has to be 400mg/day for a few days before they reduce or stop. You'll have to experiment, if you need the high amount, please reduce slowly once the flushes resolve. But read our page on Oestrogen Dominance first. Progesterone also has parasiticide activity, and inhibits the growth of some bacteria and pathogenic fungi, so could help the IC. See here, here, here, here, here and here. It's also an effective anxiolytic, so are many nutrients, please see our page on Anxiety. I suspect you are short of vitamin D as you live in the UK. A lack of vitamin D is directly linked to fibromyalgia, see here and here, and gut problems, see here. And here are more papers on pain and vitamin D, see here, here, here, here and here. Please have a test done, for more info see the Birmingham Hospital and GrassrootsHealth websites. Take care Wray
Dec 30, 2012
 Progesterone and 5htp
by: Anna

Hello there I am on 150mg of Progesterone Cream that is Bioidentical but I am still not sleeping 2 to 4 hrs a nite and I still have body pain. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and I was told by my Physician that 5htp helps allot for pain and insomnia. Can I take the two together?
Dec 31, 2012
 Progesterone and 5htp
by: Wray

Hi Anna Yes it is safe to take the progesterone and 5HTP together, in fact progesterone raises serotonin levels slightly. There is evidence tryptophan helps fibro, see here, here and here. Please have a vitamin D test done, as it appears a low level could be a factor too, see here. It is good for generalised pain too, see here, here, here, here and here. For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml (175-250nmol/L) and not the 30ng/ml (75nmol/L) most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although recent research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Continued below
Dec 31, 2012
 Progesterone and 5htp Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Anna Although you're using a good amount of progesterone, it could be you need more, it does help both sleep, see here, here and here. And pain, see here, here and here. Oxidative stress is often behind insomnia and pain, this leads to Inflammation and Insulin Resistance. Please look through this page to see if it rings any bells. Take care Wray

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