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Feeling better on progesterone but now I have a period that won't stop

by Amy
(Tennessee)

Hi... I have been doing some reading on your site and I so appreciate it, there is a lot of fantastic info on here!

I have a couple questions I would like to ask of Wray, please :) and thank you in advance for your time. I do appreciate it!

I am a female, 41 years of age. I have hypothyroidism and on medication for it. I started reading about progesterone therapy, using the natural creams, last year, and found that a lot of my symptoms I was still having, which I had attributed to thyroid but my docs did a full panel and say I'm "normal" ... found that several of these problems could also be attributed to estrogen dominance. I began taking the cream around the end of December 2011.

I have been steadily feeling so much better! Periods starting to come at more regular intervals, almost 28 days now where they had been anywhere from 20-25... feeling better, sleeping better, moods getting WAY better, lol. I have been having extremely heavy periods, for the first few days they are so bad I can't really even go anywhere, then around day 3 or 4 they lighten up and by day 5 or 6 I am over it. That is one thing I had hoped it would help with, and for a while it did help some. Then something strange happened. I am wondering if it had anything to do with a new progesterone cream I tried, that didn't list the amount of progesterone on it.. I didn't even realize it didn't til I read someone complaining about it. Anyway, this last period, came EXACTLY 28 days...the whole week prior to that, my breasts (front and nipples) were so incredibly tender I couldn't even stand to wear a bra. The soreness lasted until a couple days into my period and it was so extremely heavy, the worst I have had, and the heaviness lasted almost my complete cycle, and went 7 to 8 days. So it was longer and heavier than usual. On day 8 I started my progesterone cream again (this time by a well reputed company). Three days after my period stopped... I started getting it again. This was on May 2, and it hasn't stopped yet. It is pretty light with very little tissue/clots, and one pad can do me a whole day, but it is a real inconvenience. And just before my period came back, I got an extremely terrible menstrual migraine... I used to get them a lot but since I started taking the progesterone those had gone away... the migraine lasted several days and I could barely move my head, I was in so much pain.

I am still bleeding, but otherwise I feel good... I am still taking progesterone because I didn't know if I should stop or not... I'm not having any pain or depression or anything, just this inconvenience of my period not stopping. I am taking iron supplements so I don't become anemic.

I am just wondering what your input on this situation might be? Should I quit taking progesterone if I am still bleeding? I am taking 1/4 tsp, it occurred to me that 1) maybe I should up my dosage to 1/2 a day? also that maybe my bleeding like this could be a good thing, as it might be sort of cleaning out my uterus? So I am thinking maybe this could be a positive thing, as I think our bodies know best and the less medical intervention we give them, when not necessary, the better.

Anyway I would greatly appreciate just to see what you would say about this, and to get some opinions.

Thanks :)

Comments for Feeling better on progesterone but now I have a period that won't stop

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May 10, 2012
 Feeling better on progesterone but now I have a period that won't stop
by: Wray

Hi Amy Thanks for the kind words about the site! Many thyroid symptoms are identical to low progesterone/high oestrogen, feeling cold, tired, gaining weight, loosing hair etc. Progesterone creams do vary in strength, it's always best to check this. Ingredients differ too, plus the very thick creams don't transport the progesterone very well. So it could be any of these factors contributing to your symptoms. Also ironically, if the cream is a higher strength than your previous brand, you are getting more progesterone which can also cause these same symptoms. When first starting progesterone, when increasing it or decreasing it, adverse symptoms can occur. All due to Oestrogen Dominance. Cleaning out the uterus is a good thing, particularly if endo, fibroids and a thickened lining is a problem, but continual bleeding is not good. If you're only using 1/4tsp per day, you're probably only getting about 20mg/day progesterone. This to my mind is far too low, I recommend 100-200mg/day, more if symptoms are severe. Progesterone should always be used a minimum of twice a day too. The small amount of progesterone you're using is not enough to suppress the MMPs causing the bleeding. We do have more info about this on our Menstruation page. The severe migraine was caused by progesterone withdrawal just before your period, leaving oestrogen dominant. You should have applied a great deal of progesterone when it occurred, as it does help migraines, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Continued below.
May 10, 2012
 Feeling better on progesterone but now I have a period that won't stop Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Amy Plus I believe your vitamin D is low, please have a test. Low vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone, plus it affects the thyroid badly, see here, here and 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. 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. Take care Wray
May 14, 2012
 thank you :)
by: Amy

Thank you Wray for your response! :) I really appreciate it.

I had previously been taking 1/2 tsp a day of progesterone, then when I started getting the breast tenderness I really didn't know what was going on...so I backed off to 1/4 tsp... then a week later I started my period so I didn't take any more progesterone til Day 8, as recommended by my pro-gest instructions. I have again resumed with 1/2 tsp and I will see how that works... I wasn't sure how i should proceed, since I haven't stopped my period, as far as which days you "do" and "don't" use progesterone. So far I have just been using it every day anyway. And I am still having my period, it stops for about a day then picks back up again, today it is more like a normal period as in it is heavier than what it has been but still not as heavy as with my usual cycle. Do I still need to be counting days... if so how should I do it since my period has been continual?

I take about 1200 IU of Vitamin D a day so that is something I can up.

So far I am at least still feeling pretty good and no more migraines, something i am VERY grateful for lol.

So is this typical of women entering perimenopause? If so how long does the "non stop period" tend to go on? I am HATING this :/
May 15, 2012
 thank you :)
by: Wray

Hi Amy I'm happy the answer helped you, but you don't seem to be using enough progesterone, this is stimulating oestrogen all the time. Hence the continual bleeding. I'm not sure if you got a chance to read the page on menstruation. But to stop heavy or continual bleeding you need to use about 400mg/day or more. This would be 25ml of the cream you are using or 5tsp/day. Plus you should take about 2000mg/day NAC (N-acetyl cysteine). The NAC inhibits the MMPs causing the bleeding. I don't believe you should stop the progesterone, as each time you do it allows oestrogen to rise again, plus the MMPs. Try using it daily for 2-3 months, or until stable before attempting to follow the cycle again. We have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. Please do increase your vitamin D intake, as it really does boost the effect of progesterone. You might like to read this page here. You could be at the very beginning stages of Peri-menopause, it occurs 5-10 years before Menopause, the average age of this is 51. If you know when your mother went into menopause, it's a good indication of when you will. I see I forgot to give you our page on Breast Tenderness, can't imagine why! But it explains the cause, which is usually excess oestrogen, as this causes water retention and inflammation. But it can be due to a lack of iodine. Take care Wray
May 15, 2012
 Thanks!
by: Amy

Thank you for taking the time to answer all my questions! Yes I had read the links you sent but there were just a few questions I guess I still had for my personal situation, which you have so kindly answered. Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much. :) And I will up my progesterone starting today! LOL

Much appreciation,

Amy
May 15, 2012
 Thanks!
by: Wray

Hi Amy Well do let me know how you get on. I feel it should stop quickly, particularly if you up the vitamin D and take the NAC. If it does you can begin reducing the progesterone, but do it slowly over a few weeks. Take care Wray
May 17, 2012
 Where to find NAC?
by: Marita Crozier

I also have non-stop bleeding like Amy, though not as heavy. My cycles are coming every 21 days, and I only have a week reprieve from bleeding (the week I ovulate), though most days it's just spotting. I had posted a few months ago about it being due possibly to a dysfunctional luteal phase. I ordered the Natpro and am taking a 1/2 tsp. every day. Should I be taking more? And where can one find NAC?
May 18, 2012
 Where to find NAC?
by: Wray

Hi Marita I don't think the 1/2tsp is enough, it's only giving you about 83mg/day progesterone. I take it hasn't helped? It really needs to be 100-200mg/day for normal use, for any problem I've found it does have to be more. Although you say you don't have the heavy bleeding, so you'll probably find 200mg/day is sufficient. This is 6ml of cream, or 1 1/5th tsp. I say it'll probably help you, but I'm continually surprised at how people respond to progesterone or the nutrients. Some needing far more than others to find relief from the same problem. NAC should be available at any heath store, or on the web, LEF is a very good brand. Take care Wray
Apr 02, 2013
 HELP ME
by: Anonymous

IM 48 AND MY PERIOD STOPPED FOR 2 MONTHS THEN STARTED BACK AS NORMAL THEN MY PERIOD STOPPED AGAIN FOR 3 MOTHS THEN STARTED BACK TO NORMAL AND I BEEN ON IT FOR 3 MONTHS NOW. WAS REALLY BAD AT FIRST WITH LOTS OF CLOTS THEN STOP FOR A CPL. HRS. TO ALMOST A WHOLE DAY THEN START BACK UP AND ALOT LIGHTER. I GO FROM A SOMEWHAT HEAVY BLEEDING TO LIGHT OFF AND ON BUT ITS BEEN 3 MONTHS IM STILL ON IT SO I BOUGHT SOME GNC PRGESTERONE CREAM IT COMES IN 2OZ. TUBES AND SAYS IT HAS 5MG PER OZ....SO HOW MUCH SHOULD I TAKE TO STOP THE HEAVY BLEEDING? I WANT TO BUY THE CREAM YOU OFFER BUT I JUST BOUGHT 2 OF THE GNC BRAND SO I NEED TO USE THAT UP FIRST THEN I WILL PURCHASE YOUR CREAM YOU OFFER BUT I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH I NEED TO USE OF THIS GNC BRAND FIRST...THANK YOU
Apr 04, 2013
 HELP ME
by: Wray

Hi there Progesterone can stop heavy, and/or continual bleeding, but 400mg/day are needed, sometimes more. There's more info on our Menstruation page. I can't believe the cream says it's only 5mg/oz, but I have checked the website too. The tube has 2oz cream, which means it only has 10mg progesterone in the whole container. It would mean you would need to use 40 tubes to get 400mg/day progesterone! It's the most expensive progesterone on the planet. There are other nutrients which help to stop bleeding, please consider taking them. These are at least 2000mg/day NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), 2000mg/day taurine, at least 5000iu/day vitamin D (depending on your current level), and 1000mg/day bioflavonoids. The NAC inhibits the MMPs which cause the lining of the utters to break down, there's more info on the menstruation page I've given above. Taurine is always low in any dysfunctional uterine problem, see here. Vitamin D is vital for all cells to function normally and the bioflavonoids strengthen capillaries, see here and here. The first paper has no abstract, but the second gives a resume of it. Please look through our page on Peri-menopause, it's such a difficult time. Our cycles do become too erratic to follow them, so I always advise using progesterone daily, through any bleeding. Take care Wray
Apr 10, 2013
 HELP
by: Anonymous

HI...THANK YOU FOR WRITING ME BACK. IM GOING TO OREDER YOUR CREAM IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS NOW THAT I KNOW THE GNC BRAND IS NOT ANY WHERE ENOUGH OF WHAT I NEED. I ORDERED THE NAC PILLS AND THEY ARE 500MG EACH AND YOU SAID TO TAKE 2000MG DAILY. SO SHOULD I TAKE 4 OF THEM ALL AT ONCE OR DIVIDE THEM UP THRU THE DAY?...ALSO UNTIL I CAN ORDER YOUR CREAM A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A CREAM WITH THE BRAND SOURCE NATURALS SHE SAID I COULD USE AND THIS IS THE INFO I GOT ON IT...• Paraben Free
• Natural
• Advanced Liposomal Delivery
Source Naturals Eternal Woman™ Progesterone Cream features natural progesterone USP from soy. Our Progesterone Cream is guaranteed to contain 500 mg of progesterone per ounce and 22 mg per 1/4 teaspoon...IS THIS OK TO USE? IF SO HOW MUCH SHOULD I USE? HERES THE WEBSITE SHE GOT IT FROM IF YOU WANT TO LOOK INTO IT YOURSELF...http://www.vitacost.com/source-naturals-progesterone-cream-4-oz-1..SHOULD I TAKE A BREAK AT ANY TIME FROM USING THE CREAM OR JUST CONTINUE IT DAILY?
Apr 11, 2013
 HELP
by: Wray

Hi there It's up to you how you take the NAC. It's advisable to start low if you have a sensitive stomach as it can cause nausea. I find it doesn't cause me any problems if I take the whole dose in one. The Source Natural cream is half the strength of ours, so you would need 24ml/day to get 400mg progesterone. 24ml is 4.8tsp, or almost 5 tsp. You could try less and see if it helps, although I haven't found so. I would recommend using it daily, through any bleeding. Particularly as you don't know when your period will arrive now. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Sep 05, 2014
 a little confused
by: New York

I found your website very interesting and informative. I am 46 yrs old and was diagnosed with PCOS about 13 yrs ago. Under the care of a physician, I successfully gave birth 10 yrs ago. Since then, my periods have been getting heavier with lots of clots. The past few years have been the worst. I do have a cycle and its only really bad for the 2nd through 4th day. I feel guilty complaining when others seem to have it so much worse, but it really interferes with my life and I'm scared to go back to work like this. Doctors dont really have an answer for me. I've been trying to research natural methods of alleviating this before looking into ablation. I'm hoping progesterone can help. I'm just a little confused about the dosage. I read Dr. John Lee's book and the dosage you recommend is 10 times greater than he does. He would consider 100-200 mg as overdosing. Has there been new research?
Sep 07, 2014
 a little confused
by: Wray

Hi there Thanks for the kind words. I can only ask you to read all the links given above, plus our page on PCOS and Peri-menopause. As for new research, Dr Dalton was using very high amounts of progesterone long before Dr Lee had heard of it. She has also written a few excellent books too, see here. Take care Wray
Aug 26, 2015
 The Period That Won't Stop
by: Kimberly

Wray,
May I say, your site is a wealth of information!!! Thank you!! But I am a little confused. I am a 45 year old woman in peri menopause and estrogen dominant. I've been on progesterone cream off and on for two years ( on steadily for the past 5 months). It was prescribed by my endocrinologist and is compounded at a local pharmacy. The pharmacy puts the cream into syringes and I use 2 cc, or 100ml/mg twice daily. (I did use 50 twice daily but he recently increased the dose due to the fact I started my period 9 days early this month). This period is on its 8th day and WILL NOT STOP!!! The flow isn't heavy or clotting but is a nuisance!! So, if I understand you correctly, I should up the dosage to 400 mg / day? Thank you in advance for your response and your wealth of knowledge.
Jun 14, 2017
 Teva progesterone pearl
by: Amber

Hi,
I have been on teva progesterone for just over two months. I had a regular first period after starting on it. My second one was light and spotty and hasn't stopped for 4 weeks. I had about a two day break then I get spotty and light period again.

The pearls are taken orally and are 100mg each. I have been instructed to take two each night. Should I go up to 4 each night and see how it goes?

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