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Hormone imbalances and ongoing issues

by Alexandra
(Qld Australia )

Hi, before I fell pregnant with my son I had low progesterone which gave me the symptoms of high oestrogen. Lumps in breast, moody, water retention etc. The doctor I saw couldn't tell me the reason but gave me progesterone in a pill I had to get made at a compounding chemist which helped me immensely symptomatically.

I since looked into it and I think my cortisol may have been part of the issue as I also used to bruise very easily and not heal well which is a sign of high cortisol. I used to train a lot for my sport though was injured at the time this actually happened but it seemed to make sense.

I eventually wanted to see if I could have kids not knowing much about my imbalance the gyno I saw said I'd need to come off progesterone to see if my cycle regulated (I was getting a cycle every 2 weeks with progesterone) and then see if I needed help. I fell pregnant in 6 weeks without meaning too. Since then I have had another child with only two cycles between.

My issue is I've never really gotten to the bottom of what caused my imbalances in the first place. I am still breastfeeding but get anxiety often and moody and feel like in the last few years I've aged rather quickly. The dark circles under my eyes don't go away now and I am always very fatigued and fatigue very easily if a go to the gym even once a week where as I trained a few times a week during the second pregnancy without issue.

I asked the doctor to check my cortisol and they did a morning cortisol level check. I received a message that my results where in but not urgent so I have not discussed them with the doc as yet.

I can't quite put my finger on everything as to what is wrong with me. I feel like taking progesterone would probably help my symptoms go away but I also would like to eventually try for a third baby. Is there a way I can cycle progesterone so as to help my symptoms but not actually act as a contraceptive? Would taking progesterone impact at all if I was getting tested for higher or lower cortisol?

I just want to feel better again and I felt so good on progesterone. I should also add I do not have a cycle back, my youngest is 16 months and still feeds a lot even a bit at night so I'm not worried about my cycle but I can not know what day I am on if I cycle any progesterone? I just want to feel myself again and I'm not sure what to do. Maybe I could take it for a month? When I was weening my eldest down to have my youngest I also added in vitex which has helped my cycle to regulate in the past, maybe I should take that.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions but I am really confused what to do, get more tests, just take for symptoms, don't take as want a third baby eventually. Has anyone else experienced anything similar with high oestrogen due to low progesterone and not known the cause or has anyone had low progesterone due to cortisol levels?


Hoping someone on here can maybe assist my confusion.

Comments for Hormone imbalances and ongoing issues

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Jan 20, 2021
 Hormone imbalances and ongoing issues
by: Joy

Hi Alexandra

I am so happy to read that you eventually were able to have children. When hormones are not balanced it causes too many problems. It's a pity you were given oral progesterone, it's not the best delivery system. Please see this page on
Progesterone application Methods. A good organic progesterone cream such as Natpro is far better.

It sounds to me as though you could be suffering from PND, please read the page on Pregnancy. Progesterone therapy will definitely help you. As soon as your cycle returns to normal and is regular, then use progesterone during your luteal phase. The How to use Progesterone Cream page will explain things in more detail. Using progesterone for a month is not going to help you. Vitex has estrogenic properties which could increase estrogen levels which is not what you need. However, if it helped you then that is wonderful.
Jan 22, 2021
 Thanks for your reply again
by: Anonymous

Thanks again for your response.
I have been tested in the past, years ago and my progesterone was "not exactly low but low in relation to my oestrogen" so progesterone wasn't keeping pesteogen in check she said and then oestrogen was dominating? Haven't been tested since and I'm not sure if there's much point testing while breastfeeding as oxytocin lowers both oestrogen and progesterone? But I feel shit? So it's so confusing what to do.
I've never heard of a d-chiro-inositol test, what is that? Should I be asking for that
Jan 25, 2021
 Thanks for your reply again
by: Joy

Hi Alex

The important thing about testing progesterone:estrogen is the ratio between the two. It should be around 600:1 making progesterone the dominant hormone which is what is needed at all times. The Hormone Testing page explains this in more detail. Hormones are all over the place when breastfeeding. You need to use progesterone correctly as posted previously. Remember that it can take time.

I haven't heard of tests for d-chiro-inositol either. Things change so quickly though. I really didn't know that they did that. Inositol comes in two forms, either myo- or D-chiro-inositol. Opinions differ which is the best, although it appears the myo- is.

Inositol helps with so many other things too. If you are not taking it perhaps you should consider it. Increases the action of insulin and decreases insulin resistance. It has a calming affect, helps in combating depression, panic attacks, mood swings, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Helps reduce cholesterol levels, hardening of the arteries, removes fat from the liver. Improves ovulation, decreases serum androgen concentrations, blood pressure, and plasma triglyceride concentrations in polycystic ovary syndrome. Weight loss has been observed in patients taking it. High losses occur in diabetes, used for diabetic neuropathy, insomnia, cancer, hair growth (known as the anti-alopecia vitamin).

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