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I am at my wit's end with my period

by Jennifer
(Myrtle Beach, SC)

Dear Wray,

I have been reading your advice for a couple years now. I can't get on top of my irregular periods and I'm at my wit's end with it. I'm tired of bleeding and don't want to be anemic.

I just turned 46, I'm a single parent. When I started to spot between periods and bleed during sex I found your site. I then started on progesterone cream - only about 40 mg a day. I'm very estrogen dominant and I think I've been this way since I started my period when I was 13. My period was always very heavy. Since I was a teenager my period has always come after 21-26 days, I could never count on it coming the same day every month.

My boyfriend and I broke up January 1 after an on again-off again relationship for 2 1/2 years but this time I told him never to come back. It seems that since then I'm bleeding bright blood with a little clotting for two weeks on, one week off, two weeks on, one week off and it just started again today. My breasts have been sore nonstop for 2 months and I cry almost every day because I'm having a hard time with this breakup. I feel a migraine coming on about once a week but its not a full fledged migraine anymore just a bad headache that ibuprofen can get rid of, not like before. When I started the spotting I upped my progesterone cream dosage to 1 1/2 tsp a day = approximately 132 mg. When I stopped spotting last week, I upped it to 2 tsps a day applying it twice a day. In the last month I've been taking 1 TB of blackstrap unsulphured molasses a day, 10000 IUs a day of D3, magnesium, 1800 mg of NAC (it comes in 600 mg capsules). I just bought a bottle of taurine two days ago and am taking 2000 mg a day. I exercise (lift weights and cardio) regularly.

The last couple years I was using the cream days 12-26, although there were several times when I didn't know the difference between the spotting between periods and having another period only two weeks after the last one. Since I broke up with my boyfriend I've been using the cream every day.

I don't know whether cortisol has caused this frequent spotting/bleeding or if the fact I'm using the cream every day has my body not knowing when to shed the lining.

Thank you so much for your advice in advance!





Comments for I am at my wit's end with my period

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Feb 26, 2013
 I am at my wit's end with my period
by: Wray

Hi Jennifer The stress you are going through now, and have been for 2 1/2 years would cause your cortisol to rise. As you know this is made in the adrenals, but first they produce progesterone which is then converted to cortisol. If stressed the adrenals rob other sources, notably ovarian. So the reproductive system is affected badly. In fact stress can stop ovulation, so progesterone is not secreted. I have found in general, 400mg/day progesterone is needed to stop bleeding. It seems you are using a cream which contains about 16-17mg progesterone per ml of cream, or 22mg per 1/4 tsp. If I'm correct you would need to use nearly 5tsp of cream. I'm pleased you're taking the vitamin D, NAC and taurine too. It will take time before these have any affect. Under the circumstances, using the cream daily is a good idea. Trying to follow a cycle would be impossible. You are also in Peri-menopause when cycles become very erratic anyway. I have found the combo you're taking has helped all but one woman, maybe there is a missing nutrient I haven't found yet. I only discovered the taurine link about 18 months ago. Years ago I read an anecdote about Italian women chewing on lemons to stop heavy and/or continual bleeding, probably due to the vitamin C and flavonoids. I have just followed up on this and found a study. Unfortunately it doesn't even have an abstract, see here. In fact there are a few studies but none of them have an abstract. But Alan Gaby has written a resume of one, see here. Flavonoids suppress prostaglandins, thromboxane, and prostacyclines, all inflammatory substances. Apparently they also reduce capillary weakness too. So if the combo I've suggested doesn't help, or takes too long, please add in the flavonoids. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Feb 26, 2013
 I am at my wit's end with my period
by: Jennifer

Thank you so much for getting back to me, Wray.

Have you written a book about all that you know? I would buy it.

Two more quick questions -
Have you heard anything about the benefits of blackstrap molasses? The reason I started taking it is because I saw on earthclinic.com the benefits of taking it for women that had continuous menstrual bleeding and taking it to prevent becoming anemic. It has a ton of minerals in it.

When should I stop taking 400 mg of progesterone? I'm a single parent and although this is priority to me, its expensive as you already know.
Mar 01, 2013
 I am at my wit's end with my period
by: Jennifer

I wanted to show this to you about a Veterinarian's findings regarding estrogen overload in dogs (as well as humans) causing cancer: see here.
Mar 03, 2013
 I am at my wit's end with my period
by: Wray

Hi Jennifer You made me laugh about writing a book! My brother keeps telling me to do one too. I have written about 200 text pages on the site, he suggests putting them altogether into one, possibly an e-book. I am thinking about it. I don't know enough about molasses to make a comment, other than I don't like it! I think if earthclinic.com suggests it, then try it and see if it helps. I'd be interested to hear. Except you're taking the other things I suggested so you won't really know. To help you with the cost of the progesterone please see our page here, and compare prices. It's difficult to say when to reduce the amount, best is when you feel stable. Do so very slowly, no more than 20mg each time. That vet's finding was fascinating, thanks for sending it through. I particularly appreciated this bit......"Elevated estrogen also causes inflammation of the cells that line the arteries in the body. This is important to note due to the concern that inflammation causes many catastrophic diseases to occur in the body" He's so right about oestrogen causing inflammation, it increases free radicals. And inflammation does cause "catastrophic diseases to occur in the body". They're finding so many of our diseases are caused by oxidative stress, which leads to Inflammation. They now think obesity is caused by it, depression too. I wish I could get everyone to take high doses of vitamin D, plus the other potent antioxidants too, the most effective being the amino acids. Maybe we should all be going to vets instead of doctors! Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray

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