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NatPro and hot flashes, period post menopause

by Andrea
(Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)

I am 53 and in menopause (over a year since my last period, perimenopause my periods were very long and heavy after having very regular and normal periods).
I have been having intense hot flashes for a few years now. I tried many herbal and natural remedies with no success. I started taking NatPro a month ago. I took 400mL for the first week and my hot flashes were almost non existent. Week 2 I started to decrease the dosage to 300mL and then I got a very heavy period for one week. I've continued taking 300mL. I've been getting some spotting week 4 and my hot flashes have returned but not as severe as I've been experiencing prior to taking NatPro. I am not sure what to do now for dosage... should I go back up to 400 or more until the flashes have subsided? Or should I continue at 200 or 300 and wait to see if they decrease over time? I am unsure how to proceed.

Comments for NatPro and hot flashes, period post menopause

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Jul 10, 2023
 NatPro and hot flashes, period post menopause
by: Joy

Hi Andrea

You reduced too soon, especially as you state that your Hot Flushes were almost gone.  You also reduced it by too much in the beginning.  Between 400-500mg Natpro progesterone cream is needed for about 5 days or until they disappear completely.  Only then should it be reduced.  Reduce by 50mg at a time giving a few days (3/4 days) on the reduced amount, then reduce again and so on.

The heavy bleeding often happens.  A sign that progesterone is doing it's thing.  It has cleaned out the lining of the uterus which is estrogen build up.  Your body is also adjusting to progesterone therapy, so the spotting doesn't concern me either.  Time and patience is needed with progesterone therapy. 

Go back to 400mg per day, if it takes too long, then increase to 500mg and continue as mentioned above.  

Is your Vitamin D3 level optimal? It should be between 70-100ng/ml. A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone and is connected to every single functioning cell in our bodies. Cofactors are needed.
Jul 10, 2023
 Bloating amd weight gain?
by: Anonymous

Hello, will this amount cause bloating? I hear high amounts can cause that. Also, my flashes are about 10 per day I have even done high amounts progesterone creme with no luck. Inalso haven't had a period in more than 6 months. I'm in my 40's with everything youblisted at normal levels. Thank you.
Jul 11, 2023
 Bloating and weight gain?
by: Joy

Can you post where you read that progesterone in high amounts causes bloating. There are a lot of Progesterone Misconceptions out there, mostly by uninformed people.

You need to look at other things like what you are eating and using. Omega 3 and DIM can cause bloating. DIM usually activates estrogen receptors initially, which would cause the bloating. Are you taking these?

You could have an insulin problem, has this been tested? If too much insulin is released because too much sugar is eaten or too long an interval is left between meals, blood sugar can drop below the critical baseline. The result is an outpouring of adrenaline which causes sugar stored in other cells in the body to pour into the blood bringing the level up again. As the sugar drains out it is replaced by water, causing bloating and weight gain. Too much adrenaline can bring on an attack of panic, migraine, epilepsy and other symptoms.

If you are using or were using 400-500mg progesterone for about a week and your hot flushes are getting worse, then you need to use that amount until they are gone as explained on this post. The Hot Flushes page mentioned on this thread explains things.

You are in Peri-Menopause which causes havoc to the monthly cycle. I feel you are too young to be in full blown Menopause. A missed period for 12 months puts one there. The thing to remember about progesterone therapy is that it is a life long commitment, the moment you stop, all adverse symptoms come back. It can take 2 - 6 months before the body adjusts to progesterone, longer if symptoms are severe. How long have you been using Natpro for?

What is your Vitamin D3 level? The importance of it has been explained below.

Take care.
Jul 11, 2023
 Thx!
by: Andrea

Thank you! I have gone back up to 400 but am still get the flashes. I’ll try 500 and wait and see, then slowly decrease once they are gone. So grateful for this website and the knowledge! It’s very difficult to find good information concerning how to use NatPro.
Thank you so much!
Jul 14, 2023
 Hot flushes
by: Anonymous

I agree this site is the only place to get useful information. I am struggling to reduce, the minute I do, my hot flashes come back. As I understand it, estrogen levels fluctuate wildly during peri, while prgesterone levels plummet. So I'm hoping that as the estrogen comes down, and balance is restored, I can reduce the amount of Progesterone cream. Wishing you all the best!
Jul 17, 2023
 anna's wild yam cream
by: Andrea G

So I've gone back up to 500ML per day and my hot flashes, although less than it's been the last few years, are still coming. I get about 6 per day. I will continue with the higher dosage until they are completely gone. I am wondering if it's ok or would be helpful to add Anna's Wild Yam Cream in as well? I was going to try the cream before I heard of Nat Pro, but they were out of stock until now.
Wondering if I should still order some and try both at the same time? Or stick to Nat pro for now?
Thank you! Greatly appreciate your advice and knowledge.
Jul 18, 2023
 Hot Flushes
by: Joy

Hi there, thanks for your post. The thing to understand about progesterone is that what works for one may not another. One has to experiment to see what works best for you. The beauty of the cream is that it can be used as needed. Increase the amount used during rough patches.

Progesterone levels fluctuate during the month especially if one has a normal monthly cycle. Peri-Menopause and Menopause would be the same thing, listen to your body and use accordingly. Please see the How to use Progesterone Cream page. You will notice a graph indicating how progesterone levels change during the month.

Take care.
Jul 18, 2023
 anna's wild yam cream
by: Joy

Hi Andrea G

Just to be clear, that would be 500mg and NOT 500ML?

I am not really a fan of Anna's. Very little is explained about the ingredients etc.

Vitex is estrogenic. We need to try and avoid as many estrogenic things as possible, not add to estrogen dominance symptoms. If soy is not synthesized correctly then it's not natural progesterone. Once synthesized it turns into natural progesterone, the same that our body makes. It should also state that it is USP, if not, then it would not be natural progesterone. I find it a little misleading to be honest.

You could always try it and see if it works for you.
Jul 22, 2023
 Still have hot flashes
by: Andrea G

Sorry! Yes! 500mg

So like I mentioned in the original message, my hot flashes almost disappeared after the first few weeks of taking NatPro 500mg. I lowered the dosage, got a heavy period for a week, hot flashes came back, went back up to 500mg a day for almost a month now but my hot flashes are still bad. Should I just keep going with 500mg? Is it ok to take so much for an extended period of time?
I was so happy I finally found something that works for the flashes but now I’m back to square one.
Vitamin D levels are good.
Jul 24, 2023
 Still have hot flushes
by: Joy

Hi Andrea

I find it most odd that 500mg is not helping you especially when it did before. Have you looked at possible things that could be causing your progesterone level to drop? Such as ....

lack of or drop in Vitamin D3 levels
high estrogen
high testosterone
high LH
high FSH sugars of any kind
large meals
alcohol
stress
insulin resistance
high level of phytoestrogens in the diet

Have you had your Insulin Resistance level tested. This can also cause hot flushes. I mentioned this before.

Diet is so very important. Wheat is particularly bad as is sugar, in fact all carbs should be avoided as much as possible. It is perfectly fine to continually use 500mg per day, many use more. It's all dependent on symptoms.

Other than what I have already advised, there is not much more I can add to help you.
Jul 25, 2023
 Thank you
by: Andrea

Yes. All my levels are fine. I’ve gone through all the testing. I will try the low carb diet to see and continue with 500mg daily. Fingers crossed! Thanks again for your advice.
Jul 26, 2023
 Using more
by: Anonymous

Hi, it may be helpful to know that I’m currently using more than 500mg, and I get relief this way. Estrogen levels fluctuate during perimenopause so you may be experiencing an estrogen surge - for whatever reason. Find the level of progesterone supplementation that works and stick at it for a long time. When I try and reduce too quickly I end up needing more in the long run. I hope that helps

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