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Oral Progesterone Stopped Working

by Amadea
(Dallas, TX)

I'm 34 years old and I've never had a normal period. I was on birth control pills all through high school and college. When I was 24 I decided I didn't want to be on them anymore and then my body went crazy. At first I got terrible acne but was able to get rid of it with nutrition. I would have somewhat heavy periods and spotting in between periods, but the periods themselves were pretty regular.

When I went to the doctors about spotting, they never found anything physically wrong and said all they could do was give me birth control. I didn't want to do that again so I was trying to educate myself and get healthy. Taking vitamins/minerals and watching my diet always helped with other health issues but nothing seemed to help the spotting, which was getting worse.

Finally, last May I found a doctor who tested all of my hormones and she said my estrogen levels were normal but my progesterone levels were very low so she prescribed oral progesterone. I take 100mg day 1-14, and 200mg day 15-28. I noticed a drastic improvement after one month. After a few months the spotting was gone and my periods were not heavy at all. Everything was great and I felt like I finally had a handle on a problem I've been dealing with for pretty much my entire adult life. Then last month, it's like it suddenly stopped working. One week after my period, I started spotting again and continued until my next period. Once my period ended, I was fine and now today, which is about one week after my period ended, I noticed some slight cramping, and I've started spotting again.

I have been drinking a little more coffee lately and haven't been working out as much due to the quarantine, but I wouldn't think it would completely reverse the benefits of the progesterone.

I am trying to schedule an appointment with my doctor but she isn't seeing anyone right now due to Covid. This is so frustrating.

Comments for Oral Progesterone Stopped Working

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Jun 29, 2020
 Oral Progesterone Stopped Working
by: Joy

Hi Amadea

I am so pleased that you stopped taking the birth control. All drug based Contraceptives have the potential to cause harm. It can take the body a long time to recover after taking them. Contraceptives also add the Estrogen Dominance. Please take note of estrogen dominance symptoms which usually occur when first using progesterone.

Oral progesterone is not the best Delivery Method as around 96% gets destroyed by the gut and liver, a cream is for more effective. Please consider trying a good organic progesterone cream such as Natpro. Between 100-200mg is needed, more maybe needed it all depends on how severe symptoms. Use every day with NO breaks until the body adjusts and things return to normal again. Once that happens you can use the cream by following your cycle which would be your luteal phase. Please read How to use Progesterone cream for more information on this. Progesterone therapy does take time to work, time and patience is needed. It can take 2-6 months before positive results are seen. If used correctly it will help you.
Jul 04, 2020
 Oral progesterone stopped working
by: Amadea

Thanks so much for your reply, Joy. I did buy the Natpro and am excited to try it once it arrives. Would you recommend I just stop the oral progesterone and replace with the cream, or should I wean myself off the oral over time?
Jul 06, 2020
 Oral Progesterone Stopped Working
by: Joy

Hi Amadea

There is no need to wean off oral, just start using the cream. Use half the amount in the morning and the other half at night. This will enable progesterone levels to remain stable, using only once a day will cause levels to spike.

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