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Progesterone cream use during period

by JR
(HI)

Hello,

I am 51 years old and have my cycle every 27 - 28 days for the last four years of tracking. Recently, I've had more symptoms of estrogen dominance:

-migraine before period
-migraine after period
-bloating
-insomnia
-dry, cracked heels
-heavy periods with clots
-OVER 40 LBS of weight gain (regardless of healthy eating habits & exercise)
-peeling lips
-cystic acne on chin
-left-side nervy back ache
-male pattern hair loss
-panicky breathing/tightness (goes away when I apply cream)

I can't tell if I'm having a regular cycle and just not producing enough progesterone, or whether I am in menopause, based on my symptoms. Here are my questions:

1. Can I use progesterone cream during my cycle?

2. Should I use progesterone cream right after my period ends, following a menopause regimen (day 6-27)?

3. The brand I use Contains 2000 mg of Micronized Progesterone (Certified USP) in a 4 ounce pump; ~21mg of Progesterone USP per serving; based on this, how much should I use given the symptoms I have?

Thanks for your help!

JR

Comments for Progesterone cream use during period

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Oct 01, 2018
 Progesterone cream use during period
by: Joy

Hi JR

You are in Peri-Menopause which can be a terrible time. A missed period for 12 months puts one in Menopause. Please read the How to use Progesterone Cream and Estrogen Dominance pages. The Hair Loss page may also help you.

The following protocol has helped so many women with heavy periods and clotting, you might consider trying it:

* Natpro - 400mg to 500mg per day.
* N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) - 2000mg per day.
* Taurine - 2000mg per day.
* Vitamin D3 - 5000iu's per day more if vitamin D3 level is low.
* Bioflavanoids - 1000mg per day

You should be using every day with no breaks. Once the heavy bleeding is under control you can slowly reduce. Between 100-200mg progesterone is needed.

Vitamin D3 is very important. A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone, optimal range is between 70-100ng/mL. Nothing less than 5,000iu's is needed daily. Co-factors are needed when taking D3, magnesium and vitamin K2 with no soy are the important ones.
Oct 04, 2018
 Progesterone Use During Period
by: Anonymous

Thank you for your response.
So, even if I get me period, I should use the progesterone cream?
Oct 15, 2018
 To use or not to use progesterone during period
by: Anonymous

Hello,

Am I glad to be here. It has been a journey and well, I think there should be counseling services set up for women to warn them well before peri/meno pause set in!

I am a 46 yo from New Zealand and have a wonderful naturopathic/homeopath/General Practitioner as my Dr., he is grand. None the less I am confused with the process since starting progesterone and the regime along with conflicting information gathered from my Dr., pharmaceutical compounding company I get my cream from and online sites for women living within perimenopause.

My symptoms are as follows (I've always been on a regular 28 day cycle):

41 yo missed 1 period and began with hot flashes on and off.

42 hot flashes for a few months and mood swings yet regular cycle.

43 heavy periods diagnosed with fibroids and anemia began to be the norm.

44 periods still regular yet heavy with flooding and clots began.

45 offered a hysterectomy yet declined and went for the natural route with vitex, dim, upped my vitd3/A and had hospital visit with high blood pressure and panicky feelings via thyroid.

Along with my Drs. help we began BIHRT of progesterone April this year 2018 at 20mg a day for 3 months, then I asked to be upped to a higher dose and my Dr. said lets go slow and I began at 80 mg for the passed 3 months and now we just got it to 200mg 2 weeks ago.

So that's me yet my question is...how do I take this? My Dr. said take it 3 weeks on and one week off. So I started taking it as soon as I got it in the post exactly 1 week before my period was supposed to start October 12th. I took my 200mg of cream on my skin for one day and the very next day I started my period a week early!

It was the nicest period I've had in years and felt like all my periods pre 44 yo and it only lasted 4-5 days instead of 2 weeks with spotting in between :) I stayed on the cream through my period even though I know I'm supposed to stop it once a period starts yet I was desperate to feel better. I had a Drs. app 5 days after beginning this 200mg and he said since my period came early perhaps I should be off the cream for 2 weeks of the month!?

This panicked me as I really want to find the middle ground. So I stopped the cream and 2 days later started on the 12th like I was supposed to with flooding and clots instantly and on the 5th day its subsiding to just spotting finally.

I have been off the cream now for 6 days with one day having a bit on my stomach for cramps yet I really could use the help to understand what is right for my situation please please. What do you ladies know to be the best protocol for this situation? I feel I have only gotten on to the right dosage now after 6 months of not much change and my Dr. says its crucial to have that week or 2 off cream to let my uterus lining heal and work again. Which I don't fully understand either.

Thanks for your time and apologize for the rant....It's been 5 years of this roller coaster so I really appreciate this site :-)

Cheers from NZ- AEM
Oct 16, 2018
 Progesterone use during period
by: Joy

Hi JR

As you are in Peri-Menopause it is best to use the cream every day with no breaks. Should your monthly cycle become regular i.e. a 28 day cycle, then you can use the cream by following your cycle as explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page. It can take 2-6 months before the body adjusts.
Oct 16, 2018
 To use or not to use progesterone during period
by: Joy

Hi AEM

I received your email but will reply here. Peri-Menopause can be terrible for some women. This is a time when the monthly cycle becomes erratic, hot flashes, heavy bleeding/clots etc occurs. As explained in the posts above, progesterone therapy is not an overnight thing, it can take 2-6 months before the body adjust, sometimes longer. Even though you have been using progesterone for 6 months, you haven't been using the correct amount. You really should use the cream every day until your cycle becomes regular. Peri-Menopause usually doesn't allow this to happen which is another reason to use the cream every day. It should be used no less than twice a day, half in the morning and the other half at night. I suggest that you use the cream every day from now on until things improve for you. If your cycle returns to normal then you can use the cream by following your monthly cycle as explained in the How to use Progesterone Cream page.

Between 100-200mg progesterone is needed, anything less will aggravate your estrogen receptors making your adverse symptoms worse. The 20mg suggested by your doctor is incorrect.

I am pleased that you are taking vitamin D3, as deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone, optimal range is between 70-100ng/mL. Nothing less than 5,000iu's is needed daily. Co-factors are needed when taking D3, magnesium and vitamin K2 with no soy are the important ones.
Oct 17, 2018
 Thank you Joy
by: AEM

This is great to hear! I will begin this exactly and keep you posted as I go if thats ok ;-)

I do have a couple questions in regards to your comments:

1) What do you mean stay on the cream day and night everyday at 100mg-200mg until my cycle/period is regular? (My periods are on a regular 28 day cycle) So does regular mean when my period is not heavy and clot filled? Mr Dr. said take 200mg half morning half in the evening.

2) Why did my Dr. say to have the cream only 2 weeks of the month for my uterus lining to heal and have its own rhythm?

3) As well I read somewhere to only have progesterone in the mornings so as to still keep my body producing its own in the evenings? (I assume I'm not at a healthy level enough to even consider this worth trying to build on my own anyhow)

4) What signs will I see to know its time to decrease my dosage and how do I do this come the time?

I really appreciate your expertise, It's a blessing for us many that haven't full support for during this very sensitive time :-)

PS I have started my 2000mg NCL a day and am on a very powerful chelated micronutrient for my co-factors along with dim, Vitex and herbal adaptogens...along with being on the right dose of 200mg a day I'm sure I will see much better improvement over time

Thanks again to all here AEM
Oct 18, 2018
 Thank you Joy
by: Joy

Hi AEM

It is best to use the cream every day until the body adjusts and adverse symptoms have cleared, in your case clotting. Often the monthly cycle becomes irregular when first using progesterone. You can of course use the cream by following your cycle if you prefer. As you have a 28 day cycle you would use the cream at day 14 as explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page. Some women find relief on 100mg progesterone, others on 200mg, it would be up to you to experiment to see what suits you. I do agree with your doctor to use 200mg.

I am not sure what your doctor means about your lining needing to heal. Progesterone helps to clear the lining which is caused by excess estrogen.

To only use the cream in the morning is incorrect. I have not heard of the body producing it's own progesterone in the evenings, what nonsense, the body produces progesterone all the time. The idea to use mornings and evenings is to keep progesterone levels stable.

Once all your adverse symptoms clear and you feel stable, then you can reduce the amount of cream used to an amount that suits you, but never less than 100mg.

Take care.
Oct 19, 2018
 Thanks Joy
by: Anonymous

Great Joy...thanks for the follow up. I do not agree with taking it only in the mornings either or with my cycle at present, it just doesn't feel enough so I'm glad to hear my instincts were correct ;-)

I will stay on 200mg a day 1/2 in the morning and the other half....what time do you suggest?

Then as my symptoms and cycle get more stable I will reduce to a 100mg a day...and even then split the does in 1/2 per am and pm?

Cheers again.... have read many of the files yet there is nothing like getting to discuss ones personal issues properly so its greatly appreciated once again.

Thanks-AEM
May 22, 2022
 New to Progesterone Cream. Please help!
by: SamIam

I am a 40 year old, healthy female athlete. No kids and a regular 28 day cycle. Over the past 3 years my cycles have become shorter with extremely heavy flows and lots of clotting. My doctor (male) has focused on my high cortisol and slightly low thyroid, but I've been very adamant that hormones are at the root of many of my issues. I follow a very strict diet (Dr. Sarah Gottfried - The Hormone Cure) and I exercise vigorously 6x/week. As of the past 2 years I've noticed uncomfortable water retention and weight gain amidst my extremely healthy lifestyle. After years of being treated for everything but hormonal imbalance, I'm now going to start progesterone therapy (cream). All of my symptoms are classic estrogen dominance / low progesterone and my static blood tests 6months ago also reflected that (although still appeared on the low range of 'normal' on the labs). That said, I am currently on day 3 of an extremely heavy period and I'm wondering if I can / should start the cream today. I'm pairing with a DIM supplement as well. I am desperate to start to see results. The hypertension, brain fog, fatigue, "wired when tired' feelings, breast soreness now throughout the month, weight gain, etc. is unbearable at this point given my lifestyle and international job schedule. Where do you recommend I start as far as mg dosage and when should I start? Can I start now as I'm menstrating? Thank you so much!
May 23, 2022
 New to progesterone cream. Please help.
by: Joy

Hi Samlam

Your doctor would be correct in addressing your cortisol and thyroid which are both hormones.  I just can't understand why he didn't address estrogen, progesterone, testosterone etc.  I see that you had tests done 6 months ago, were these included?  If they were, what are your actual test results?  Low range of normal means nothing to me.  I need to know the results so that I can work out a correct ratio.  Whilst each result is important, it is the ratio between progesterone and estrogen that is important, see Hormone Testing .

Cortisol's prime function is to increase blood glucose, suppress the immune system, and aid in the metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrate. It also decreases bone formation, hence the danger of osteoporosis when taking corticosteroids.  Thyroid is extremely important and would account for your tender breasts.  Are you on medication and or taking iodine drops, selenium and tyrosine which are needed for a healthy thyroid.  

As you have worked out yourself you are suffering from Estrogen Dominance.  Please read the links already posted on this thread.  Make sure to read the How to use Progesterone Cream page carefully.  You are also in Peri-Menopause, again link already provided.  If your bleeding/clotting becomes excessive, the Heavy Bleeding Protocol mentioned has helped so many women.  Usually between 100-200mg progesterone cream is needed using a good quality organic cream such as Natpro which is a 3% cream and was formulated over 30 years ago.  If using another product, please adjust to equate to that of Natpro's 3%.  If you do try the Heavy Bleeding protocol, more cream is needed as mentioned until it improves.  I recommend that you start progesterone now with no breaks at all going forward.  Your monthly cycle will soon become erratic making it difficult to use during your luteal phase.  You are already showing signs that progesterone is needed every day.

Some women benefit from DIM but Calcium d Glucarate is far better.  Try and see if DIM works for you, if not switch to CdG.  While exercise is extremely important for our health, I am not convinced that it helps with hormonal issues.  If you have a reference indicating that it does, I'd be interested to read it.  Thanks.

Vitamin D3 is very important. A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone, optimal range is between 70-100ng/mL. Nothing less than 5,000iu's is needed daily. Cofactors are needed when taking D3, magnesium and vitamin K2 with no soy are the important ones.

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