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Progesterone Questions that I can't seem to find answers to on your site

by Amanda
(Houston, TX)

Hi

I've been using natural progesterone cream for about a year and a half and have slowly been increasing the amount I'm using. I'm 45 and have been in perimenopause since around 2017. I will have sporadic spotting, although in May, I had a decent enough bleed to actually use tampons again. Other than a bit of vaginal dryness, I don't have menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, brain fog, etc. I have a few questions that I can't seem to find answers to on your site and I've read everything there is to read.

When using natural progesterone, you advocate for a pretty high dosage per day. For a woman who's estrogen levels are slowly declining as menopause approaches, then is the point to become progesterone dominant by using a continuously high dosage with no breaks different from what Dr. Lee would recommend (24-26 days on with 5-7 days off each month) and I only mention him because he was one of the few out there, other than this site to give a really in depth information about the usage of natural progesterone cream. Doesn't becoming progesterone dominant have its own set of side effects? And from what I understand, after menopause a woman's estrogen levels are very low, so would high dosages still be needed, because is there such a thing as estrogen dominance if a woman's levels are menopausal and there is no more excessively heavy periods and other symptoms of estrogen dominance.

And, can a natural progesterone cream that's fragrance free like Nat Pro or Emerita be safely put in the vagina without causing a disruption of the normal vaginal flora? I've heard the vagina compared to a self cleaning oven. If the cream is safe to put in the vagina, what is the best way to administer it? Can you just put the amount on your finger and put it inside yourself? Or does it have to go deeper into the vagina to be effective?

Thank you, I look forward to your response!

Comments for Progesterone Questions that I can't seem to find answers to on your site

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Oct 05, 2022
 Progesterone Questions that I can't seem to find answers to on your site
by: Joy

Hi Amanda

I am sure that you have read the page of Peri-Menopause.  A missed period for 12 months with no spotting/bleeding at all puts you in Menopause.  Try inserting some Natpro progesterone cream in your vagina at night it will help with the dryness.  Just add a little of your finger night and insert in your vagina. That is all that is needed.  If you prefer, use an applicator.  If using another brand, make sure that the ingredients used don't cause irritation.  A reminder that progesterone must be used no less than twice a day, half the amount in the morning and the other half at night. 

When you say a high dose, what is that?  Usually between 100-200mg is needed.  More may be needed, it is dependent on symptoms.  Some use as much as 800mg.  TBI sufferers are given 1200mg per day.  Using less than 100mg will aggravate estrogen receptors, not what any woman wants. The aim of progesterone therapy is to make progesterone the dominant hormone at all times.   Again, I am sure that you have read the estrogen dominance page. The moment one stops using progesterone, all adverse symptoms will return as estrogen starts to become dominant again.

If you have a regular monthly cycle or TTC, then of course, use progesterone by following your cycle, luteal phase. It becomes rather difficult to use progesterone by following your cycle once in Peri-Menopause as the monthly cycle starts to become erratic and difficult to follow. I don't think Dr Lee mentioned this.

Hope this helps.
Oct 05, 2022
 Miss McFadden
by: Ilene

Hi joy , I have stopped body identical hrt altogether. Is it safe to take utrogestan on its own as I am so unsure about this ? I have bought wellsprings natural progesterone because of the uncertainty? I still have menopausal symptoms, headache/migraine& the dry eyes & sore mouth & gums which are the most problematic, other symptoms I can handle better . Can you advise please , many thanks ilene
Oct 06, 2022
 Miss MacFadden
by: Joy

Hi Ilene

I'm pleased that you have stopped HRT. All drug based HRT's have a potential to cause harm as already mentioned. I do hope that you weaned off slowly, it's much kinder on the body that way. One should do this at the same time as using progesterone to give the body support.

Utrogestan, if oral, is not the best Delivery Method as around 96% gets destroyed by the gut and liver. The little that you are getting is merely aggravating estrogen receptors. Please make sure that whatever brand you decide to use equates to that of Natpro Progesterone Cream. Advice given here is based on Natpro which is a 3 % cream and was formulated over 30 years ago. I think I may have mentioned this to you before. This explains why you are still battling with estrogen dominance symptoms.

Best of luck.
Nov 25, 2022
 I'm the Original Poster - Follow up
by: Amanda

I recently began using a very small amount of natural progesterone cream in my vagina and have been having somewhat of a period for the past 2 weeks and now I found out from my normal, no HPV pap test that I have a yeast infection. I've been itching like mad down there and I've never had a yeast infection ever until shortly after I began putting the cream in the vagina. I was prescribed the one dose antifungal, Flucazone (not sure of correct spelling), which I took Tuesday afternoon. I was afraid of the cream disrupting the ph or flora of the vagina which was why I was so hesitant to do it. has anyone else gotten a yeast infection after using natural progesterone in the vagina?
Nov 26, 2022
 I'm the Original Poster - Follow up
by: Amanda

Hi Amanda

Sounds like you have Candida and progesterone is excellent for this, it certainly doesn't cause it as explained on the page. What cream are you using? Some creams may contain an ingredient that could cause irritation.

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