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Progesterone Questions

I am 41 years old women who has suffered from a hormonal imbalance since the birh of my 2 year old son. I have been through so many doctors to get it under control. Only thing I have seen that has made a little difference has been the progesterone pills.
But do all the progesterone pills have peanut oil in them? Because I am getting a new prescription now for 200mg progesterone capsules but without peanut oil, because I was unaware they were made with peanut oil. I have had a peanut allergy in the past, so want to stay away from it now. This will be the strongest dosage I have ever tried. Would you recommend taking capsules for the entire month or just on days 14-28?

I have all the severe symptoms of estrogen dominance. Anger, joint aches, dizziness, headaches, depression, crying, breast tenderness, severe anxiety, sleep problems, low self esteem. Plus I have a gluten allergy. I have avoided gluten now for 10 months.

Do you suggest taking a higher doasge of progesterone over the 200mg for severe symptoms? Can you have side effects from too much progesterone?

Thanks for your feedback,

TG

Comments for Progesterone Questions

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Aug 25, 2013
 Progesterone Questions
by: Joy

Hi there

Well all over this site it is mentioned that oral progesterone is NOT the best delivery method - see here. 95% of the progesterone is destroyed by the gut and liver. Please consider changing to a cream but one that contains the correct progesterone concentration with no parabens.

All your symptoms are very clearly caused by excess estrogen and because you are not using enough progesterone.

Hope this helps.
Aug 26, 2013
 Progesterone Questions
by: Wray

Hi TG As Joy has pointed out, oral progesterone is the least effective Delivery system, "The liver and gut region removed a mean of 96 per cent of the progesterone entering these tissues", see here. Which is why they've only made a little difference to you. This page will give you an idea of how many systems there are, but only 3 affective ones. You do have all the symptoms of oestrogen dominance, but in your case it's caused by the precipitous decline in progesterone after birth. You have post natal depression and far larger amounts than 200mg/day, even in a form which is absorbed well, is needed. I had PND and wished I'd known about progesterone. It always amazes me most progesterone capsules are made with peanut oil, when it's high on the allergens list. You would probably need about 800mg/day progesterone, and would need to use it daily for at least 3 to 6 months, maybe longer, see here. Scroll to PND if you don't want to read the entire page. You will also require high doses of all the calming amino acids and vitamins, progesterone alone won't be sufficient unless you use very much more. Please read our page on Anxiety to get an idea of what they are. I'm pleased you're avoiding gluten, in fact all grains should be avoided as they upset blood glucose, another cause of anxiety and depression. To learn more about progesterone please see our pages on Pregnancy, Menstruation and How to use progesterone cream. Take care Wray
Aug 28, 2013
 Progesterone question - quinoa
by: Caroline

Hi Wray, with respect to your "avoiding all grains" comment above, would you consider Quinoa to be safe? I cook organic gluten free quinoa for my dog who can't do grains but since my recent hormonal explosion, although i have a fairly decent diet, I've been trying to cut all all grains (rice - although i think rice is gluten free), spelt pasta (i don't believe it is gluten free), etc. would Quinoa be safe for those who can't have gluten or wheat.

Grateful for your insight and support.
Caroline
Aug 28, 2013
 Progesterone question - quinoa
by: Wray

Hi Caroline I love quinoa! It isn't a grain either but a member of the amaranth family, or more correctly a chenopodium. It doesn't contain gluten, it has a higher protein content at 14.12g/100g than wheat at 9.61g/100g. It has more oil, 10.32g/100g than wheat with 1.95g/100g. But higher carbs at 109.07g/100g than wheat 74.48g/100g. All this info comes from the USDA food database, an excellent site. So if gluten is the only problem, then it's fine. But if trying to loose weight, or avoid carbs, then it should be avoided. As should all grains, it's the carbs which affect us badly, gluten is but one problem. Take care Wray
Aug 29, 2013
 Progesterone
by: TG

Does taking an anti-depressant along with the progesterone help with depression? I have severe anxiety and doctors as telling me to take an anxiety pill along with anti-depressant and of course the progesterone. Any suggestions on the anti-depressant or anxiety medication? I do not want to be on these medications because of the side effects but cant snap out of the depression along with the hormone imbalance.

Thanks!

TG
Aug 30, 2013
 Amount of progesterone
by: Mikendra

Hello! I have been a believer of natural progesterone for a couple of years now. I have been using the Natures precise cream and have not had a problem except for the amount that I have to use for 400 mg. I think that the Natpro is more concentrated, but I am having a hard time figuring out how long a tube would last me if I am using 400 mg daily? Could you help? I have a severe case of PCOS and the only way the symptoms disappear and stay away is to use 400mg daily so I would like to find a more concentrated cream. Thanks!
Aug 30, 2013
 Progesterone and Anxiety
by: Joy

Hi TG

Depression, anxiety both dreadful things and quite often are brought on by medication/drugs i.e. HRT and the Contraceptive Pill, both have a potential to cause harm. Are you on the Pill or HRT? Of course circumstances in one's life also cause depression so to does Peri-Menopause and Menopause.

Progesterone will help a lot as it will balance out hormones but it can't do it on it's own it needs help in the form of calming amino acids such as:

GABA 100mg
Glutamine 4000mg
Glycine 1000mg
Taurine 2000mg
Tyrosine 1000mg
Inositol 4000mg
Vitamin D3 5000iu

Quite often a Vitamin D deficiency can cause depression, do you know what you level is? Please read more on progesterone and vitamin D - see here.

I hope this has helped you but I am sure that Wray will explain further.

Take care.
Aug 31, 2013
 Amount of progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Mikendra Yes the Natpro is stronger, it has 33.3mg per millilitre, the one you're using contains 16mg/ml. You would need 12ml of Natpro to get 400mg progesterone, or just under 2.5 tsp. I'm pleased you're using such a high amount, but progesterone alone won't be enough, see our page on PCOS. It's caused by oxidative stress and large amount of antioxidants are needed to reverse it. These will help with the symptoms too. Please have a vitamin D test done, it's low in most people and is needed by every cell to function normally. Apart from which a low level reduces the benefits of progesterone. You should find once it's high you'll need less progesterone. Thanks for considering the Natpro, let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Aug 31, 2013
 Progesterone
by: Wray

Hi TG The antidepressant won't affect the progesterone if you wish to take one, but you're not suffering from an antidepressant deficiency. You need to replace the missing nutrients. They are listed on the anxiety page. It could be you have too much copper, this can cause PND. Zinc counteracts copper, so too does progesterone. Whereas oestrogen raises copper, both these suppress zinc, see copper and Alternative Mental Health. You will need large amounts of progesterone too. Take care Wray

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