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When to use progesterone cream?

by Tonia
(New Zealand)

I have a question. On your website you say that its best to use the Progesterone cream on the 14th day after your cycle begins correct? So around ovulation. BUT, I just read on the Wikipedia website this:

"In women, progesterone levels are relatively low during the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, rise after ovulation, and are elevated during the luteal phase. Progesterone levels tend to be < 2 ng/ml prior to ovulation, and > 5 ng/ml after ovulation."

So doesn’t it make more sense to use the cream in the weeks PRIOR to ovulation rather than AFTER ovulation? I don’t understand.

Comments for When to use progesterone cream?

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Nov 23, 2009
 When to use progesterone cream
by: Nicola england

I read your question with interest as I've just had some awful symptoms having stopped using the cream as initially advised (after my period) and I've now restarted using it with almost immediate benefits. I've decided to use the cream every day as I'm definitely much better than without it. I really did reap the benefits of the increased Progesterone levels-more like my old self -as for the information you've found on the web I don't know but can only tell you from having used the cream last month that it did me the world of good all the time I was using it!
Nov 25, 2009
 Can't take a break...
by: Shelley

Wray, please help. I am 43 years old and still having cycles on time. I was having symptoms of low-progesterone for years and didn't know it. Then I was acutely exposed to a pesticide I was using in the yard. (The flake of stuff actually flew into the membrane of my eye - twice.) Shortly after that I began to feel really jittery and bad. What I did not know was that my blood pressure was very high.

One day, while shopping, it all came to a head and I wound up on the floor of the store feeling like I was going to pass out... my heart was doing huge flip flops... I had had heart palpitations, but not like this!

My hubby came and got me and took me to the ER. My BP was 212/115.

I was in and out of ER for the next 6 weeks, they had me on a heart monitor (one I wore all the time), etc...

NO One checked my progesterone, but they constantly checked my thyroid... which was low.

NO ONE even told me to go home and eat a healthy diet, exercise, and lose weight! I did that on my own.

I've lost 22 lbs, I exercise, etc...

In the middle of this I started myself on the cream. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

The only thing is... I made a mistake. I still have periods... I should have just taken it the last 14 days of my cycle. I messed up and took it for 21 days, and was planning a 7 day break.

I started my cycle and off the cream I went. Within 36 hours I was feeling very bad again! My BP shot back up, etc... Within 72 hours I finally realized what it was. I had stopped using the cream! I only got a short break and went right back on. BP came down again. (It's now 116/77!)

It seems as though I CANNOT take a break. You have talked about how you have used the cream for so long without a break.

But I am a new user (less than 3 months), and when I read Dr. R. Lee's book, he said that it's "ideal" to take a break. What if I don't?

On my next cycle, I am going to have to rearrange my life and clear everything off my schedule, just to see IF I CAN take a break. It's seems dangerous for me not to use the cream.

Please help and let me know where you got your info. Thanks! Shelley
Feb 01, 2010
 When to use progesterone cream?
by: Wray

Hi Tonia, Sorry about the delay in replying but I can't keep up with the questions coming in. It does seem strange, but using it during our luteal phase, ie after ovulation, supplements the progesterone we should be making. It's during this phase women have the most trouble, simply because they are not making enough of their own progesterone. So when the drop in progesterone occurs just prior to our period, PMS symptoms can hit us. This is because the level of progesterone is not high enough to counter the oestrogen which also rises in the luteal phase. If progesterone is used prior to ovulation, it can prevent this, ie it acts like the synthetic contraceptives, but without the adverse side affects! Dr Dalton would advise her patients to use it on day 8, a minimum of 100mg/day. She says it's as safe and as effective as the contraceptive pills. Many of her patients couldn't use the contraceptive pill because of the depression they caused. Take care, Wray
Feb 01, 2010
 Can't take a break
by: Wray

Hi Shelley and Nicola. Sorry about the delay in replying! Progesterone can be used safely without a break. As you noticed Shelley, I do use it without a break. I found in peri-menopause all my symptoms returned if I took a break, Dr Dalton assured me there was no harm in using it continuously, so I did. It made the transition to menopause smooth too. I feel it's better to get rid of severe symptoms, than to suffer them month after month. It's easy enough to regulate the cycle again if need be. Shelley you will find the amino acid taurine very helpful for any heart problems, it stops palpitations, lowers BP, it's very calming too. Vital for the eyes, for bile production, for lowering cholesterol, for the immune system. Progesterone is a vasodilator, hence the drop in BP, it also stimulates the production of nitric oxide, another potent vasodilator. Progesterone also blocks the action of aldosterone by occupying the same receptor sites, aldosterone regulates sodium levels, too much and sodium is retained. This in turn causes water to be retained, up goes BP. You both might like to get your vitamin D levels tested, a lack of vitamin D affects the efficacy of progesterone. Please see these papers...
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Take care, Wray

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