anyone taking progesterone in perimenopause?

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming that's what's going on with me. I just came from the gyno and she suggested either a low-dose birth control pill or an oral progesterone pill 10 days a month. A couple months ago, my period started going wacky. It wasn't coming every month, though I had all the symptoms (pretty aggravating). I've always been very regular. I'm turning 48 next month. Dr. says it's probably perimenopause and it could go on for years before my period actually stops. Is anyone taking the progesterone? Anything I should know about taking it?

[Anonymous]

anyone?

[Anonymous]

Doesn't it come with health risks? Or is that just estrogen?

[Anonymous]

I don't know. That's why I'm asking for experiences.

My dr. said no, but I'm skeptical.

[Anonymous]

I've seen a lot about this on those natural not mainstream medical science websites, especially in regards to estrogen dominance. I'm nowhere near menopause but I do have endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts. I have to admit it made a lot of sense about what was going on with my body. I had an excess of estrogen as opposed to deficient progesterone, so I didn't use progesterone cream but I did alter my lifestyle. For the first time in 10 years, my fibrocystic breasts went away and was even able to get pregnant after 2 years of infertility and being told the chances of such were ~0%. So count me as a believer but it's definitely not something that is mainstream medical science, if that is something you are looking for.

This website has a ton of info: http://www.drlam.com/articles/progesterone.asp

[Anonymous]

OP, I am curious, is the progesterone meant to regulate your cycles? Or relieve certain perimenopausal symptoms?

[Anonymous]

OP here. It's meant to regulate my cycles. I was talking to her about my period not coming regularly and that it was becoming more difficult to anticipate when it was coming (sometimes, I get all the symptoms, but it never comes at all!)

This was her suggestion. This, or birth control pills, which I'm not interested in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen a lot about this on those natural not mainstream medical science websites, especially in regards to estrogen dominance. I'm nowhere near menopause but I do have endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts. I have to admit it made a lot of sense about what was going on with my body. I had an excess of estrogen as opposed to deficient progesterone, so I didn't use progesterone cream but I did alter my lifestyle. For the first time in 10 years, my fibrocystic breasts went away and was even able to get pregnant after 2 years of infertility and being told the chances of such were ~0%. So count me as a believer but it's definitely not something that is mainstream medical science, if that is something you are looking for.

This website has a ton of info: http://www.drlam.com/articles/progesterone.asp

Wow, PP. I'm glad you shared this. I also suffer horribly from endometriosis and nothing I've tried so far helps. I can't take estrogen (or combination) BCP's to control it, or anything with estrogen for that matter. I'm trying Progestin now, but too soon to tell if it's helping. I'd love to hear more about what you did/what changes you made that helped you. Any other websites would be much appreciated! Doctors seem so stumped by endometriosis and they each tell you something different, often contradicting each other. I'm ready to take matters into my own hands!

[Anonymous]

I just tried it to see if it would stimulate a period....no period (at least not yet) but the hot flashes and dryness "down there" are gone....am so confused by this whole thing

[Anonymous]

PP, you tried the progesterone?

How long have you been taking it? My dr. said period would come sometime after the 10 days, and occasionally it would come during the 10 days you're taking it.

You're right ... so confusing.

[Anonymous]

finished the 10 days almost 2 weeks ago, so should have a period by now unless its full blown menopause....but with those symptoms gone, not really sure of anything

[Anonymous]

I am not familiar with that use for irregular perimenopause periods. Thought that was expected at this age. I have heard of preimenopausal women taking bc pills. I have a friend who was suffering from terrible night sweats and she went on the pill and had a lot of improvement.

[Anonymous]

the pill is the same as taking estrogen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the pill is the same as taking estrogen.

PP here. The bc pill is estrogen and progesterone, actually. Her dr. gave her the option to use an estrogen patch, but said that after 5 years on straight estrogen, her risk of breast cancer would increase, but that it would not increase on the pill. She decided to use the pill for now (perimenopause) and "save" those 5 years in case she needs straight estrogen after menopause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've seen a lot about this on those natural not mainstream medical science websites, especially in regards to estrogen dominance. I'm nowhere near menopause but I do have endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts. I have to admit it made a lot of sense about what was going on with my body. I had an excess of estrogen as opposed to deficient progesterone, so I didn't use progesterone cream but I did alter my lifestyle. For the first time in 10 years, my fibrocystic breasts went away and was even able to get pregnant after 2 years of infertility and being told the chances of such were ~0%. So count me as a believer but it's definitely not something that is mainstream medical science, if that is something you are looking for.

This website has a ton of info: http://www.drlam.com/articles/progesterone.asp

Wow, PP. I'm glad you shared this. I also suffer horribly from endometriosis and nothing I've tried so far helps. I can't take estrogen (or combination) BCP's to control it, or anything with estrogen for that matter. I'm trying Progestin now, but too soon to tell if it's helping. I'd love to hear more about what you did/what changes you made that helped you. Any other websites would be much appreciated! Doctors seem so stumped by endometriosis and they each tell you something different, often contradicting each other. I'm ready to take matters into my own hands!

Hate to hijack ops thread but here goes. I did the endo diet alone for several months and honestly it didn't do much for me by itself. I eased up on it... Still followed the main idea, but didnt sweat it if I ate a donut etc.

I then read about other ways to lower estrogen levels... I upped my exercise. I had been going to the gym minimally but I stepped it up. I'd go walking for 1.5-2 hrs a day 5 days a week. I also tmi focused on my bowel habits. I had not previously cared about chronic constipation but apparently estrogen is disposed of in bm's and when you don't go, your body reabsorbs it. So between increasing my fiber intake and the exercise I was able to go daily. I also was lucky enough to be able to quit my stressful nightshift job so stress was minimalized.

Im not sure out of all of that what was the magic ingredient because all of this occurred around the same time but I was pregnant on the 2nd cycle after making the changes (or maybe that has nothing to do with the changes anyway and is just luck!). Good luck to you!