Progesterone
Caution: If you are a male reading this and want to just skip over this post, feel free. It has a lot of female type talk that guys usually don't like to talk (or think) about. Consider yourself warned!
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I have done a lot of reading on Progesterone over the last year or two, since I had the miscarriages. But it's been infrequent reading and it's only been recently really thinking about it seriously.
When I posted about my miscarriage of Blessing, and then again with my other miscarriage (of possibly twins), I had many women who suggested that I have my progesterone levels checked.
And in fact, I did ask my doctor when I was going to have my blood tested for many different things that might have been the cause, to please test my progesterone levels as well. And I guess I just assumed she did. I never really looked at the whole list of things that were tested, because I didn't understand most of the names.
But this week, as I continued reading on progesterone, I started wondering.... because, well...lately, I have noticed some things that I think are totally due to hormonal changes every month. They are starting to last longer and become stronger. It used to be that I would experience PMS symptoms for only one day before my "monthly visitor" would show up. This used to be the norm, and it was totally fine.
But the last couple of years, I have noticed the symptoms coming for longer, and longer amounts of time. Sometimes it will start happening 2 weeks beforehand. And continuing for that long- about 2 weeks...sometimes even longer. I have a normal 28 day cycle, but this is something that is bothering me. 2 weeks is a long time to have irritability, mood swings (getting really sad for no apparent reason), bloating (and gaining like 7 pounds over one night), and different things like this. I won't go into too much detail into all of my other symptoms to spare some readers. But let me tell you...almost every symptom is listed in the symptoms for having low amounts of progesterone in your body.
As I was researching the hormone, I started wondering whether the doctor had actually tested my progesterone levels. Because if she had already tested them, that would mean that my progesterone levels are fine, and that I'm barking up the wrong tree. Because all of the tests came back fine.
But, if she hadn't tested them, from the research I've done, it appears there's a chance that taking natural progesterone supplements could help my fertility, and could actually protect my baby if I ever did conceive again!
So I called the doctor and asked if when they took all of those blood tests, did they ever do one on progesterone?
A nurse called me back and told me that, no, according to their records, the progesterone levels had never been checked!
So I have an appointment set up with the doctor in a few weeks...she will have my levels checked at that time!
If this is my problem...if my progesterone levels are getting low.... I think it's possible that using natural progesterone supplement could help me in more ways than one. Does anyone out there have any experience with using natural progesterone for PMS symptoms, for fertility, or for pregnancy?
Please tell me about your experiences, if any of you have some to tell.... and feel free to list any pros and cons with using the NATURAL progesterone. (I would only consider using the natural bio-identical kind).
Don't worry, I'm going to question my doctor to death before ever doing anything like that, so I'm not going to just jump in and start using it....I just want to know anything and everything I can. I think I'm actually onto something. And that gives me hope!
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I have done a lot of reading on Progesterone over the last year or two, since I had the miscarriages. But it's been infrequent reading and it's only been recently really thinking about it seriously.
When I posted about my miscarriage of Blessing, and then again with my other miscarriage (of possibly twins), I had many women who suggested that I have my progesterone levels checked.
And in fact, I did ask my doctor when I was going to have my blood tested for many different things that might have been the cause, to please test my progesterone levels as well. And I guess I just assumed she did. I never really looked at the whole list of things that were tested, because I didn't understand most of the names.
But this week, as I continued reading on progesterone, I started wondering.... because, well...lately, I have noticed some things that I think are totally due to hormonal changes every month. They are starting to last longer and become stronger. It used to be that I would experience PMS symptoms for only one day before my "monthly visitor" would show up. This used to be the norm, and it was totally fine.
But the last couple of years, I have noticed the symptoms coming for longer, and longer amounts of time. Sometimes it will start happening 2 weeks beforehand. And continuing for that long- about 2 weeks...sometimes even longer. I have a normal 28 day cycle, but this is something that is bothering me. 2 weeks is a long time to have irritability, mood swings (getting really sad for no apparent reason), bloating (and gaining like 7 pounds over one night), and different things like this. I won't go into too much detail into all of my other symptoms to spare some readers. But let me tell you...almost every symptom is listed in the symptoms for having low amounts of progesterone in your body.
As I was researching the hormone, I started wondering whether the doctor had actually tested my progesterone levels. Because if she had already tested them, that would mean that my progesterone levels are fine, and that I'm barking up the wrong tree. Because all of the tests came back fine.
But, if she hadn't tested them, from the research I've done, it appears there's a chance that taking natural progesterone supplements could help my fertility, and could actually protect my baby if I ever did conceive again!
So I called the doctor and asked if when they took all of those blood tests, did they ever do one on progesterone?
A nurse called me back and told me that, no, according to their records, the progesterone levels had never been checked!
So I have an appointment set up with the doctor in a few weeks...she will have my levels checked at that time!
If this is my problem...if my progesterone levels are getting low.... I think it's possible that using natural progesterone supplement could help me in more ways than one. Does anyone out there have any experience with using natural progesterone for PMS symptoms, for fertility, or for pregnancy?
Please tell me about your experiences, if any of you have some to tell.... and feel free to list any pros and cons with using the NATURAL progesterone. (I would only consider using the natural bio-identical kind).
Don't worry, I'm going to question my doctor to death before ever doing anything like that, so I'm not going to just jump in and start using it....I just want to know anything and everything I can. I think I'm actually onto something. And that gives me hope!
I was like you, never had a single problem with my cycle. No bloating, no cramping or any other PMS symptoms. But over the past two years it has become intolerable, off the charts type. I've been laying it to a lot of stress I've had lately, but now you've gave me something else to think about. I've never thought about having my doctor check my hormone levels. I'm 31 and I thought that I wouldn't have to worry about hormone problems for at least another ten years. Thank you for sharing the information! I need to call for my yearly exam anyway!!
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We tried for a year to get pregnant before my first child was conceived. Then after she was born, tried for another year to get pregnant with #2. I got pregnant with my son after starting a regimine of liquid kelp supplements (natural iodine) and progresterone cream. I arrived at that because my basal body temperature was so low and I knew the two would raise my BBT. It was amazing what a difference the two made to my energy level! Especially the liquid kelp. It was only a few weeks after I started taking them that I was pregnant.
I am going to have our third baby this month, but I anticipate that I'll go on the same regimine again in a few months. As I understand it, progesterone seldom negatively impacts the body and the same with liquid kelp. I probably won't consult my doctor about it, but I'm pretty comfortable with self-treating my female issues. If you trust your doc to be objective, I'd think you'd get good info.
One caution -- because progesterone is used in menopausal women, it's important to find a formula that isn't blended with other herbs, some of which can actually cause miscarriage. A lot of formulas contain other stuff and have varying potencies.
Good luck with it all! I hope it helps you!
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Hi Bethany- I have been following your blog for sometime now but have never posted. I saw your messages and pictures on misdiagnosedmiscarriage.com and I just loved your pictures of your baby. I miscarried twins at 10 weeks (5/07)and that is what I remembered them looking like. I never once thought of taking pictures and once we buried them, and telling people what I saw... I was wondering if I was making it up. Then I saw your pictures and felt at peace because the imagines I had in my mind of what my babies looked like were the same as your pictures. Thanks for posting. They have helped me heal.
My doc. put me on natural progesterone for my next pregnancy. This was my 4th pregnancy (including the miscarriage) and was by far my hardest. I felt moody and sick all the time. I blame the increased side effects on the progesterone... but it was well worth it because I have my baby girl. My doc. never checked my progesterone levels because he said they are relative to your body and it is hard to tell what it low or normal for someone. And research has shown if you take Natural progesterone there is no harm to the baby.
I do hope and pray you get pregnant soon.
Colleen
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Hi Bethany. I will try to keep this short!! I had my first two children on Clomid. Drs. said I needed it for luteal phase defect which means Low Progesterone. I was told I would ALWAYS need Clomid. I had a miscarriage after Sarah and was diagnosed with lupus and given all kinds of options for DRUGS! That was so not me and I wanted more children. I wanted to be pregnant without drugs! I read the book What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Premenopause by Dr. John Lee. Bought Natural Woman progesterone cream at GNC and had two more babies! My cycle has completely evened out.
Drs. will check your blood for progesterone levels but saliva is more accurate.
Google Dr. John Lee.
Email me babe.
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Hi Bethany. I will try to keep this short!! I had my first two children on Clomid. Drs. said I needed it for luteal phase defect which means Low Progesterone. I was told I would ALWAYS need Clomid. I had a miscarriage after Sarah and was diagnosed with lupus and given all kinds of options for DRUGS! That was so not me and I wanted more children. I wanted to be pregnant without drugs! I read the book What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Premenopause by Dr. John Lee. Bought Natural Woman progesterone cream at GNC and had two more babies! My cycle has completely evened out.
Drs. will check your blood for progesterone levels but saliva is more accurate.
Google Dr. John Lee.
Email me babe.
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I never went the progesterone cream route. I started taking an herbal supplement, vitex, which brought my cycle back to normal and then when I got pregnant, I used progesterone supplements for the first 13 weeks just to be on the safe side. Also, depending on where you are in your cycle, your progesterone levels will vary so make sure you know where you are in your cycle when the test is taken. I've also read/heard that progesterone blood tests aren't as accurate as salive tests...can't remember where right now though.
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I have taken Progesterone twice. The first time was because I couldn't take birth control. At that point I was so emotional! It was crazy how my emotions changed while on that. I even cried when I couldn't figure out what to order at Applebee's! Not to mention feeling really HOT all the time (I took it for 10 days and it was a horrible 10 days).
Now with that being said, the second time I took it was when I was pregnant. My hormone levels were very low and I feel (as does my doctor) that taking the progesterone probably saved my baby. I did not have the same side effects that time as I did the first time, although I was pregnant so I may have just contributed everything I felt to that. I took this for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and now I have a healthy 4 1/2 month old baby!
Good luck. I hope that you can get this figured out!
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Bethany,
I have had several miscarriages over the past few years(including ectopics). I had very abnormal periods, they would come every 3-4 months. I was on the cream for a while but it didn't seem to help. I found out I was pregnant in early November, and I went in for weekly hcg levels(because of the previous ectopics) and progesterone levels(because of the previous miscarriages). I never heard of the progesterone levels and pregnancy being in twined but they are. My hcg levels were going up but my progesterone levels were going down. If your progesterone levels go down it can and probably will cause a miscarriage. So my midwives put me on a supplement until I was 12 weeks and I also occasionally used the cream. I am now 15 1/2 weeks pregnant. After a week of using the pills, my levels went from 8 to 20. So I do not believe it would hurt for you to use especially if you are wanting to get pregnant. That is just my opinion, but I wonder how many of my miscarriages was due to low progesterone?
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Bethany,
I am now on my 3rd month of using Beeyoutiful Balance which is a natural progesterone cream and I must say I am thrilled with it! I no longer have the bloating, weight gain, moodiness that is all associated with PMS. Like it was said in a previous comment google Dr. John Lee. I got one of his books, What Your Doctor Won't Tell About Menopause. (It is not just for Menopause
From what I understand there are no really side effects from using this. Sleepiness is one if you take a LOT more than you need.
I am interested in finding out what your research brings out also!
Thanks for sharing!
Alicia
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I am on the MOMYS digest (Moms of many young siblings), and progesterone comes up quite frequently. The two things that I learned when I asked about using it myself (for pregnancy depression) was
1) if you get pregnant using it, you don't want to stop once you are pregnant because it can cause a miscarriage.
2) it can cause hypospadias in boys (urethra is on the top of the penis instead of the end) Hypospadias is repairable and better than a miscarriage in my opinion!!
:o) Rachel
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Hmm, I have no advice to offer, but I am intrigued. I have the same symptoms you mentioned with PMS and like Karolan, I thought it was just stress-related (my mother-in-law moved in with us 10 months ago, around the same time I started having these symptoms). I'd be interested to know what your research turns up and what the doctor says about it. Off to do a little searching of my own now!
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When I became pregnant after a miscarriage, my doctor did check my progesterone level. It was low enough for her to be concerned. She had me use a vaginal suppository, once a day, for three months. It was something that the pharmacist had to mix together. So I assume it was not natural. I was just so scared of having another miscarriage, I asked very few questions. I just did what I was told. Thankfully, I was able to carry this blessing to term. I have never thought that some problems I am having now may be caused by the same thing. So, next check up I will bring it up. Thank you for sharing. God Bless You!
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Hi Bethany,
I am currently almost 16 weeks pregnant and due to my history of preterm labor and an early miscarriage, my doctor is having me start weekly progesterone injections next week. I gave my poor doctor the longest list of questions in addition to much personal research. Although I prefer doing things more holistically, I feel that this is safe and that the benefits far outweigh the high risks of possibly having my sweet baby even earlier than last time. Unfortunately, progesterone levels fluctuate during a woman's cycle and varies from person to person, so it can be difficult to get an accurate baseline before you are pregnant. Once you are pregnant, the levels should go up and then stay up throughout the pregnancy. However, they have found that women who experience miscarriages or preterm delivery often having progesterone levels that continue to fluctuate. Since progesterone is "the hormone" of maintaining pregnancy, my doctor explained that their office has only seen positive results with women using progesterone therapy. I have two friends that successfully became pregnant after miscarriages with early progesterone therapy. One used the cream and the other used the suppositories. I wish you the best and will let you know how the progesterone works in my pregnancy if you would like.
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Hi Bethany,
While I am by no means and expert, I'll share my findings in hopes that it helps you. I had four children when I became pregnant and experienced a miscarriage. After that miscarriage my cycles changed, becoming heavier and more painful than ever. I had always been very fertile, yet after that miscarriage I didn't conceive again for 2 1/2 more years! It wasn't until I started using a natural progesterone cream and an herb called Vitex did I conceive again. And I wasn't even using them for that purpose! I was using them to help try and even out my periods. I went on to have a normal, healthy pregnancy and birth and actually conceived AGAIN when that little one was 8 months old!
If you do in fact need progesterone (I used the cream even though they told me my levels were fine) I would recommend using an all natural one. 1. because it's natural and 2. a lot less side effects than some of the meds.
I hope that helps and I hope you are able to find some answers soon! Blessings!
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I've had problems with my cycles all of my life. They didn't normalize until I was 27 and had lost almost 70 pounds!
After the birth of one of my boys, I started having typical hormonal issues again. The first cycle I had, we conceived, and almost immediately lost the baby. It was right when I was wondering if I had progesterone issues - I knew I had years ago, but it wasn't tested with that particular pregnancy.
Then, when I found out I was pregnant again (I'm 7 weeks now), I started using the progesterone cream right away. My OB never tested my progesterone levels (she might still, but hasn't yet), but the peace of mind is worth knowing I'm doing what I can to help. I'm using the Pro-Gest brand at the recommendation of a friend of mine.
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"There is a logic of colours, and it is with this alone, and not with the logic of the brain, that the painter should conform." - Paul Cezanne
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