Just started my Progesterone cream trial

[Oreosmom]

Hello all,
As some of you may have read if you've seen my posts before my main symptom I'm having issues with is spotting. Out of every 26-32 day cycle I'm spotting and on AF about 14 days. After two years of doctors trying to figure out what's wrong with me and then eventually giving up. I have been on a search myself for quite a while. I had thought a year ago or so that it might be Luteal Phase Defect of course immediately I went on and ordered Progesterone cream, but when I had my Progesterone checked on CD 21 it was 16.6 (a good number) so I never used the cream and I gave up hopes that that was my problem. Oddly enough the day I had it checked I went home and started spotting.

After all this one of my doctors said he thought I might have PCOS since my lh:fsh ratio came back 4:1 one of the times it was checked and I had irregular periods. Since Thanksgiving I have been taking 1500mg of Metformin. I have seen some minor changes and maybe even a little change in my cycle, but who knows I could be reading more into the cycle changes than are really there.

The other day I was on a message board (here of course where else would I get such great advice) and someone said my spotting sounded like LPD. I of course had already ruled that out and shrugged it off. It started eating at me though, I'm dying for answers so I want to investigate anything. So I started digging online to see if I could have LPD with a good Progesterone level. What I found was that for some people Progesterone level is normal, but that their body doesn't respond to the level as it should.

So here I am determined to see if maybe this is my problem after all and like PCOS I don't fit the mold. I know some of you will be saying I should be doing all things through my doctor, but I think I'll be okay. It shouldn't hurt me the stuff I've read online says during pregnancy the placenta can produce 300 mg of Progesterone daily so my 24 mg should be fine. Either way I'll be looking out to see if I get really tired a sign of overdose. Frankly at this point no doctor knows what is wrong and I can't go on like this forever so I have to take some chances and rule out what it's not.

So I'm inviting you all to join me in my quest for answers and maybe even a little discussion about Progesterone cream. I did read through some others comments on the board to see what others were saying and I found lots of questions.

For my trial I am using a Progesterone cream that

Has 500mg USP Micronized Progesterone per oz.
(I saw some things that said USP is important. Here's what it looks like it means I'm not sure how legit this category is. "There are three different grades of raw materials used in products - USP pharmaceutical grade, food grade for human consumption and feed grade that is for animal consumption")

I will be applying two pumps twice daily. Each pump (pump is important for even doses) has 6 mg of Progesterone= 24mg per day

I will be applying to inner arms, neck and chest (I did see lots of different places listed online, but these seemed to be the most common and they were on the bottle)

The ingredients are as follows:
Steam distilled water, Grapeseed oil, Sunflower oil, Vegetable Source Glyceryl Stearate, Vegetable Source Glycerine, Ceterayl Glucoside, 500 mg USP Micronized Progesterone per oz., Xanthan Gum, Caprylic Acid, Glycine, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Iodopropynyl Carbamate
(I avoided yam since I saw so many bad things online about that)

[Oreosmom]

Well just a little update. I started the cream yesterday morning and have applied it 3 times now. I wasn't sure if I would get a rash or anything because my skin is really sensitive, but there has been no reaction at all. My only complaint is the cream stinks a little it isn't scented, but I guess that's important for it to be mild on the skin.

Also some good news I sent a lengthy email to my RE (who I haven't seen in a year) the other day out of desperation and to help formulate a plan. In his reply he said that part of the treatment he would reccommend for my next femera cycle would be Progesterone. I'm now breating a sigh of relief, maybe I'm not so crazy. Although I'm sure he thinks I am after the email I sent him!!! Whatever, I can't let that bother me my #1 priority now is finding answers.

[rogerrayenz]

Hi All I started using the Progesterone cream for peri-menpause. I also noticed right away that I was always bloated pain in my stomach and alot of gas. I also feel very tired, tense, bad neck pain,and jaw clenching at night when I'm sleeping. I lowered the amount I was using and still had all the same symptoms but less severe. But none the less still there. I don't know if I should just throw this cream in the garbage and let my body run it's course with menopause, or keep trying and hope for the best. I feel worse using it then not. Did anybody have this problem with using this cream where these side effects went away after a few months? Did anybody start having periods again, and were they normal periods( heavy bleeding - light bleeding) I'm going away next month for a week and I don't want any surprises. Thank-You for your time, Any feedback will be great.

[Oreosmom]

Doesn't sound like you had a good reaction at all. So far I'm feeling fine. I have had some headaches, but I get those pretty frequently anyway so I'm not attributing them to the Progesterone. I guess we'll see for me I'm hoping this makes some difference. If you don't mind me asking what are the details of your cream, the dosage, and when you're taking it?

[Oreosmom]

Well last month I really didn't see a whole lot of difference in my symptoms. It did seem to be a little lighter spotting and my period came early and only lasted 1 day (that has happened a few times recently though). I did also order a second bottle since I was going on vacation I had it shipped there (I wasn't checking any bags and it was over the TSA limit) this time I ordered the "natural progesterone cream" as opposed to the "healthy progesterone cream". I liked the cream better in the healthy one it was more like a lotion than an ointment, but I did like the fact that the natural cream had the instructions that fit better on the back. The "active" ingredient in both creams are the same and they are put out by the same manufacturer.

I was going to up the dose this cycle, but I got in and saw my RE and he gave me a rx for prometrium. He said even though my progesterone level was fine when measured a while ago that maybe the level in my blood is okay, but maybe that isn't translating to where I need it. So now I'm taking the prometrium suppositories. I'm on day two of them and I haven't noticed any side effects.

[Oreosmom]

Since starting the Prometrium I'm now 9 DPO with no spotting. This is the longest I have gone in the past two years usually starting spotting on 3-5 DPO and the latest ever has been 7 DPO. I have my fingers crossed everyone this continues and that maybe I'll even get a BFP this month. To all those with spotting before AF I urge you to try this even if your progesterone levels are fine after all mine was 16.6 and here I am noticing some really positive things.