Should i take progesterone cream

If you find that progesterone cream just isn't working for you, despite changing your dose, then it may be worth considering a trial of prometrium.

In order to get prometrium you will need to get a prescription from a physician, however, so keep that in mind. Birth control formulations usually consist of progesterone-like compounds known as progestins or progestagens. These compounds are NOT bio-identical which means they are not metabolized exactly the same way that progesterone is in your body. Pharmaceutical companies can not patent biological hormones and compounds so they generally opt to produce synthetic versions of various hormones.

The idea is that these synthetic versions look similar to the naturally occurring progesterone compound and they, therefore, are metabolized in a similar way. This isn't entirely true and is one of the reasons that birth control medications may cause various symptoms that bio-identical progesterone does not.

The metabolism of birth control pills results in compounds that the body is not used to producing and they may have some activity on both progesterone and estrogen receptors in various tissues.

For the sake of this article, it's important to realize that progesterone cream and birth control medications are completely different compounds and should not be considered the "same".

Some studies suggest 12 that the use of bio-identical hormones should be the "standard" due to their safety profiles, especially when compared to synthetic hormones.

In many cases, women will benefit from the concurrent use of progesterone cream and certain supplements.

While low progesterone is a problem for many, this issue is often accompanied by high estrogen. The use of progesterone cream can help "balance" out the ratio of progesterone to estrogen in the body, but it may not be the ultimate treatment to the high estrogen. In cases such as these, you may benefit from the use of supplements designed to help clear out estrogen which can also make more effective your dose of progesterone. Progesterone cream is a safe and effective hormone that is available over the counter for use in women who suffer from low progesterone.

Progesterone cream can be used to help balance the actions of estrogen in your body and may dramatically reduce the symptoms of excess estrogen. While many women suffer from excess estrogen and low progesterone not everyone should use progesterone cream. In addition, the use of progesterone cream may take some trial and error as you figure out how to apply it and what dose to use. Hand photo created by rawpixel. I'm Westin Childs D. I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance.

I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market well, at least in my opinion!

You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do here. One of the benefits of progesterone is, unlike other hormones, how available it is.

Does that mean you should start taking it? Quick Navigation Symptoms of Low Progesterone. When to apply progesterone if you are menstruating:. When to apply progesterone if you are post menopausal:. Progesterone Cream vs Progesterone Prometrium Tablets. Should you use Progesterone Cream?

Why is progesterone so important? You can think of estradiol and other estrogens as growth hormones in the body.

They primarily act to increase the size of specific target tissues. For example: High estrogen activity on breast tissue will cause an enlargement 3 of the glandular tissue and increase the size of the breasts and make your breasts tender which tends to occur around the menstrual cycle.

In addition, estrogen also increases the growth rate of fat cells in the body. So where does progesterone fit in? It's the ratio of estrogen to progesterone that is actually important. Exposure to endocrine disruptors that latch onto and trigger estrogen receptors 6 EDC's are ubituitous and they are found in plastic foodware, cosmetic products, foods and in water bottles - you come into contact with these on a daily basis Excessive fat or obesity 7 extra fat cells increase the conversion of androgens to estrogens in a process known as aromatization The use of birth control medications and other synthetic hormones Age starting at around age 35 progesterone levels tend to fall more rapidly than estrogen levels Other hormone disorders such as hypothyroidism which leads to low progesterone Menopause 8 Excessive stress social, physical or emotional stress Cellular progesterone resistance syndromes 9 commonly seen in conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis.

Symptoms of Low Progesterone What kind of symptoms may be associated with low progesterone? Symptoms of low progesterone include:. Inability to fall asleep at night Water retention and bloating Roller coaster emotions especially unexplained irritability, depression or anxiety Changes to your menstrual cycle missed cycles, heavy bleeding, etc.

If you suspect you have low progesterone, we first and foremost recommend testing your levels via a progesterone blood test or PdG testing. From there, you should consult your doctor on the next best course of action. There are several ways you may try to improve your progesterone levels and luckily, progesterone creams are common and available over-the-counter.

Progesterone cream is a form of hormone replacement therapy, intended to relieve menopausal symptoms. It usually contains bio-identical progesterone and is applied on the skin, in hope of:.

Creams were initially marketed to premenopausal and menopausal women, but lack of access to prescription progesterone supplements made creams appealing to women who were trying to conceive and needed to boost their progesterone levels. So far, despite some anecdotal evidence of success, research shows contradictory results concerning the efficiency of progesterone cream for fertility.

First of all, most of the studies on transdermal progesterone cream have been done on menopausal women. This makes it hard to evaluate the necessary dosage needed to sustain a healthy luteal phase and pregnancy. Second, the skin is a thick barrier, meaning that only a small amount of the cream applied reaches your bloodstream or uterus, where progesterone is needed. How long it takes for progesterone creams to work depends on many factors.

The first — and most important — question is: how much progesterone do you need? If your progesterone deficiency is slight, trying an over the counter cream may be a good first step.

However, if your body is producing little to no progesterone, a transdermal cream may not be strong enough to solve your problem. It also depends on the quality of the cream.

This means you may have to do your own research to find the best quality products on the market. Just like with other types of hormone replacement therapy, more is generally not better. You can find progesterone cream online and at many retail drugstores. When choosing a cream, only buy one with "progesterone USP" on the label. However, the same doesn't apply to progesterone cream and supplements. The FDA doesn't test or regulate over-the-counter remedies like progesterone cream. Because of this, the quality can vary between products, including the types of inactive ingredients and plant-based progesterone used.

Although they are becoming more popular, it's too soon to recommend progesterone creams or ointments for health purposes. Speak with your healthcare provider if you're considering using progesterone cream. They can help you fully understand the benefits, risks, and limitations of treatment. Progesterone cream is an alternative hormone replacement therapy.

It may help reduce menopause symptoms and prevent bone loss. Although it seems like progesterone cream is weaker than pills, it's really not. Be wary of using doses that are too high. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the right dose for you. The progesterone used in creams comes from diosgenin, a plant-based estrogen.

This hormone is naturally found in wild yam and soy. The diosgenin is chemically converted to progesterone in a lab. That progesterone is then used to make progesterone cream. Some companies try to promote wild yam products as natural progesterone "boosters. Avoid these products. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Fugh-Berman A, Bythrow J.

Bioidentical hormones for menopausal hormone therapy: variation on a theme. J Gen Intern Med. Protective effect of progesterone during pregnancy against ovarian cancer. J Cancer Prev. Progesterone and bone: actions promoting bone health in women. J Osteoporos. Management of menopausal symptoms. Obstet Gynecol. Regidor PA. Progesterone in peri- and postmenopause: a review. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. Stevenson S, Thornton J.

Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. Clin Interv Aging. Transdermal natural progesterone cream for postmenopausal women: inconsistent data and complex pharmacokinetics.

J Obstet Gynaecol. A double-blind placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of progestelle progesterone cream on postmenopausal women. Menopause Int. Over-the-counter progesterone cream produces significant drug exposure compared to a food and drug administration-approved oral progesterone product.

J Clin Pharmacol. Br J Dermatol. Prior JC. Progesterone for symptomatic perimenopause treatment - progesterone politics, physiology and potential for perimenopause. And, as with any hormone medication, natural progesterone cream comes with potential risks and side effects that should be openly discussed and understood before beginning treatment.

An expert hormone health practitioner will be able to answer any questions you may have and help you understand how these products may impact you. More importantly, they can help you discover exactly what is causing your symptoms and find the best treatment for your individual situation, whether that includes natural progesterone cream or entails other strategies to enhance your physical and emotional health.

Progesterone is a powerful female hormone which can be taken via prescription or in over-the-counter preparations. In general, healthy progesterone levels promote female fertility, helps regulate the menstrual cycle, and can have a profound impact on psychological well-being. In premenopausal women, progesterone products are sometimes used to reduce the severity of PMS symptoms. During perimenopause or menopause, progesterone is commonly used to address a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, and is known to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer in women undergoing estrogen therapy.

Natural progesterone cream might be recommended by a practitioner to help with any of these conditions. However, natural progesterone cream may not be as natural as you expect, and its ingredients can make or break your results. Natural progesterone cream is made from wild yams. Wild yams do not contain progesterone, but they do contain an ingredient called diosgenin that can be used to synthesize progesterone in the lab.