Not a Lyme question but hoping some of you might have some input on this.
I am in my mid-forties and my period has gotten longer. Gynecologist has done a thorough battery of tests and everything is normal. She assumes its low progesterone due to my age and I agree as I have had other symptoms that indicate this too.
I asked my gyn about bioidentical progesterone cream and she said no way, no surprise here. Naturopath said absolutely take it and no need to test levels as the cream just bumps it up a little if taken according to package directions, and llmd is in between these two though processes yet wants another practitioner, understandably, to handle hormones.
Is it safe to use? There is so much controversy around this topic. Yet the cream is sold in the health food store.
Thoughts? What has your doctor said about this?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I used it for years with no ill effect .. no noticeable benefit.
Now I'm sensitive to everything so it has gone by the wayside.
Posted by Blymey919 (Member # 47424) on :
I really liked using bioidentical progest cream and used it for years with no ill side effects. I felt noticeable improvement in symptoms the first week of using it.
About a year ago my progest levels took another plunge - apparently in addition to perimenopause, stress can also lower progesterone levels. So my LLMD put me on a natural progesterone that I get with an Rx for a compound pharmacy.
Posted by Blymey919 (Member # 47424) on :
Something else that might help is taking Chaste Tree (Vitex) tincture which helps balance progesterone levels.
Also low DHEA levels can impact hormone levels.
Posted by unsure445 (Member # 15962) on :
Thanks. Glad to hear no ill effects such as breast changes have been experienced.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
I also use a natural progesterone that I get with an Rx from a compound pharmacy. It works wonders. After years and years of problems- serious problems- it was a life saver. Can't say enough good about it.
There can be some initial weight gain- normal- but that was the only negative for me. Been on it least 15 years. Started with the cream- Dixie brand- excellent, but needed more progesterone than it provided and rather than cream up from head to toe every day, the capsules were much easier.
If it helps, I was scared to try it. Me, on my own, messing with hormones? REALLY scared. Now I can say I am sorry it took so long to do.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I'm seeing a functional medicine doctor. She ran tests on my hormones (urine test) and even at 52, my progesterone level was fine. I had some specific hormone processing issues that we're addressing through supplements, but I don't need the progesterone.
Properly addressing the issue has helped my cycles to be more normal (not as long). Mine was more an estrogen processing issue than progesterone.
So I guess I think your LLMD is onto something ... figuring out what the real problem is before blindly treating.
Posted by unsure445 (Member # 15962) on :
Tincup, thanks for your feedback and so glad you have been helped by the cream and prescription! Messing with hormones; I hear you! Thanks again for sharing your experience.
Thanks six. You never know with these things. We are all so different.I thought testing was tricky during perimenopause because hormones fluctuate so much during this time, like weekly and monthly with some normal time periods then abnormal. No? Glad you have a good integrative doc helping you. Such an asset!
I tried progesterone cream before going to the ND, its in the health food store, and the symptoms I was having resolved in a few days so he thought this was a clear indicator I was filling the hormonal void with a very low dose. He also thought that the symptoms sounded much more low progesterone-like than anything else.
When two practitioners have such opposing views it makes you wonder and the science is there for synthetic hormones but not bioidentical.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I'm guessing that the cream is safer than oral hormone replacement. I took mild oral and ended up with a severe DVT. This was while treating Lyme and evidently my blood was thick, a side effect of Lyme.
So definetly keep the risk of DVT in mind. I also discovered that I have May Thurner Syndrome, a constriction on my iliac vein. So, it was a perfect storm for me.
Anytime you deal with hormones, you do increase your chance for DVT's and PE's. Something to keep in mind.
Just pay attention to your body. I ignored the DVT pain, thinking it was Lyme. (In hindsight I felt completely dumb). Therefore my DVT grew to 3 feet long and then became a serious emergency.