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How to use progesterone creamThere are as many instructions on how to use progesterone cream as there are brands. There are 11 delivery systems...
Creams are regarded by most as the best option. A word of caution as they can contain liquid paraffin, parabens, phenoxyethanol, sodium lauryl sulphate, propylene glycol, fragrances, artificial colours and PEG emulsifying waxes, these can contain dioxane a known carcinogen. For more information about toxins in skin creams see Skin Deep. The strength of the creams vary from 1.5% to 10%. This means a 1.5% cream contains 15mg progesterone per gram (g) or millilitre (ml). A 10% cream contains 100mg per gram (g) or millilitre (ml). So, dependant on the amount of progesterone required, the amount of cream must be taken into account. The progesterone in a cream is absorbed well, and has been found to be as effective as injections and to enter circulation rapidly. Creams have an advantage over all the other systems. No special method or applicator is needed to apply a cream, there's no discomfort in using it as in some delivery systems, in fact it often soothes the problem quickly. It can be applied within seconds, on the run if need be. A progesterone cream can be used anywhere on the body, it does not have to be applied to the thin skinned areas only. The skin comprises 95% kerotinocytes, these have ample progesterone receptor sites. Even hair follicles absorb progesterone well. Please note that progesterone will help if the problem is caused by a lack of it, or if excess oestrogen is present. But there are many other factors involved too. For instance a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone, please have a test done. Large meals, dark gloomy days, winter, high adrenaline levels, excess blood glucose, a high amount of phytoestrogens in the diet, HRT and the contraceptive pill, all affect it adversely. MenUsing progesterone is very easy for a man as he has no cycle. Therefore it can be applied daily. It's best to apply at least twice a day. Use between 10-100mg/day progesterone. Levels over 1200mg/day have been given to men who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Men secrete <3.18 nmol/L (<1 ng/ml) progesterone daily. WomenThe number of instructions given, the apparent complications of using it, and the misinformation, has caused many hundreds of women to abandon using it. The main consideration above all else is use enough to reverse any adverse symptoms.Too little and it merely exacerbates them.The amount to use is not dependant on a given 'dose' or on size, weight, height or sex, but on symptoms. The typical 20-40mg/day that is recommended does not raise levels to that found in the luteal phase. One study found that using 40mg/day... "...only low plasma progesterone levels were found (median 2.5 nmol/l)" The ranges for the luteal phase are 15.9 - 63.6 nmol/L (5 to 20 ng/ml). Men secrete <3.18 nmol/L (<1 ng/ml). For general use and to reverse mild symptoms 100-200mg/day progesterone is needed. If severe problems are experienced 400-500mg/day are needed. Once symptoms have passed the amount should be reduced very slowly, until the optimum is found. It's essential to reduce over a few weeks It should be used a minimum of twice a day as levels begin dropping after about 13 hours. But in severe cases, application can be hourly. When first starting progesterone it can disrupt the cycle. Periods can be either earlier or later than normal. This is nothing to be concerned about, the normal cycle length will assert itself within a few cycles. If spotting only occurs, continue using the progesterone until bleeding starts. If a full period occurs stop using the progesterone, and begin it again 12-14 days before the next period. For further explanation on this see under Normal Cycle Lengths below. Bleeding can be heavier in the first few cycles, also nothing to be concerned about. This is old lining which has not been shed previously. The four phases of a woman's life
Progesterone is safe to use in all four phases. Pre-pubertal phaseIt's given to pre-term male and female infants with respiratory distress syndrome. It's effective for calming, and for any sleep issues in babies and children. Babies have been bathed in it for 9 months of their lives prior to birth. Progesterone is the only hormone that does not adversely affect a male or female baby or child. So if some should rub off an adult using it, no harm will come. Unlike testosterone or oestrogen, which cause serious side effects in a male or female baby or child. If progesterone is used on an infant or child, this is the only case when size does matter. 1mg of progesterone or a pin head amount of cream can be applied to infants, older children use 5-10mg. It only needs to be used for easing the child over a rough patch. It helps with adverse symptoms experienced prior to puberty, and any found while going through puberty. Menstruation starts about two years after puberty begins and is known as menarche. These two years can bring mood swings, temper tantrums, defiant behaviour, skin outbreaks and more. Oestrogen and testosterone levels are rising, but it's not until menarche occurs and with it ovulation, does progesterone production begin. 100-200mg/day progesterone should be used, dependant on symptoms. As there is no cycle to follow the progesterone can be applied daily until a cycle starts. Reproductive phaseThis lasts from menarche to peri-menopause when fertility starts to drop. A normal cycle length varies from 21 days to 35 days, 28 days being the average. This is the reason that manufacturers of contraceptives and HRT pack their product in twenty eight day batches. Cycles outside this range are generally regarded as abnormal. For more information on this see the pages on Menstruation and PCOS. All women, irrespective of their cycle length, ovulate 12-14 days before bleeding. This phase of the cycle is known as the luteal or secretory phase. Progesterone should be used during the luteal phase, ie from ovulation to bleeding, to supplement any deficiency. The deficiency can be caused by a defective luteal phase, or anovulatory cycles. These begin round about age 35, which is when many women find their PMS symptoms become worse. 100-200mg/day progesterone should be used, more if symptoms are severe. Normal Cycle Lengths Almost everyone assumes a normal cycle length is always 28 days in all women. This is simply not the case. It varies between 21 to 35 days, which makes 28 days the average only. There is a fundamental error in advising women to start using progesterone on day 14. This is only appropriate for women with a 28 day cycle. If a woman has a 21 day cycle, starting on day 14 would mean she starts using progesterone a week after ovulation. She would then only use progesterone for 7 days before bleeding began. Likewise a woman with a 35 day cycle would begin progesterone a week before ovulation, which would effectively stop it. She would then use progesterone for 21 days. Progesterone should always be used from ovulation, Or if wishing to fall pregnant, it can be started during the 50 hour surge which occurs prior to ovulation. Progesterone can be used while on drug based contraceptives. It should be used when taking the second half of the packet. Progesterone is safe to use with any drug, there are no contraindications. Peri-MenopauseThis normally begins 5 to 10 years before menopause. As a rough guide, women tend to go into menopause round about the same age as their mothers. There's no significant change when entering peri-menopause, such as the start of bleeding in puberty. Or the stopping of bleeding in menopause. Many women have no symptoms at all, but many do, some quite severe. Progesterone levels are now dropping, and continue dropping at an ever faster rate. This is due to the increased frequency of anovulatory cycles. Roughly one to two years prior to menopause cycles can become very erratic. Every two weeks, or at three month intervals, there is no telling when bleeding will occur. This can vary from spotting, to a normal period, to flooding. 100-200mg/day progesterone should be used, more if symptoms are severe. Once cycles become erratic, and impossible to follow, it's best to stop following the cycle and use progesterone daily, through any bleeding. It is safe to do so. Ironically no caution is given to women who take contraceptives continually, some of which are progestin only. MenopauseThis begins on average at age 51. It's normal to wait a year before judging menopause has begun. Many women think their problems will be over once in menopause, but this is often not the case. Ovulation has now ceased, ovarian production of progesterone and oestrogen has stopped. But fat cells continue secreting oestrone, the menopause oestrogen, until death. Unfortunately there is no compensatory secretion of progesterone. Many women have their oestrogen levels tested and are told it is low. But it's oestradiol which is tested for, the pre-menopause oestrogen, never oestrone. Oestradiol should be low, it varies from 0-30pg/ml (0 - 110.13 pmol/L). 100-200mg/day progesterone should be used, more if symptoms are severe. As there is no cycle to follow use progesterone daily. Many women are advised to take a break, but it's not necessary. Ironically no caution is given to women who take HRT continually. Women who begin using progesterone for the first time once in menopause can experience one period, rarely two. This is nothing to be alarmed about. Over the course of the proceeding months or years the small amount of oestrogen being secreted by fat cells is enough to build or thicken the lining. The progesterone is effectively cleaning out the uterus. The bleeding more often than not occurs within the first year of menopause, but it has been known for women 12 years into menopause to have a period when first using progesterone. Hormonal variations chart in both men and women..
Ovulation Chart...The amount of progesterone to use is dependant on symptoms. Follicular phase
Luteal phase
Progesterone should be used during the luteal phase. For contraceptive purposes, deduct 5 to 8 days from the date of ovulation to start progesterone. Approximate date of ovulation...
Menstruation should start within a day or two of stopping the progesterone.
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