Progesterone: do I need it? | Hystersisters Article

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Progesterone: do I need it?

Progesterone: do I need it?

Date : 05-27-2000 - 11:42 AM - Readers : 17695

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I just found this site, and I have been told by a friend that even though I don't have a uterus anymore that I still need Progesterone. My doctor says that I don't. She told me that I can get it from a Health Store. Does anyone know anything about this. And if so, what store is it, and what exactly am I looking for?

Thank you for any help. Oh by the way I had a TAH/BSO almost 5 months ago, and I am on the Climara Patch. But my libido is really low, and my friend said that Progesterone helps that. Is this true?
Hope4Me2

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Lauren can help with this one, but let me add my .02

I too have been struggling in the jungle. My doc finally put me on Estratest (I wanted natural - and will be getting them in the end... just hope I don't have to change doctors to get it!). Anyway, five years after the surgery and with all blood tests 'normal' a doctor finally listened to me and went with my symptoms. However, told me the same thing about progestrone, i.e., no uterus no need.

I have found some at a health store in my area and they seem knowledgeable about how to use it. In addition to what Lauren can tell you - it was suggested that 1) you get what you pay for so don't scrimp and 2) you should avoid the "mexican yam" psuedo and reach for no less than 900 mg per two ounces. At least this is the guide I am using.

It is my understanding that testosterone is what drives the libido. Would be interested in any feedback you get regarding this.

Good luck... my thoughts are with you...
Everything is in divine order... Kristal Vag Hyst/One ovary (HA) 09/95

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I am using a creme from GNC...Progesterone 900, it is 2 oz. That is enough for some women but not all. I am currently looking for something a little stronger. I have some websites, feel free to email me and I can send them to you for more cremes that have a higher concentrate. Also, as far as I know it is the testerone that is for the libido. I did get a script from the Dr. for that. My Dr also said that I didn't need the comounded or synthetic progest. due to the fact I have no uterus. So that is why many women use the OTC cremes...I hope this helps a little, feel free to email me if you would like.
Cindy LAVH/BSO 11-3-99

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If you look at the Aeron Labs site, under patient information, it gives a list of progesterone creams that they have verified the content of. Progesterone 900 from GNC is what I am using, and I use 1/2 tsp am and again in pm for total of 1 tsp day. I can definately see the difference.

There is a Renesance Cream that has approx 1500mg progesterone/oz. It goes for about $60 a 2 oz jar. I'd love to get it so I don't have to use so much cream at a time, but can't put out that much moola all at once. There are a couple of sisters who use it, and are happy with the results.

Definately progesterone helps those without a uterus. There are many, many of us here that are living proof. It would be least expensive if you could get a script from your doctor, especially if your insurance will cover it, but a majority of doctors seem to hold to the "no uterus-no progesterone needed" theory.

I'd like to clone Kathy's doctor and distribute him to all hystersisters around the world! If anyone stumbles upon a doctor in the Boston area who will prescribe progesterone for us hysterectomized women, please let me know!
CrisC tah/bso 9/14

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And to add my two cents.....Progesterone is the thing that can add libido.....and takes care of many of the other meno complaints...like insomnia and achiness....

It is progesterone that our bodies use to produce our own testosterone. Atleast this is from Dr. Lee's research and it's been proved out in me.

I don't take testosterone in any form...but I do take progesterone and I have no ovaries or uterus. I did a saliva test recently, after one whole year on tri-est and progesterone compounds...and my testosterone was in the completely normal range. My estrogens were a bit high....and we've adjusted those...but everything else was great....all without adding testosterone. My doctor doesn't like to add testosterone until the progesterone comes up short for a while. I've heard the body can take progesterone and create what it needs....like the testosterone. With progesterone, you can usually need less and less estrogens....
HOpe this helps...
Blessings galore, Kathy TAH/BSO (06/17/98)

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This is the brief overview of progesterone, Debbie. Ask more questions if this isn't clear anywhere.

There are 2 ways to get progesterone: over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx). OTC progesterone comes in cream form, and can be purchased by just walking into a health store (like GNC) or via the Internet. It does not require your doc's permission. The drawbacks are that the quality may be variable, the dose strength is relatively low (you have to put on a larger amount of cream to deliver a given dose of the drug), and it is not covered by insurance. It is more expensive on a per-dose basis than Rx.

Rx progesterone cream is made up by a compounding pharmacy to your doctors Rx, which specifies the strength. It delivers the dose in a lower volume of cream, is more reliably standardized, and may be covered by your insurance.

Rx progesterone also comes in 2 other forms. You can get a fixed-dose oil-based pill that you swallow, called Prometrium. You can also have a made-to-order customized-dose gummy pill that you dissolve under your tongue, called a troche. Troches are made by a compounding pharmacy to your doc's Rx.

A compounding pharmacy is one where your medication is made up in a customized dose out of the basic ingredients to your doc's Rx (or in a lower dose without). A dispensing pharmacy (the more common) only resells stock medications purchased from the drug manufacturer.

The best route (cream, troche, pill) for hormones seems to vary a lot from one woman to the next. There is data to indicate that you only get to "use" about 10-20% of a swallowed dose, but that works fine for many. Others can't absorb well through their skin, but do fine absorbing it through the inside of their mouth. How do you find out what works best for you? Trial and error (that's part of why this is a Jungle).

Some sisters whose docs initially turned down their requests for specific hormones have had good luck "educating" their docs by printing out the pull-downs from the Hormone Jungle home page. Lauren, the compounding pharmacist who is our safari guide through the Jungle, also has a doctor info packet that she will send you by e-mail request. You may also find helpful info for convincing your doc in the Hystersister Bookstore.

If that doesn't work or you want to change docs anyway, you can shop for a new doc. Lauren also can help you find a doctor willing to prescribe natural hormones, based on a zipcode that you e-mail her. She has offered to mailorder Rx or OTC compounded creams and Rx troches if you cannot find a comounding pharmacy near you. There is also a pull-down on the main page on how to find a compounding pharmacy.

I hope this isn't too overwhelming--it's a lot of stuff (and a whole new language) to soak up at once. You've got some recovery to do before you need to get too wrapped up in the Jungle--it takes awhile to be sure what you're seeing is the hormones and not just aftereffects of the surgery. Read the back posts--there've been several good ones lately explaining natural hormones. And Lauren and Kathy have posted some comments that may interest you about Estratest and the question of sythetic vs bio-identical hormones.

Read, read, read; then come back and ask more questions. You have lots of company here in the Jungle.
Sav, Alaska (tahbso 8/16/99)

This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

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