Do I have to stop using progesterone cream for a week?

Hi - I had a TAH more than 2 years ago, but I am 29 and have had some trouble keeping my hormone levels where they need to be. I am on a high dose of estrogen (2.5 mg of premarin) and my doc says (after blood work came back normal) that I don't absorb it efficiently so I don't do well on lower doses. I would like to try bio-identicals or some other formula, but he says I probably won't tolerate them well either. (How does he know??) Anyway, I read thru the list of too much/too little symptoms and I really think I have too little progesterone. He told me that since I have no uterus progesterone is not necessary and I shouldn't take it. I asked about OTC creams and he said they probably weren't effective due to the low doses, but if all I need is a low dose... !?
I wondered if anyone could tell me what they've experienced. Do those creams work? Do you feel better with them? And, I did pick one up to look at the label and it said to use it every night for 3 weeks and then take a week off. Is that necessary if you don't have a uterus? And why do they suggest the week off? Thanks so much for any info - this site has been so helpful! My husband farms and we had the worst crop year in our farm's history last year, but if things are better this year I will be donating as much as I can to this site! Thanks - J.

HI

Many women don't absorb oral estrogen as well as they would a transdermal estrogen and vice versa.

When you take estrogen orally, the liver deactivates approximately 95% of it when it enters the digestive track, gets broken down and then transported to the liver.

When you use estrogen transdermally (such as a patch or cream) it does not go through the break down process. It enters the blood stream and circulates throughout your system. You also are able to use a much lower dose this way. So it may be worth a try to use a different delivery system in your case.

Some doctors think that we only need progesterone to protect the uterus from unopposed estrogen. Women who still have a uterus do need to use progesterone with their estrogen to protect against uterine cancer. So they think no uterus-no progesterone. There are progesterone receptors throughout the entire body and many women find that they still receive many benefits from using progesterone.

I have tried the OTC progesterone creams before. For me they were not strong enough, so I choose to use a prescription strength.

They can and do work for many women. You just need to be sure that you are buying the real stuff. Some creams claim to contain progesterone, when in reality there is no real progesterone in them. You would want to make sure it says USP progesterone on the label. Also the strength should contain at least 450 mg of progesterone per ounce of cream.

There is no need to take a week off the progesterone if you do not have ovaries that are producing progesterone. The direction on the labels are for women going through natural menopause. They need to cycle their progesterone because they are still producing estrogen and adding progesterone may cause their menstrual cycles to return, also they need the lining of the uterus to completely shed each month. The shedding takes place when the progesterone levels drop.

Women without ovaries may experience fluctuating hormones if they cycle it.

It may be helpful to keep a journal and track your symptoms if you start making changes with your current HRT. This will help you to know what hormone and doses help to relieve your symptoms.

Thank you so much for all the info! It can be so confusing sometimes, and sometimes I feel like my doctor doesn't have the time (or the inclination) to explain it all to me. I really appreciate your help!
Have a great day!
J.

I totally agree with the dr. Mine just shrugged and said he doesn't know anything about herbs or natural hormones. He just said i am young so i need to be on them for 10 years or so. I can't take anything for 3 months- he said progesterone cream is fine- i got some off ebay so i will try it this weekend. I am also so confused about what to take- i feel like i have to tell them what i want or else i am going to get what the sales people push for the dr's. The journal is a good idea! I never could tolerate the pill- so i do not think i will be able to tolerate s synthetic hormone. But i do not want to spend an arm and a leg to get compounding! I am going to research prescription bio-identical hormones- call me insurance and see what they cover. I have 3 months! I love hearing what works for everyone.

I wanted to add that the creams and other topical formats work great for many of us. Everyone is different and their skin is different as well. For some women the patches don't stay on but the creams work. Other women find that their skin doesn't have good absorption properties. I'm getting my hormones formulated in a topical drop. It seems to be a great option for me. There are many, many options out there to use in finding :balanc:. Don't give up.

If your doctor isn't willing to try different methods of delivery with you, maybe there is another doctor who will. There are many great books recomended on this site that can help you understand your options. I found my doctor by word of mouth. I learned that a friend who is hitting peri-menopause was taking a compounded prescription for progesterone I found out what doctor she was seeing. If you don't have very many "almost menopause" women in your circle of friends (you're so young ), you might contact a compounding pharmacy and give them a call to see what doctors they work with on compounded prescriptions. I did that too and now I work with a wonderful doctor and two fantastic pharmacist. This link can help you locate a compounding pharmacist in your zipcode area: http://www.iacprx.org/site/PageServe...name=home_page

I hope this all helps. I'm finding more and more that :balanc: is where it's all at.

All the best,

~Lilbelle