Is Everyone on Estrogen also on progesterone?

I have used an estrogen patch for about 5 years with no progesterone at all...I recently had a dr prescribe prometrium, which doesn't seem to be working out, I guess I am just wondering why the dr never mentioned progesterone. I think I read where everyone who has no longer a uterus needs it, and should never take estrogen without it.

I am 10 yrs post op and 53, I did keep ovaries, but at 53, I am in full blown menopause, not much coming from them if anything.

Its the opposite really, everyone WITH a uterus needs progesterone with the estrogen. Estrogen alone causes endometrial hyperplasia and can progress to cancer. Without a uterus you can take it or not, depending on the situation and individual. But how they know when its good to add it---that is something I don't really understand. Its frustrating trying to figure what's right and might work. Good luck finding a balance.

I use both estrogen and progesterone, primarily for 2 reasons:

1. I have endometriosis and my dr would only allow ERT if I used progesterone at the same time to keep the endo suppressed.

2. If you're taking thyroid meds, adding progesterone seems to help with the issue of the estrogen hormone and the thyroid hormone competing for binding sites. Without the progesterone, my thyroid and estrogen seem to cancel each other out, giving symptoms of both low thyroid and low estrogen. Made a difference for me with adding progesterone.

Also, it seems to help me with weight stability. On estrogen alone or too high level of estrogen, I seem to put on water weight. Adding progesterone, or upping it when I am holding more water, helps it leave, which I like. I use oral progesterone capsules.

Yes Calypso I also have a low thyroid reading and so maybe this combo may work out if I can get through what have been some miserable side effects of major fatigue and muscle weakness.

I remember now, that's what I had read, if you have a uterus you need progesterone, but, I also have a hard time understanding the use or not use of any and all of these products.

Everytime I read something I see another name for a hormone product and can't figure out how people keep up with the brands and what they do....for some reason the info won't stay in retention in my head....perhaps that means I am lacking some hormone, it seems like rocket science to me...