Menopause Discussion > All things menopause

Progesterone intolerance OR not enough estrogen? Advice please!

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Misstowers:
Hi everyone, thanks for replying, I only just logged back in as, I don't know why, I was expecting an email to say I had replies, so I thought none had replied.  So thank you for taking the time to write, some really helpful advice and experiences.

I've had a really crap week, very depressed, tearful and lethargic, thus throwing the theory of progesterone intolerance out the window, as not had it since 12 nov. Have now been reading about Estrogen dominance and low testosterone and hence I now am so confused!

I went to my GP last Tuesday to ask about pessaries and she has prescribed me cyclogest but she had to look it all up and said she wasn't an expert. My husband wants me to see a private gyno, but it's a lot of cash and no guarantee it will help?? What do you think?

I feel like I'm still on an emotional rollercoaster, and whilst I don't expect to be happy and energetic all the time, it would be nice if it were a ‘bad week' or the odd bad day. Instead it feels like it's one day to the next, only had a handfull of good days this month, and this recent spell is going on and on. I couldn't face  work today which is really unlike me, I'm scared tbh that it will continue or get worse.

Any advice? On the private clinician, low testosterone, Estrogen dominance or depression?? (Sorry if this is the wrong thread....)

 

l1zzi313:
Hi I am Progesterone intolerant. I have to take natural remedies. I get severe abdominal pains, I have tried patches.
I still ,not sure I am taking all the right  things to help.

Ladybt28:
Cheers StellaJane - I really want my progesterone to be a low as possible but as you have probably read in other posts I am convinced I need testosterone and that is the missing piece of the puzzle (fingers crossed).

Hi Misstowers - you don't necessarily need specific pessaries for the progesterone element - its just here in the UK Utrogesten is prescribed to be taken orally when in fact in practice they can be used vaginally as a pessary and lots of UK consultants say to use it that way and loads of women on here use it that way.

I too am struggling with depression, lethargy and lack of motivation despite being on 4 pumps of gel which is considered a high dose, hence my comment above but I am just coming to end of my first 3 months on the gel/12 days utrogestan regime so I still might need some more time before I can try testosterone if I can get anyone here to prescribe it.  The thing is you are quite young at 42? and still peri which means you are still getting your own homones "chiming in" and providing surges on top of what you are taking which adds to the rollercoaster effect.

Misstowers:
Ladybt28, thanks for your comments and sorry to hear you are suffering too,  it's crap isn't it. yes you're right, I'm on the young side and peri meno so my own hormones are up and down, so there are times when I have surges and dips, with hrt on top of that, I don't know if I'm coming or going.

I've done a lot of research on the biology of all this yesterday plus reflected back on my own symptom diary and I've come to the conclusion that I personally possibly need a little less Estrogen and slightly more progesterone than the oral 100mg was giving me.

I think what I'm going through right now is really severe pmt (caused by my own rampant fluctuations and the HRT Estrogen on top with not enough Progesterone) and that I will have a natural (not utrogetson-withdrawal) period at the start of December... we will see...

I'm thinking if I reduce HRT to 1 sachet of 0.5 sandrena gel per day, and use the utrogeston as a pessary (effectively doubling the efficacy) I might even things out a bit, giving me enough of both not to send me too far either way... I've made an appointment with a gyno in any case and will float this idea to them, see what they say.

The other interesting thing that I read about yesterday was supporting your body to get rid of any excess Estrogen (if it needs to), as much of it it stored in fat and reabsorbed in the bowel, so it ends up building up. I didn't realise this until yesterday but too much Estrogen can wreak havoc and cause the similar symptoms as not enough.

So I'm getting some milk thistle, magnesium and flax seed to support my liver and bowels. I already take B vitamins everyday, and sea kelp to support my thyroid. Whilst I'm no doctor and don't claim to understand what's going on inside my body, especially at the minute, I want to help myself as much as poss.

There are supplements etc that you can take to help you to produce testosterone -  Vitamin D is a major one, I take it as an oral spray, tastes minty... you may be deficient especially at this time of year most people are due to a lack of sunlight...just a thought.

Good luck :-\

xjb:
Misstowers i must agree about the high level of oestrogen having a detrimental effect.  I started using oestrogel at the beginning of August after taking tablet sequi hrt for 6 months. 

I was given only vague instructions by the meno specialist i saw and started with 1 pump.  Increased to two cos i thought that was equivalent to the tablets and then got carried away and started 3 doses.  When i took the utrogesten i started to feel really dizzy.  Absolutely terrible and blamed that.  Stopped it after 2/3 days and thought i felt better but didn't really.

Ultimately i reduced the gel right down to only half a pump over about six weeks and then after another 2 stopped altogether.

I feel much less anxious,  bad tempered but am sleeping badly and having lots of hot flushes during the night.

My conclusion is it takes a long time for your body to get used to levels.  Don't rush it.  Be patient.

I felt the benefits physically for at least 3 weeks after i stopped the gel and then noticed more vaginal driness and hit flushes etc. more severely  than before.
 I'm going to see a specialist this afternoon.  My main concern is loss of libido and sensation and i find it totally depressing but I'm in such a quandary whether I'm actually better off without meds and less sex.

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