13-02-2016, 14:15
Progesterone cream and BCP - (waxingmoon or someone)
June 25 2009 at 7:13 PM CousinRose (Login CousinRose)
I am almost sure I have to little progesterone and I want to try to take natural progesterone cream. However I am using the birth control pill (the one with progesterone only) and was wondering if it would effect the natural progesterone cream. Does anyone know?
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Progesterone cream and BCP - (waxingmoon or someone)
June 25 2009, 8:44 PM
Hi CousinRose,
You being on birth control pills complicates things. The artificial progesterone within your pill connects to your progesterone receptors but does not have all of the effects as natural progesterone.
If you looked at a molecule of artificial progesterone its shape resembles testosterone more than natural progesterone. For hormones, the shape of the molecule is very important.
Think of it this way. The lock to your car door is specific to your car. Other car keys won't even fit the lock. Keys similar to the make of your car will fit the lock but won't open the door. If you have an older model car with a glove box they used to make valet keys that would open the car door and start the engine but would not open the glove box. The artificial progesterone is sort of like that valet key. It can do some of the things that natural progesterone can do, but not all of them.
But the artificial progesterone does fit into the 'lock' - it does this and keeps the natural progesterone from getting there. If you were to take your BCP and also use natural progesterone cream then there would be a competition. Some of your receptors might get the natural, but some of them would get the artificial. This would modify and reduce your results.
Also, I am not sure that using progesterone cream while you are already taking enough artificial progesterone to make your body think it is pregnant would be a good idea. You can get too much progesterone.
Dr John Lee who wrote the book "what your doctor may not tell you about premenopause" says that those who use birth control do not benefit from using progesterone cream due to the competition issue.
Your body is being held in an artificial state where it thinks it is pregnant. This means you do not ovulate. That would make using vitex useless as well.
I would say for you - as long as you remain on BCP especially the progesterone only one a hormone test will not give you any useful information. The test might say you had enough progesterone - but if it was the artificial kind then you might still have estrogen dominance symptoms.
I really don't know how to advise you to proceed while using the BCP. Progesterone/estrogen BCP are also a problem in this regard. If it wouldn't result in an unplanned pregnancy I would suggest finding another form of birth control if your estrogen dominance symptoms are very bad.
In the mean time you might try lowering your estrogen by using crushed flaxseed. This low potency phytoestrogen will attach to your estrogen receptors and block them from more potent estrogen.
Best wishes,
waxingmoon
June 25 2009 at 7:13 PM CousinRose (Login CousinRose)
I am almost sure I have to little progesterone and I want to try to take natural progesterone cream. However I am using the birth control pill (the one with progesterone only) and was wondering if it would effect the natural progesterone cream. Does anyone know?
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Progesterone cream and BCP - (waxingmoon or someone)
June 25 2009, 8:44 PM
Hi CousinRose,
You being on birth control pills complicates things. The artificial progesterone within your pill connects to your progesterone receptors but does not have all of the effects as natural progesterone.
If you looked at a molecule of artificial progesterone its shape resembles testosterone more than natural progesterone. For hormones, the shape of the molecule is very important.
Think of it this way. The lock to your car door is specific to your car. Other car keys won't even fit the lock. Keys similar to the make of your car will fit the lock but won't open the door. If you have an older model car with a glove box they used to make valet keys that would open the car door and start the engine but would not open the glove box. The artificial progesterone is sort of like that valet key. It can do some of the things that natural progesterone can do, but not all of them.
But the artificial progesterone does fit into the 'lock' - it does this and keeps the natural progesterone from getting there. If you were to take your BCP and also use natural progesterone cream then there would be a competition. Some of your receptors might get the natural, but some of them would get the artificial. This would modify and reduce your results.
Also, I am not sure that using progesterone cream while you are already taking enough artificial progesterone to make your body think it is pregnant would be a good idea. You can get too much progesterone.
Dr John Lee who wrote the book "what your doctor may not tell you about premenopause" says that those who use birth control do not benefit from using progesterone cream due to the competition issue.
Your body is being held in an artificial state where it thinks it is pregnant. This means you do not ovulate. That would make using vitex useless as well.
I would say for you - as long as you remain on BCP especially the progesterone only one a hormone test will not give you any useful information. The test might say you had enough progesterone - but if it was the artificial kind then you might still have estrogen dominance symptoms.
I really don't know how to advise you to proceed while using the BCP. Progesterone/estrogen BCP are also a problem in this regard. If it wouldn't result in an unplanned pregnancy I would suggest finding another form of birth control if your estrogen dominance symptoms are very bad.
In the mean time you might try lowering your estrogen by using crushed flaxseed. This low potency phytoestrogen will attach to your estrogen receptors and block them from more potent estrogen.
Best wishes,
waxingmoon