12-10-2011, 17:41
Much of the confusion about PM cycling started on the second half of this F.A.Q page of Bella's, a PM vendor:
http://www.bellasbeautifullbust.com/FAQ-dosage.html
The text recommends starting PM on the last day of the period, and continuing for 15 days, based on a misconception about the estrogen cycle, assuming that estrogens are high for 15 days after the last day of the period. In reality, estrogens drop on day 12, counting from the first day of the period as day 1.
The text is right to recommend a gradual dose increase after the period. From day 25 to the last day of the period, estrogens are naturally at their lowest, but not zero. After the period, estrogens gradually increase up to day 11 (for a 28 day cycle). On day 12, estrogens drop steeply. The natural decrease is not all the way to zero, but so far, best results have been achieved by stopping PM completely until the ovulation is over.
A modest dose can then be continued up to, and including, day 24. As long as this dose is accompanied by enough sources of progesterone to ensure progesterone dominance, and as long as the decrease of estrogens on day 25 is not a sharp stop. A sharp stop could trigger another ovulation.
The last paragraph on Bella's F.A.Q. page recommends a decrease of the PM dose if the cycle is messed up. I agree that stopping altogether is not the right thing to do. It will just trigger another ovulation
http://www.bellasbeautifullbust.com/FAQ-dosage.html
The text recommends starting PM on the last day of the period, and continuing for 15 days, based on a misconception about the estrogen cycle, assuming that estrogens are high for 15 days after the last day of the period. In reality, estrogens drop on day 12, counting from the first day of the period as day 1.
The text is right to recommend a gradual dose increase after the period. From day 25 to the last day of the period, estrogens are naturally at their lowest, but not zero. After the period, estrogens gradually increase up to day 11 (for a 28 day cycle). On day 12, estrogens drop steeply. The natural decrease is not all the way to zero, but so far, best results have been achieved by stopping PM completely until the ovulation is over.
A modest dose can then be continued up to, and including, day 24. As long as this dose is accompanied by enough sources of progesterone to ensure progesterone dominance, and as long as the decrease of estrogens on day 25 is not a sharp stop. A sharp stop could trigger another ovulation.
The last paragraph on Bella's F.A.Q. page recommends a decrease of the PM dose if the cycle is messed up. I agree that stopping altogether is not the right thing to do. It will just trigger another ovulation