27-09-2012, 14:54
I've been thinking a lot about the different cycling (or non-cycling) schedules used for PM. I've never been perfectly clear on why some schedules that work very well for some people are a disaster for others. I know that most basic, safest cycling schedule is to take PM during follicular phase, stopping a day or 2 before ovulation. This schedule may not cause growth for everyone, but it doesn't usually cause many problems either. Some women become very sick with constant spotting, for example, or get extremely heavy periods, when they take PM for more than roughly 2 weeks per cycle.
On the other hand, there are some people who are symptom free and who's cycles are perfectly regular while taking PM for 3 weeks per cycle. Often these same women experience problems when they try to take PM for two weeks or less. What gives? I'm assuming that the PM is suppressing ovulation in these women, and that their period begins automatically when they take a break from PM every month. This method appeals to me because it seems like it could be the most efficient, but only if there's a way to get around massive estrogen receptor down regulation. PC obviously resensitizes estrogen receptors, but to what degree? Can 1 week of PC really completely undo the down regulation that might happen to estrogen receptors during 3 weeks of PM use? What if using PC for 1 week every month eventually gave me excessive progesterone? Is that likely to happen, and could I take a month off from PC at that point without causing problems? Should I take my week of PC during my period even though progesterone is usually lowest at that time?
I haven't even mentioned some of the more complicated or unusual cycling methods. For example, some people take PM during follicular phase and then take a lower dose of PM on days 18-24. If I remember correctly, the instructions for Bella's PM say to take it for 15 days starting on the day after menstruation. And of course, Isabelle came up with the most complex cycling schedule of all, but I'm not sure if anyone ever actually tried it. I've seen plenty of other weird cycling variations as well.
So does anyone have any ideas, suggestions, or corrections? How should I cycle my PM and PC? What do you think are the pros and cons of some of these cycling schedules? I'm asking mainly about how best to cycle PM, but figuring out correct scheduling and dosing for PC is, if anything, even more confusing
On the other hand, there are some people who are symptom free and who's cycles are perfectly regular while taking PM for 3 weeks per cycle. Often these same women experience problems when they try to take PM for two weeks or less. What gives? I'm assuming that the PM is suppressing ovulation in these women, and that their period begins automatically when they take a break from PM every month. This method appeals to me because it seems like it could be the most efficient, but only if there's a way to get around massive estrogen receptor down regulation. PC obviously resensitizes estrogen receptors, but to what degree? Can 1 week of PC really completely undo the down regulation that might happen to estrogen receptors during 3 weeks of PM use? What if using PC for 1 week every month eventually gave me excessive progesterone? Is that likely to happen, and could I take a month off from PC at that point without causing problems? Should I take my week of PC during my period even though progesterone is usually lowest at that time?
I haven't even mentioned some of the more complicated or unusual cycling methods. For example, some people take PM during follicular phase and then take a lower dose of PM on days 18-24. If I remember correctly, the instructions for Bella's PM say to take it for 15 days starting on the day after menstruation. And of course, Isabelle came up with the most complex cycling schedule of all, but I'm not sure if anyone ever actually tried it. I've seen plenty of other weird cycling variations as well.
So does anyone have any ideas, suggestions, or corrections? How should I cycle my PM and PC? What do you think are the pros and cons of some of these cycling schedules? I'm asking mainly about how best to cycle PM, but figuring out correct scheduling and dosing for PC is, if anything, even more confusing