Has anyone noticed weight gain while on Progesterone cream? I was reading some book today in B&N on Peri/Meno and I think I read that women gain weight when taking hormones, even natural ones. I was on the cream for 3 months and at the 3 month mark I was up 5lbs, and when I stopped, the 5lbs left. I'm going to start using it again soon. Just trying to get an idea from the club.
Corky
Full Version: Progesterone and weight gain
Oh yes! When I was on bio progesterone cream I was so bloated and I also gained about 6 pounds in one month! I had many other side effects so I stopped it and actually got no benefits in my case.
Hi Corky,
Yes I agree that using P cream can for some of us make a negetive thing happen with our bodies. If you think about it and read up on this hormone, progesterone is made by the body in the 2nd phase of your cycle, i.e. right before period. This is (in my way of thinking) the PMS hormone, so it goes with bloating and cravings.
I have read and experienced, that hormones should be in "balance", if taken correctly (which takes some trial and error) you should not gain weight, but rather loose weight.
I have taken bioidentical hormones mainly estrodiol, and have not gained weight. Since each person is different, you must try to find a balance. When I took only progesterone, I felt awful. Once I tried estrogen (bio's), I felt so much better. In my case, I think my estrogen is what is low, my progesterone seems to be fine. When I add progesterone, I think I over load my system and will feel sluggish and foggy.
Listen to your body, I spent many months trying to use progesterone cream and felt horrible everyday on it.
Take care, Juliann
Yes I agree that using P cream can for some of us make a negetive thing happen with our bodies. If you think about it and read up on this hormone, progesterone is made by the body in the 2nd phase of your cycle, i.e. right before period. This is (in my way of thinking) the PMS hormone, so it goes with bloating and cravings.
I have read and experienced, that hormones should be in "balance", if taken correctly (which takes some trial and error) you should not gain weight, but rather loose weight.
I have taken bioidentical hormones mainly estrodiol, and have not gained weight. Since each person is different, you must try to find a balance. When I took only progesterone, I felt awful. Once I tried estrogen (bio's), I felt so much better. In my case, I think my estrogen is what is low, my progesterone seems to be fine. When I add progesterone, I think I over load my system and will feel sluggish and foggy.
Listen to your body, I spent many months trying to use progesterone cream and felt horrible everyday on it.
Take care, Juliann
Thanks for your replies. I know that if you have too much progesterone you get tired. I am going to go for another blood test as soon as I get a period (when that will be, who knows) and I will get a little idea of what is going on, although one blood test on the third day doesn't give the entire picture. I figured since I only have on ovary I must be low on progesterone so I started to use it for like 3 months. I was going to start again, but now I think I will try oona1 for a few months and see what that does. Mostly I'm trying to control my rages, sadness, irritability, etc. and to get a little more regular. Maybe the vitex and black cohosh in oon1 will do the trick. And since I've steadily been losing weight and now am at goal from weight watchers I don't want to start seeing lbs on the scale.
I was curious to see who gained and who lost on the progesterone because I read so much about this Pro-Gest cream for months before I tried it myself. I read Dr. Lee and all the others extolling this therapy, etc. The first two months I used it I seemed fine, especially mood, but then on the third month I had a 5lb gain, so I stopped and I'm back in the rage world.
Anyone try the oona supplements. My health food store sells out of them all the time; the salesperson said it was very popular so I looked online and most of the reviews were very good. So I'm going to oona town for the next 3 months.
Thank you and feel well.
I was curious to see who gained and who lost on the progesterone because I read so much about this Pro-Gest cream for months before I tried it myself. I read Dr. Lee and all the others extolling this therapy, etc. The first two months I used it I seemed fine, especially mood, but then on the third month I had a 5lb gain, so I stopped and I'm back in the rage world.
Anyone try the oona supplements. My health food store sells out of them all the time; the salesperson said it was very popular so I looked online and most of the reviews were very good. So I'm going to oona town for the next 3 months.
Thank you and feel well.
Pro-Gest cream no effect at all on me; I don't believe it has an effective dose of progesterone. Prometrium, which is bioidentical progesterone, at 100 mg for the last 2 weeks of my cycle gave me bloating, constipation, carb cravings through the roof, weight gain especially around my middle, and very very cranky moods.
I think some women NEED progesterone supplementation and feel well on it, other don't feel well at all. As others have said, it's all about finding the appropriate BALANCE between estrogen and progesterone. If either one is too high or low, you don't feel so great!
I think some women NEED progesterone supplementation and feel well on it, other don't feel well at all. As others have said, it's all about finding the appropriate BALANCE between estrogen and progesterone. If either one is too high or low, you don't feel so great!
Hi Corky,
I notice that in your post you said that you have only "one" ovary??? Is that right?? I also have only one ovary, the other was removed due to some problems about 5 yrs ago, I was 44 then. It did seem to bring on sudden changes for me, and after that surgery is when peri seemed to hit me the hardest. I seemed to slip into a constant state of fatigue, and my periods started coming closer together, my cycles turned to 22 days apart.
Even though they say that still having one ovary is enough, I found that for me, it changed everything. That is why I decided to try hormones. It made a big difference once I had some estrogen (bioidentical).
I have also read that cream progesterone can store itself in body fat, causing months to rid of it's side effects, so be careful with that form of progesterone.
I can relate to the irritable feelings and some rage. Before I started on the HRT, I thought I was gonna scream at everyone, cause everyone was driving me insane.
I hope that you find some relief, sometimes we forget what it feels like to feel good again.
Hugs, Juliann
I notice that in your post you said that you have only "one" ovary??? Is that right?? I also have only one ovary, the other was removed due to some problems about 5 yrs ago, I was 44 then. It did seem to bring on sudden changes for me, and after that surgery is when peri seemed to hit me the hardest. I seemed to slip into a constant state of fatigue, and my periods started coming closer together, my cycles turned to 22 days apart.
Even though they say that still having one ovary is enough, I found that for me, it changed everything. That is why I decided to try hormones. It made a big difference once I had some estrogen (bioidentical).
I have also read that cream progesterone can store itself in body fat, causing months to rid of it's side effects, so be careful with that form of progesterone.
I can relate to the irritable feelings and some rage. Before I started on the HRT, I thought I was gonna scream at everyone, cause everyone was driving me insane.
I hope that you find some relief, sometimes we forget what it feels like to feel good again.
Hugs, Juliann
QUOTE (Juliann @ Nov 5 2007, 10:45 PM) 
Hi Corky,
Hey Juliann,
I had my right ovary out when I was 45 (2 years ago) and my doctor said since I still had one it would take over and I would be fine. Well I started to have worse PMS symptoms after that ovary came out. And then my period stopped coming on a regular visit every couple of months. Now it's not coming more often. I had my blood tested a year after the ovary removal and my doctor said my estrogen or estradiol, not sure which, was low and I was in menopause. He game me Prempro, but I never took it. He didn't believe in the Bios. Then I switched to a female doctor who was supposed to be educated in the bios and after she read the blood report from the year before she handed me Prempro too. I don't get hot flashes so I don't want to take that Prempro stuff. So I went back to her, then I guess since I seemed so out of sorts with everything, she gave me Paxil. Well, I have lost 40lbs and I was not about to put weight back on with Paxil. I went back. She gave me Effexor. Didn't take that either. I've been just taking a lot of vitamins and minerals, some Theanine, Passion Flower and following a good diet.
I'm taking my blood levels again as soon as I see red. If the numbers are low, she said she could write a prescription for the biohrt and I'm supposed to fax it somewhere in the midwest. What bio RX do you take that makes you feel better?
Colleen
Hugs, Juliann
Hey Juliann,
I had my right ovary out when I was 45 (2 years ago) and my doctor said since I still had one it would take over and I would be fine. Well I started to have worse PMS symptoms after that ovary came out. And then my period stopped coming on a regular visit every couple of months. Now it's not coming more often. I had my blood tested a year after the ovary removal and my doctor said my estrogen or estradiol, not sure which, was low and I was in menopause. He game me Prempro, but I never took it. He didn't believe in the Bios. Then I switched to a female doctor who was supposed to be educated in the bios and after she read the blood report from the year before she handed me Prempro too. I don't get hot flashes so I don't want to take that Prempro stuff. So I went back to her, then I guess since I seemed so out of sorts with everything, she gave me Paxil. Well, I have lost 40lbs and I was not about to put weight back on with Paxil. I went back. She gave me Effexor. Didn't take that either. I've been just taking a lot of vitamins and minerals, some Theanine, Passion Flower and following a good diet.
I'm taking my blood levels again as soon as I see red. If the numbers are low, she said she could write a prescription for the biohrt and I'm supposed to fax it somewhere in the midwest. What bio RX do you take that makes you feel better?
Colleen
Hugs, Juliann
I had purchased some progesterone cream about a month and a half ago, but chickened out on it for that reason! I'm taking DIM
instead(started this 6 weeks ago, so it might be too soon to tell how it's going to work on my body).
instead(started this 6 weeks ago, so it might be too soon to tell how it's going to work on my body).
Did anyone watch Oprah last week with Dr. Oz on anti-aging? I bring this up because yesterday at the bookstore I looked over his book Oprah was pushing, and he explained that when you don't ovulate, your ovary does not make any progesterone (as we all know) and ovulation raises body temperature in conjunction with the progesterone. So he says that without that increase in temp, which increases metabolism, that is why peri (some cycles don't ovulate) and menopausal women gain weight. He then said that adding progesterone in the latter half of the cycle increase metabolism and will burn more calories.
I have no idea whether that is true, and I think I got that pretty close to what he said. I had just never read that before. I think the difference would be very slight, at any rate.
I have no idea whether that is true, and I think I got that pretty close to what he said. I had just never read that before. I think the difference would be very slight, at any rate.
Hi
I believe the ovulation thing is true. I have just started to chart my temp's in the morning, and have done this for a month now. Sure enough, at mid-month my temp went up and spiked for a few days, then it lowered (probably why I am in peri), but I did get a period.
I wish I had been taking my temp during the few months that I skipped periods, that way I would have known that I was not ovulating. Does anyone else take their temps???
Thanks, Juliann
I believe the ovulation thing is true. I have just started to chart my temp's in the morning, and have done this for a month now. Sure enough, at mid-month my temp went up and spiked for a few days, then it lowered (probably why I am in peri), but I did get a period.
I wish I had been taking my temp during the few months that I skipped periods, that way I would have known that I was not ovulating. Does anyone else take their temps???
Thanks, Juliann
I had my left ovary removed in 1991. I noticed things right away like having trouble with nouns. Sure I could describe something but the name escaped me. I still have this issue closer to when my period is due. That is also when I started to have troubles falling and staying asleep. Gyno said..."the other ovary takes over" and I bought that for a long time then I thought..hey....ovarys take turns doing their jobs. If one is gone..does the other fire off every month? If so..then don't they tire out quicker OR if they don't fire off every month, don't we end up with imbalance? He had no answer to those questions. So today at 45 --soon to be 46--I have going it alone for the past 4 years with all kinds of symptoms and being told "you are too young". All the while I know that my life changed 16 years ago and it's been downhill since. I also know that having one ovary put me into peri sooner than the "book" says and because of that, I have to deal with things on my own. So..now I'm babbling! 
QUOTE (Toobusy @ Nov 14 2007, 02:24 AM)
I had my left ovary removed in 1991. I noticed things right away like having trouble with nouns. Sure I could describe something but the name escaped me. I still have this issue closer to when my period is due. That is also when I started to have troubles falling and staying asleep. Gyno said..."the other ovary takes over" and I bought that for a long time then I thought..hey....ovarys take turns doing their jobs. If one is gone..does the other fire off every month? If so..then don't they tire out quicker OR if they don't fire off every month, don't we end up with imbalance? He had no answer to those questions. So today at 45 --soon to be 46--I have going it alone for the past 4 years with all kinds of symptoms and being told "you are too young". All the while I know that my life changed 16 years ago and it's been downhill since. I also know that having one ovary put me into peri sooner than the "book" says and because of that, I have to deal with things on my own. So..now I'm babbling!
Dear Toobusy,
First, you do not sound at all like you are babbling. It sounds like legitimate story-telling, which all of us do regularly. Don't be afraid to vent!
Doctors are so different. If one does not listen, I say find another. I feel that we all need to be militant consumers of medical care. No one knows better than you what is going on with your body. I suggest that you find a doctor who will listen carefully to what you have to say. Sometimes it takes a little looking and the usual combinations of doctors are not always the ones you might expect to get you on the right road. I had just HORRIBLE symptoms of meno and it is a great female GYN and a fabulous male psychiatrist who have got me on an upward progression.
Take good care and let us know how you are doing.
Marcy
QUOTE (Toobusy @ Nov 14 2007, 01:24 AM)
I had my left ovary removed in 1991. I noticed things right away like having trouble with nouns. Sure I could describe something but the name escaped me. I still have this issue closer to when my period is due. That is also when I started to have troubles falling and staying asleep. Gyno said..."the other ovary takes over" and I bought that for a long time then I thought..hey....ovarys take turns doing their jobs. If one is gone..does the other fire off every month? If so..then don't they tire out quicker OR if they don't fire off every month, don't we end up with imbalance? He had no answer to those questions. So today at 45 --soon to be 46--I have going it alone for the past 4 years with all kinds of symptoms and being told "you are too young". All the while I know that my life changed 16 years ago and it's been downhill since. I also know that having one ovary put me into peri sooner than the "book" says and because of that, I have to deal with things on my own. So..now I'm babbling!
So your doctors are telling you are too young? Too young for what I wonder. I stopped having periods at 46.5 years old. I am over 8 months now with nothing. Sure I was in peri for many years before this. My peri was managable for the most part...although looking back with 20/20 hindsight I see that I had symptoms that I just didn't recognise at the time! So don't let anyone tell you that you are too young!! The average age is 51.4 years....but that is an average so obviously there are women younger than that and women older than that!! Sheesh, how can doctors be to stupid??
I am sorry you are having problems and not feeling well. Good luck in your journey to restoring your health!!
Kathie
So your doctors are telling you are too young? Too young for what I wonder. I stopped having periods at 46.5 years old. I am over 8 months now with nothing. Sure I was in peri for many years before this. My peri was managable for the most part...although looking back with 20/20 hindsight I see that I had symptoms that I just didn't recognise at the time! So don't let anyone tell you that you are too young!! The average age is 51.4 years....but that is an average so obviously there are women younger than that and women older than that!! Sheesh, how can doctors be to stupid??
I am sorry you are having problems and not feeling well. Good luck in your journey to restoring your health!!
Kathie
I have not gained any weight during the 9 months I've been using Pro-Gest. Not saying it can't happen to others, but it certainly doesn't happen to all.
I used progest and had no weight gain but did gain some with prometrium. Now I have to see if I can get the weight off while still on it. I don't have carb cravings though as some reported.
I definitely think that this depends upon whether you have too much estrogen at various times of the month, or too little estrogen... If you have too little estrogen and add the progesterone then you will probably gain weight. On the other hand, if you have too much estrogen and add progesterone then you probably won't see any change in your weight...in fact you will probably see some weight loss.
I think the key in what everyone is saying is to listen to YOUR body and what it is trying to tell you...sometimes it's screaming that is too much back off...sometimes it is saying that is not good for me! Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don't!
TJ
I think the key in what everyone is saying is to listen to YOUR body and what it is trying to tell you...sometimes it's screaming that is too much back off...sometimes it is saying that is not good for me! Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don't!
TJ
QUOTE (corky21 @ Nov 4 2007, 07:14 PM)
Has anyone noticed weight gain while on Progesterone cream? I was reading some book today in B&N on Peri/Meno and I think I read that women gain weight when taking hormones, even natural ones. I was on the cream for 3 months and at the 3 month mark I was up 5lbs, and when I stopped, the 5lbs left. I'm going to start using it again soon. Just trying to get an idea from the club.
Corky
Corky
I have been in BHRT progesterone cream for 2 1/2 years I have not gained any weight and have lost 7 pounds. I know that if you are too high a dose it can make you gain weight. BHRT progesterone is a natural diaretic and should hlep you lose weight if dosed properly. Most docs give way too much 100 mg or more ! Our body only makes about 50 mg daily before peri. Too mch is not good but very beneficial in proper doses. This is from my experience and my moms who is post Meno.
wendy
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