For example, can it be used to help to treat premenstrual insomnia by applying it just a few days a month when premenstrual insomnia occurs?

How about to "turn off" menstruation when periods last longer than 7 days?

(I've read dips in progesterone cause premenstrual insomnia and that periods that last longer than 7 days are due to a lack of progesterone, so I'm wondering if adding a little back just once in awhile has any effect.)

In the past, I've tried using progesterone cream to treat my peri symptoms both 2 weeks on/2 weeks off and 3 weeks on/1 week off and it turned me into an emotional basket case.

I would think you could use it occasionally for hormone related insomnia but I'm not sure you could use it to halt your period. I would think that would be a larger dose and not something your body would thank you for unless it was accustomed to it. You can cycle progesterone, many women do just that but they cycle each month. Not just occasionally. Of course this is just my opinion and hopefully those more qualified than I will chime in.

I can relate to the insomnia... it messes up the night and the whole next day and always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times.

K2sad,
Are you talking about over the counter progesterone cream? I think it would likely be safe for most people to use the progesterone cream on an "as needed" basis, but I don't know if it would be all that helpful to just use it for a few days at a time, since the progesterone (cream especially) needs time to build up in your system. It's possible that progesterone in a high enough dose could stop a prolonged period, however, in peri, it's just as likely that the prolonged spotting could be caused by low estrogen levels. In fact, if you take too much progesterone it could block your estrogen and actually contribute to the spotting. Very complicated I know! I would say talk to your doctor before you try experimenting with the progesterone. Good luck!
P.S.--Are you sure progesterone would help with your insomnia? In some people (me included) it makes my insomnia worse. BTW, I cycle my progesterone (Prometrium)--12 days per month. It works all right for me.

Thanks skiergirl! Yes, I was thinking about OTC progesterone cream.


That's interesting that progesterone could make insomnia worse for some of us. I had always read (from women's magazines like Family Circle, Glamour, etc. -my main source of knowledge- ) that it is the dip in progesterone that causes the insomnia. 'Just goes to show that you can't beleive everything your read!

Glad to see you gals are on the subject of progesterone cream, it saved me from starting a new topic!
I bought mine OTC at my local GNC store. I started 3/29 with the on 2 week off 1 week schedule. I am now off for this week. I've noticed this past week my hot flashes have diminished and i am cramping. I'm wondering if it's the cream starting to work and if my periods will return.

I've heard that too--I don't think it's necessarily wrong, I just think we are all different, expecially if we are in peri. If a woman is producing enough estrogen, progesterone could help her sleep. For some of us who are estrogen deficient the progesterone further blocks the estrogen and causes symptoms of low estrogen--one of which is insomnia. However, I know some menopausal women, even though they are estrogen deficient, seem to feel good using just progesterone cream. I guess it's a matter of figuring out what works for each of us.