Hi Girls, I no some of you have explained that skipping out on Progesterone may be a good idea if I don't have a uterus. There are so many different views/opinions. I have been feeling unmotivated, depressed & tired. Was thinking about cutting out the progesterone completely to see what happens.

What are your thoughts on the P?
Thank you,
Amber

Amber,

I would try cutting it out or drastically reducing it and see what happens. A lot of women do have trouble with it. I stopped using progesterone and my worst symptom(heart skips) improved. I'm hoping and praying it stays improved because I know how much of a rollercoaster the symptoms can be... here for awhile and then gone for a couple months and back again... We can only experiment with the hormones until we find what works best. You don't need it since you have no uterus, so you are free to stop it if you choose to.

Happymom

Hey Amber, I am glad you posted on the board. I am sure that you will get a lot of reponse.
I read that even though a woman has no uterus or ovaries, she still needs progesterone. Many Ob-Gyn’s would disagree with this. If only the uterus needed progesterone, you could just throw it out the door; however, every cell in our body needs progesterone.



The most important is our brains.

In case of serious head injuries, they are now using progesterone in men and women with excellent results. It cuts down on brain injury and death.


Progesterone balances estrogen and opposes the stimulating effect of estrogen on the cells of the body.

Progesterone is also the hormone which stimulates new bone formation and is needed. E keeps bones strong, but only progest. builds it.

If you can tolerate it...keep taking it. You'll know soon enough how you are doing on it...and even if you start not feeling good, you can then adjust the dosage. I would do exactly what your doc says to do at this point.

Shebee

Hey Amber,

I do agree that we probably need some Progesterone in our system. However, since you don't have an uterus you have the option of taking NONE. I am a firm believer in listening to ones body. If the P is making you symptomatic and miserable - then by all means discontinue it and see how you feel. It might take quite awhile to clear your system. (2 weeks after my last dose of Prometrium I still had the blood levels of a pregnant woman.) Although I dislike prometrium intensely (and probably other P, but haven't tried those yet) I am trying to remain impartial on this subject. There are many things written about the issue of using P with or especially without a uterus.

I really liked something I read in a book called (Sex, Lies, and Menopause) about how our own hormone production varies throughout the month. So then with optimal HRT we should strive for the same monthly rise and fall of hormones. So many docs prescribe continuous (steady amounts) of both E and P for their patients. Why? Because its easiest to dose and docs assume most women don't want to have a period (once officially Menopausal). HOWEVER, these are not real periods (just withdrawal bleed and extremely minimal as the years progress in post). OOOPS, sorry I'm on a roll here..... Forgot you don't have the uterus. However, why not mimic what nature had us doing all these years?

Anyway, if you agree with the school of thought that you need some P to help something on a cellular level (sorry don't really know the correct words at the moment) then either: 1. acclimate to what you're taking (if possible) 2. Discontinue the P and see how you feel. 3. Cycle in the P periodically (ask your doc for a dosage adjustment. 4. Get a second docs opionion

Best Wishes for you, JZZ (the one who dislike Prometrium)

Hello!Thank you for all of your suggestions and information!!I emailed my Dr. and told her how I was feeling, without even mentioning the P concerns. I hadn't thought of it at the time?She wants to increast my dose of P from 15mg to 30mg?

As soon as I read your first post I thought "she needs more P". I don't have a uterus either and use P non stop without a break. Why would any Doctor say a woman doesn't need P just because they don't have a uterus? Without P you become E dominant! P does so much more than just making our Uterus ready to hold a child. Some of us are just unlucky and can't wing it. If the lack of energy continues then you might want to have another blood serum done and check cortisol and the thyroid. I am also using b-12 injections which seem to greatly help with the energy. I also started ARmor Thyro a few weeks back and just seem to feel better and better each day. The P did wonders for me but the other things I do believe help as well.

I do D3, B-12, multi vitamins, Mag/calc, Progesterone in the oil caps and the armor thyro.