I'm currently using compounded progesterone cream and will be adding some vaginal P cream next week. Never used it before , have no idea what to expect.
Any recommendations, cautions and others experiences would be appreciated.

Thank you....;-)

I really liked it. It came in a plunger, very easy to insert. I did one plunger every other day for 3-5 days. I didn't experience any bloat, or fatigue, or increased appetite. I felt great, even a little randy . I should warn you though that if your E levels aren't high enough you may not have the same affect. I do beleive that it requires good E levels to be able to tolerate P. Also, I did bleed afterwards but it was minimal and only for 1.5 days.

Hi there,

Thanks for that. Randy, eh? Can't remember that feeling....;-)
Are you supplementing with E? How much do you use? What dose of P are you using?
So you are cycling the P? Are you post?
At this point I am using both E and P continuously and have never cycled....I am post. Wouldn't even know where to start.


c

C,

I'm post by about 2 years. When I first started supplementing I was taking continuously but didn't feel much better. Of course at the time I was taking compounds and I wasn't absorbing the E. My blood levels of E only got up to 17 after 1.5 years. I then started taking the oral E, (generic Estrace 1 mg, 1.5 tablets a day) and my E is at about 220. Probably too high and I have just recently dropped it to 1 tablet a day while occassionaly taking the 1.5. I cycle in the P every other month. (prochieve 4) The doctor suggested I schedule it on odd or even months as a way to remember and then just choose the first 10 days or the last 10 days. Trying to keep it simple. I confess, it's still hard for me to remember. Did I choose Odd or Even? So I mark it on the calendar. u

Due to having changed insurances and my insurance no longer willing to pay for the prochieve, I did switch to the prometrium (100 mg) last time. I was bloated, ravenous and depressed. I've since been trying to find an alternative source to purchase the prochieve from. Although I may just bite the bullet and pay for it. One box will actually last me 3 months.

What is the vaginal P that you will be taking?

Hi carolH,

Just got a call from my compounding pharmacist to tell me that my vag P is ready for pick up. It's 30% strength, I guess I am supposed to use 1 ml/night. It's cream not gel. He said that gel does a better job absorbing, but we'll try the cream for 2 months and see how it goes. Because I'm sensitive to P, he suggested that I start with 1/2 ml and build up.
I haven't decided whether to use it continuously or to cycle it yet.
When you cycle off it, do you get a bleed?
I have come off my transdermal P once in a while and don't bleed at all. Just a slight stain, but that's about it.
How does that work for you?

I hope you work things out with your insurance so you can use what you want. I have used Prometrium and you are right on about it....I could not stop eating on that stuff.....;-) Weird how some ladies can use it without trouble and others can't use it at all...

c

I think if you cycle it, you will feel much better. I do get a bleed but only a stain or at the most just enough for a light pad and then only for about 2 days. I only cycle in the P every other months or sometimes every 3rd month so that may be why. If you do it each month you may not see anything.

I wonder what the difference is between compounded transdermal and compoounded vaginal cream? Perhaps it's the filler they use. I've seen some generic vaginal P gel online that is pretty cheap but considering where it's going, I hesitate to get it from a source I don't know anything about. I do get my T compounded though so I may ask to see how much it would cost for that.

Good luck! I'd like to see how you feel once you are off the daily P. I imagine your energy will soar.

Hey there,

Thanks for the info. I think if I cycle, I will probably cycle the P in monthly. I guess it will be a trial and error thing just like all the rest of it....;-(
My pharm told me that I should do much better on the vaginal P because the absorption is far superior to that of the transdermal P, so I should be able to get away with using much less.
He also said that the gel works slightly better, but my doc ordered cream. I've got 2 months to give it a try and switch then if I want to.
I wonder what the cost difference is between the compounded stuff and the commercial products like Crinone and (jeez, can't remember the name of the other one.....:-). I'll bet it's less. You could check that comparison out.

I've stopped taking everything for now. I wanted to see if I would have a bleed (not) and clear my system before I start again. I feel pretty good except for some weird stomach issues (it's always something).


c

Have you tried using the prometrium vaginally? I could not tolerate it orally, but do very well using it vaginally.

I have tried prometrium orally, it messed with my liver function, and made me hungry and fat and lethargic. I tried the prometrium vaginally and got migraines, I tried transdermal P and got migraines.

I haven't used it for a month now, cuz I am sort of scared and don't know how much or what delivery system to try at this point.

I couldn't take Prometrium after a number of months either. I got the same effects from it; ravenous hunger, bloating and water weight gain.
I also tried it vaginally and got really weird, painful pains in my thighs. Strange, eh?
Transdermal cream works for me as long as my E is at the proper dose. But, usually at some point, I can feel that it's starts to build up in my system and I start to feel sluggish and tired.
I'm hoping that the vag P will not give me these side effects, but I will use a tiny bit of transdermal P for it's other benefits (breast, bone etc.).

What strength of P cream are you using? Can you get a lower strength and try a small amount?