Progesterone Sensitivity

55 year old female here. I've only been on HRT a short time. .025 estradiol patch and 100mg progesterone. I get so tired and EXTREMELY depressed on progesterone, and my Dr tried to insert mirena but couldn't.
I've read that it's possible to insert the progesterone pill vaginally and still get the benefits of it.

Does anyone else have this issue? HRT has helped immensely with my emotions. I was truly suffering beforehand.

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A few years back, when things felt out of balance, I used a bioidentical progesterone cream with good results. I've never tolerated RX hormones well, and the cream is available OTC in a lot of areas. Topically applied sage oil was also surprisingly helpful- it has estrogen type compounds. There are some people who shouldn't use these (people who've had cancer, for example), and I'm not sure about combining them with traditional HRT. Some doctors support bioidenticals, it could be worth asking about?

If your issue is with hormone balance, then maybe research vitex. It's a plant that's been used for centuries, and it's very inexpensive. Vitex isn't hormonal, but my understanding is that it works by activating your body's ability to balance and regulate the hormones you have. So as your hormone levels shift at our age, vitex helps your body to keep them in balance with each other. Menopause became a non-event for me once I started using vitex. One problem with it, though, is that it can give you awful headaches the first few weeks you are taking it.

This is all very good information! Thank you for that. Im going to Google vitex

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Since I stopped progesterone/estradiol I am not suicidal anymore

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Progesterone can be a bear. I had the Mirena inserted and immediately became suicidal and very agitated and depressed. We pulled it "just to see" about 9 months in and found out that *for me* the small amounts of L-progesterone in the Mirena were too much and were causing one enormous bipolar episode. After my case my pdoc and gyn talked and found another person with the same reaction within a few months time. It was just such a tiny amount of hormones nobody thought it could possibly be the problem

I am at a high risk for breast cancer so will go through menopause without hormones as well as another med I'll take as soon as menopause is complete for 5 years that triggers menopause like symptoms in some women. It scares me that it could be hard but I'm glad I don't have to make the decision to go on hormones or not.

((((hugs)))) to both of you. It sounds like a potentially positive development. At least you now know what you can't, and shouldn't, tolerate.

Hopes and prayers that you can find a smooth ride through menopause. I was grateful to have found my solution. Prior to taking vitex, I'd sleep with a pile of clean towels and t-shirts next to the bed- waking up in the middle of the night having sweated enough that it felt like I'd just gotten out of a swimming pool. And the hot flashes were awful- they would often come in rapid succession and my head would feel so hot and tight, like it might pop. After vitex, it felt like I went back to being an eleven year old kid with very few hormonal issues.

Sending positive vibes to you.

I'm glad to know I'm not alone
I still have to check out Vitrex

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I hope you have a good support system to help you through this

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