“Natural” progesterone supplementation is the cornerstone of many holistic physician’s treatment plan for Women’s Health issues such as:

PMS & Menstrual Cycle Regulation

Perimenopausal Symtpoms

         Infertility, especially Luteal Phase Defect (LPD)

There are several benefits to progesterone supplementation. There are also several drawbacks. The key is knowing if/at what time in the cycle  progesterone is needed. Hormone prescriptions can have strong effects in the body-some expected and some unforeseen. If hormones are taken at the wrong time in the cycle, or by the wrong patient, they can do more harm than good. The following case studies illustrate my concerns and observations regarding the misuse of progesterone supplementation:

1. Emily was 38 when I met with her for the first time. She wanted a second child. She had been trying to conceive again for two years. She had been diagnosed with LPD. She was breast feeding her 4 year old girl. Her Naturopathic doctor prescribed progesterone, without any blood work (including prolactin-the hormone which would have indicated if breast feeding was keeping was keeping her from ovulating). In an effort to regulate her cycles, the physician prescribed progesterone. The plan did not work because the cause of Emily’s LPD was rooted in poor blood sugar control. This root cause of her low progesterone levels was never addressed. She was not advised of herbal alternatives to progesterone supplementation. She was never made aware of why her progesterone was low, or why she was struggling to conceive.

2. Nicole wanted desperately to conceive. She was 37. Her cycles were irregular. She had terrible PMS consisting of: breast distention, irritability, bloating, irregular cycles plus she suffered from LPD.  She went to a chiropractor who “specialized in fertility”. She had plenty of blood work done. However, it was taken at inconsistent times in her cycle, so no pattern could be made of the results. This yielded NO reliable information. That didn’t stop her physician from prescribing progesterone. The patient was over-medicated and not ovulating. Her testosterone and estrogen were WAY TOO HIGH for conception to occur.  Why? Because giving a single hormone has ramifications. For this patient, it stopped her ovulation, and made her feel terrible.

3. Jenny was a healthy 36 year-old mother of 2 who wanted to conceive another child. Her cycles never returned to normal after the birth of her last child. She ovulated on cycle day 13, her cervical mucus pattern was normal, her BBT chart showed ovulation, with a low, sawtooth luteal phase. She was given progesterone cream and directed to apply it twice daily from cycle day 15 through 27. If her menstruation did not occur on cycle day 28, she was to stop the progesterone. Not only did Jenny take progesterone at the correct time in her cycle, given her desire to conceive, she also boosted her fertility by taking herbal formulas and receiving acupuncture treatments at critical phases in her cycle. The result was a stronger ovulation, which lead to a stronger luteal phase and a higher progesterone level. Her uterus was able to accept an embryo, nourish it and keep it. The progesterone supplementation increased her fertility. It was truly a supplementation to the path she set in motion with her life changes and treatments.

What is the message here?

Progesterone can be a powerful tool in the management of Women’s Health Issues. The REASON for low progesterone needs to be investigated and addressed. Low progesterone can come from poor blood sugar control, stress, poor eating habits and a weak ovulation. Progesterone supplementation, bio-identical or not, will not fix a deep hormonal imbalance. It will only mask the cause.

Properly prescribed, progesterone shots, cream or inserts can help regulate cycles and support a growing embryo. Improperly prescribed, progesterone supplementation will decrease fertility, impair normal hormonal regulation, and lead to infertility.

Is progesterone right for you? The best way to discover the answer to this complex question is to ask a practitioner who has more tools in her tool chest than hormone prescriptions. Find out the pros and cons of progesterone supplementation, or if there are dietary or herbal alternatives alternatives to suit your needs..

YOU need to understand your healthcare prescriptions.

Confused? Need more information? Email, schedule online or call (831) 426-1093 for your appointment.