herbs for low progesterone?

[Jugs]

Has anyone had any experiences, particularly with sarsaparilla root? How long until you started to feel the effects?

[SandyMom]

The only herb I have experience with in this area is vitex.
It took about 6 weeks to feel the difference.
http://sites.google.com/site/herbindex/vitex

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by Jugs

Has anyone had any experiences, particularly with sarsaparilla root? How long until you started to feel the effects?

Vitex
wild yam

What symptoms are you having??

[Jugs]

Starting about a year ago, my hair was falling out in clumps, extreme fatigue and mood swings, depression. I thought it was overactive thyroid or something, but my blood work showed that my progesterone levels are quite low. I didn't do anything about it at the time because I figured my hormones would start to balance out once AF came back. The after AF did come back, I've had extreme PMS (to the point of feeling suicidal) and my cycles have been very irregular, which they never where before. So, it dawned on me that my progesterone levels are probably the reason behind the two miscarriages I've had.

So how does it work with Vitex; should I take it until we conceive, and then stop?

[Munchkimo]

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause is a excellent source of information even for the naturally minded (and the non-pre-menopausal, I'm 26). The book convinced me to try wild yam natural progesterone cream which has changed my life.

[Siennaflower]

Originally Posted by Munchkimo

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause is a excellent source of information even for the naturally minded (and the non-pre-menopausal, I'm 26). The book convinced me to try wild yam natural progesterone cream which has changed my life.

May I ask what brand you use? I've been looking into this myself.

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by Jugs

Starting about a year ago, my hair was falling out in clumps, extreme fatigue and mood swings, depression. I thought it was overactive thyroid or something, but my blood work showed that my progesterone levels are quite low. I didn't do anything about it at the time because I figured my hormones would start to balance out once AF came back. The after AF did come back, I've had extreme PMS (to the point of feeling suicidal) and my cycles have been very irregular, which they never where before. So, it dawned on me that my progesterone levels are probably the reason behind the two miscarriages I've had.

So how does it work with Vitex; should I take it until we conceive, and then stop?

Well is there anyway you can talk with a herbalist or ND? It just nice to have someone that's able to recommend herbs and exact dosages for you. I only took Vitex in combo with wild yam for 2 weeks each month. Keep in mind herbs take longer to work than say a progesterone cream. I highly recommend the book Garden of Fertility by Katie Singer. It's really amazing what we need as far as diet goes to produce hormones.

Have you had a full thyroid panel done(TSH,T4 and T3)? That would be something I'd definitely do

[iamme]

You didn't really say how your thyroid check went. Most doctors do NOT run the correct thyroid labs. Are you *certain* your thyroid is well? After pregnancy, that is much more likely to suffer-progesterone can too, but your symptoms also cry of an unwell thyroid.

If you go the progesterone route, *please* be careful of what you take and how much. Progesterone itself has been linked to horrid depression and suicide. The type bought in HFS's is the riskiest. If you are certain that progesterone is the culprit, is it possible for you to contact a compounding pharmacy near you? The pharmacist can most likely refer you to an informed doctor, or do a consult with you her/himself.

Blood checks of ALL your hormones are critical. Dr. John Lee was an excellent doctor, but leading healthcare providers of this day, who actually knew dr. lee will be the first to say that he may rethink his recommendations of progesterone.

emma

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by iamme

You didn't really say how your thyroid check went. Most doctors do NOT run the correct thyroid labs. Are you *certain* your thyroid is well? After pregnancy, that is much more likely to suffer-progesterone can too, but your symptoms also cry of an unwell thyroid.

If you go the progesterone route, *please* be careful of what you take and how much. Progesterone itself has been linked to horrid depression and suicide. The type bought in HFS's is the riskiest. If you are certain that progesterone is the culprit, is it possible for you to contact a compounding pharmacy near you? The pharmacist can most likely refer you to an informed doctor, or do a consult with you her/himself.

Blood checks of ALL your hormones are critical. Dr. John Lee was an excellent doctor, but leading healthcare providers of this day, who actually knew dr. lee will be the first to say that he may rethink his recommendations of progesterone.

emma

Totally agree with the thyroid being a problem for her

[FrannieP]

Originally Posted by iamme

If you go the progesterone route, *please* be careful of what you take and how much. Progesterone itself has been linked to horrid depression and suicide. The type bought in HFS's is the riskiest. If you are certain that progesterone is the culprit, is it possible for you to contact a compounding pharmacy near you? The pharmacist can most likely refer you to an informed doctor, or do a consult with you her/himself.

Dr. John Lee was an excellent doctor, but leading healthcare providers of this day, who actually knew dr. lee will be the first to say that he may rethink his recommendations of progesterone.

Do you have links to read more about this?
fp

[iamme]

Originally Posted by FrannieP

Do you have links to read more about this?
fp

Two well respected authors and doctors that actually have their own clinics with patients are Uzzi Reiss (though a little too Hollywood for my taste-but knows his stuff) and Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. I believe they have both been outspoken about Dr. Lee bringing a positive to women's healthcare by popularizing Bio-identical hrt, but that they both think he would rethink his overzealous love of progesterone. Dr. Vliet also really challenges the validity of Estrogen Dominance. She has an awesome book called Screaming To Be Heard, as well as many others that address women's hormones. I'm trying to think of what Dr. Northrup's position is on this issue, but it's not coming to me.

Both of the first two named docs are well known for treating younger women who have had hysterectomies/oophorectomies, and therefore deal with some of the most extreme cases.

If you google " excessive progesterone" or "progesterone overdose" you should come up with some interesting information that isn't found in a lot of literature.

[Jugs]

My thyroid panel was completely normal, as were all of the other tests. The only thing that was amiss was my prolactin levels were very high (still nursing) and my progesterone was really low.

[Violet2]

Look into polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. Also, do you get enough iodine? Has your blood sugar been checked?

Low progesterone can result in or be a result of a luteal phase defect which makes achieving a successful pregnancy difficult. If you want to have more kids, I would perhaps look at seeing a reproductive endocrinologist.

V