A physiological dose, safe even with continuous use for several years, is considered to be 20-40 mg per day, and many specialists say that you can take up to 80 mg a day. The use of such doses of natural progesterone stimulates the body to produce this hormone in the body and helps maintain a healthy hormonal balance. Very large doses, on the other hand, can sometimes cause drowsiness and sedation, while huge doses may anaesthetise. Natural progesterone does not interact with other drugs, except synthetic hormones, so it can be used safely with other medicinal products.

The first effects of natural progesterone are very different. In some women, they can occur very quickly, for example in the case of premenstrual syndrome. In the case of other diseases, one should patiently wait longer for the first effects, often a minimum of 3 months. Such diseases include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, cysts and ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary syndrome and others. For example with osteoporosis, the examined and confirmed average increase in bone calcification after 6 months of natural progesterone use is 5%.

It happens that women begin to use natural progesterone and report various symptoms similar to the symptoms of oestrogen dominance. During this period, symptoms such as: swelling and breast pain, insomnia, water retention (edema), headaches, temporary weight gain may occur. These symptoms can occur and last from a week to several weeks after the start of natural progesterone. This is due to the fact that progesterone sensitizes oestrogen receptors and renews the oestrogen dominance syndrome. The body’s defensive reaction to excess oestrogen was to reduce the sensitivity of the oestrogen receptors. These side effects of oestrogen dominance can last up to 3 months. In the third month, the body is already saturated with progesterone and will balance the symptoms of oestrogen. Women should endure this transient period and not stop using the cream to fully enjoy the benefits of progesterone. The above symptoms are rare and should not be a reason to stop using natural progesterone.

Natural progesterone is best administered in the form of a cream. In order to provide a physiological dose of progesterone, administering it through the skin is most safe and effective. In some cases, a better form of using natural progesterone is alternate application to the skin and vaginally (intravaginally at night, on the skin during the day). However, not all creams are suitable for vaginal use, so this should be checked each time. Natural progesterone in the form of a cream is easily and quickly absorbed through the skin. It accumulates in the subcutaneous adipose tissue, from where it flows into the blood as the body needs it. Administration of the preparation through the skin maintains a constant level of progesterone in the blood. Measurements of progesterone level in saliva show its increase within 4 hours after using progesterone cream. The level lasts for 4 hours and then gradually decreases over the next 4 hours. Thus, two doses of the cream a day (morning and evening) will maintain a constant level of progesterone around the clock.

Oral intake of progesterone is very inefficient. Absorbed in the gut, it travels to the liver, where it is metabolized before it gets into other organs. This requires a 10-20 times higher dose (100-400 mg per day), because about 90% of progesterone in the liver undergoes metabolismto produce pregnanedione, pregnanolon, pregnanediol. Thus produced metabolites very often cause adverse side effects (depression, impaired memory, fatigue), and may even block the beneficial effects of progesterone, because they compete for the same receptor. Oral administration of progesterone does not provide a stable level of this hormone in the blood, because its concentration reaches its maximum within 2 hours, and then quickly decreases. In the case of application of sublingual drops, progesterone reaches its maximum concentration within 20 minutes, and after 90 minutes its level is back to low. This progesterone intake is only valid for migraine pains.

The cream should be rubbed into the area of ​​the neck, face, upper chest, inner thighs, the inner surface of the arms and palms. In some cases, it is worth using vaginal cream (but only one that is suitable for this). Each time you should rub it in another place, because it increases the absorption. The larger the skin surface to which we apply the cream, the better it is absorbed. In places where you rub the progesterone cream, you should not use other creams, because they can hinder the absorption of natural progesterone.

Let’s say we have a pack containing 56 grams of cream (2 ounces), including 1.6% progesterone, or about 960 milligrams. The volume of the cream contained in one teaspoon of tea contains 80 mg of progesterone, 1/2 teaspoon contains 40 mg of progesterone, 1/4 of teaspoon contains 20 mg of progesterone, 1/8 of teaspoon contains 10 mg of progesterone. One pack of natural progesterone is the equivalent of 12 teaspoons of cream.

Because many patients begin using progesterone after many years of deficiency of this hormone, and progesterone will accumulate in adipose tissue, it is good to start with one packet per month (for a period of 2 months). After 2 months, the dose can be reduced and one packet can be used for 2-3 months. The ability of a woman to absorb and use the cream is different for each and the dose used will vary. Natural progesterone has no side effects, so the dose distribution does not contain any risk. Also, the daily dose of cream does not have to be exactly the same. Natural progesterone is absorbed by the subcutaneous adipose tissue, and then evenly and successively released into the blood, which ensures stable hormone levels despite fluctuations in the daily dose.

The correct dose of progesterone is one that gives effects, brings relief, removes symptoms. One should strive to reduce the dose and determine the lowest effective, therapeutic amount of cream that removes unpleasant symptoms and maints the desired effects. After a certain period of use, each woman will be able to determine the dose she needs.
The cream is best used twice a day (in the morning and in the evening – preferably at bedtime), from 1/8 to 1 teaspoon per day.
How long should progesterone be used? Because it has many advantages and no side effects, there is no need to stop it. We should apply it into the later years of life.

The way you take a cream depends primarily on whether the woman is menstruating or after menopause.

Menstruating women.

Menstruating women with 28-day cycles should use the cream from day 15 to day 26 of the cycle. Women who have longer or shorter cycles should start using the cream 2 weeks before the expected menstruation, apply for 12 days and abstain from using it 2 days before the expected menstruation. Women with 30 day cycles should use progesterone cream from days 17 to 28 of the cycle. Women who have 26-day cycles should use the cream from day 13 to day 24 of the cycle.

The first day of the cycle is the first day of menstruation. If the bleeding begins before day 26 (or before the day it should normally start), stop taking progesterone, count down 15 days and start using the cream again. If the menstrual period is irregular, it may take three cycles before they become regular.

Premenopausal women with anovulatory cycles.

Use 1 / 4-1 / 2 cream packages from the 15th to the 26th day of the cycle. For example, 1/8 teaspoons of cream are rubbed in the morning and 1/4 teaspoons in the evening. If the bleeding begins before day 26 (or before the day it should normally start), stop progesterone, count down 15 days and start using the cream again.

Postmenopausal women (non-menstruating) who do not take oestrogen preparations.

They can use the cream for two to three weeks each month. It is most convenient to use it from the 1st to the 14th or the 21st of each month, and then take a break until the first day of the next month, when we start applying from scratch.

Men.

Men are recommended to take progesterone at the level of 8-12mg daily. Doses of natural progesterone above 100mg per day depend on the specific disease entity and should be consulted and supervised by a physician.

The above tips on the use of natural progesterone in cream are for women who do not report specific health problems. However, the use and dosage of progesterone cream for individual cases is very accurately described in the book by doctor Tomasz Nocuń “Better health for every woman”. I believe that every woman should read this book so that she can better take care of her intimate health and enjoy health for many years. The above information on natural progesterone, use and dosage has been taken from this publication.