Menstrual Cramp Menstrual Cramp Relief

Dose of Natural Progesterone for Menstrual Cramps

by Elizabeth Smith, MD

How Much Progesterone Cream Should I Use for Menstrual Cramps?

For the first two to three months use 40 mg/day of natural progesterone. This comes out to using 2-3 oz of progesterone cream/oil per month assuming each ounce contains 500 mg of Natural Progesterone per oz of cream/oil. After the uterus reverts to normal, use one ounce a month. Women who have a great amount of body fat may have to maintain themselves on two ounces a month. If you have a progesterone cream that has 1000 mg of Natural Progesterone per oz use one half of the above volume, or 1-1 1/2 oz of progesterone cream/oil.

In general, with Natural Progesterone menstrual cramps go away and periods usually revert to normal after two to three months of progesterone use. John Lee, M.D. treats breast cysts with 40 mg/day of natural progesterone for the first 2-3 months. After the menstrual cramping is gone and periods revert to normal , then the patient can be maintained on 20 mg/day of Natural Progesterone. The ovary usually produces 20 mg/ of progesterone. During pregnancy, the placenta at its peak produces 400 mg/day of progesterone. Thus, there is a very large therapeutic range for the use of progesterone. Natural progesterone is quite safe to use in doses from 20 mg/day to 400 mg/day. Natural Progesterone is the same molecule that your body produces. In contrast, many of the synthetic estrogens and progestins are chemically modified from the natural molecule and are dangerous to use. See Progestins. Thus, Natural Progesterone is safe for you to use in a very large therapeutic window. Large or small amounts are relatively safe.

If the cream or oil contains 900 mg/oz , and his patients use one ounces of cream every month during the two weeks before menses, then this comes out to about one (1/2) teaspoon per day. The cream can be applied to any part of the skin with good circulation. The area may be on the neck, chest, legs, arms, thighs, palms, or soles of the feet. The cream is applied once in the morning and once before bedtime. Some patients experience mild drowsiness after application of the cream. If so, one application before bedtime is fine.

Since progesterone is an oil soluble molecule, it is absorbed into the body fat. The body fat acts like a reservoir or sponge and soaks up the progesterone. Thus, women who have much body fat may need to take greater amounts of progesterone for it to work. Skinny women may need to take less progesterone. After using natural progesterone for a while, you will learn what feels better. One sign that you are taking too much is that you become too happy (emotionally elated) when taking progesterone and when you stop taking progesterone you become depressed. If this is the case, you may be taking too much. Use whatever dose works for you!

After the uterus has reverted to normal and the menstrual cramp has disappeared, the patients can usually be maintained menstrual cramp free on one half ounce of progesterone cream per month (if the cream contains 900 mg of progesterone per ounce).

Summary

• Use a progesterone cream that gives you 40 mg/day of natural progesterone per day for the first 2-3 months
• If the progesterone cream/oil contains 900 mg/day, for the first 2-3 months use two ounces of cream per month; this is about one (1/2) teaspoon per day.
• If the progesterone cream/oil contains 900 mg/day, after the uterus reverts to normal after 2-3 months, use one half ounce of cream per month to maintain healthy breasts
• Apply the cream during the two weeks before menses for 14 days if premenopausal (before menopause)
• Apply the cream/oil for three weeks on and one week off if postmenopausal (after menopause)