i went to the dr today for birth control, and she gave me progesterone to take in order for my peroid to come so i can use my bc. i feel so bloated and pms'ie after just one pill....does this cause you to gain weight? should i expect to weigh 5 lbs more tomorrow than i did today? cuz right now i do...i weigh 5 lbs more after taking this nasty little pill. any experiences would be great.

thanks in advance!


ps..i got the patch

Oh boy! What we women won't do! I have this great book called "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Christiane Northrup, M.D. I know that menopause is not your problem (it is mine), but I looked up "Progesterone deficiency" because whether you're of childbearing age or not, its still a hormone we as women have naturally in our bodies and what it does (naturally) is prepare our uterus for pregnancy. However, synthetic progesterone is another story. There are symptoms associated with it. They are:
-Headache, depression, WEIGHT GAIN & BLOATING, moodiness, lack of sexual desire (well, you won't get pregnant on this stuff either!), and more serious - potential narrowing of blood vessels, causing chest pain and lack of oxygen to the heart.

It sounds like very serious stuff to me. Personally, I wonder if its all worth it. I know that taking BC pills or the patch is the easiest route to go, but is it the safest for you? I don't want to presume anything because I don't know you, but would it be so awful to go with a diaphragm or an IUD? Its doesn't sound like this is something I'd want in my body. I certainly know I wouldn't like the symptoms - and it doesn't sound like you do either. In any case, ask your doc LOTS OF QUESTIONS! And read, read, read. The best way to understand anything is to educate yourself. Christiane Northrup also wrote another book called "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, and she also has a website "www.drnorthrup.com". For your own sake, please check into it. Best of luck!! ..Sherry

Did your doctor give you natural or synthetic progesterone? Natural progesterone is absorbed through a cream or through sublingual tablets.

Natural progesterone is generally taken to counter excess estrogen. Excess Estrogen is natural by product of weight loss since it is stored in fat cells. I have noticed that I need more progesterone when on Atkins, because of the fat loss.

Too much estrogen will produce an anovulatory cycle (no egg release) but a heavier flow. Progesterone therapy is generally started in day 14 of the cycle. I find it helps me sleep and keeps my "murderous" tendencies at bay. I have been taking progesterone for about 4 years and finally don't have PMS (sore breasts, mood swings, sore muscles and generally crappy mood)

Did your doctor test your hormone levels or just give you the medication? Generally, it is ideal to have hormones tested 1x per week for 1 full cycle for an accurate assessment of what hormones are not within normal ranges.