Nature versus progestins

Hello everyone

The weather here is dull and wet, it's day 21 of my cycle and I am
still bleeding. I had an ultra sound done this morning but will not
know till Friday the outcome of this scan.

In the meantime, I've had time to think and read some of the achives.
And from that reading comes my question.

Assuming that my h-e-a-v-y bleeding is caused by hormones changes, and
nothing that requires surgical intervention, I would like to hear your
views on the use of progestins to correct irregular flooding periods.
Have you had success or otherwise with progestin? Are they used long
or short term? Do you consider taking progestin to be the same as
being on HT? [please forgive my ignorance on this fact].

Jane

"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1167803424.760777.56350@s34g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
> Hello everyone
>
> The weather here is dull and wet, it's day 21 of my cycle and I am
> still bleeding. I had an ultra sound done this morning but will not
> know till Friday the outcome of this scan.
>
> In the meantime, I've had time to think and read some of the achives.
> And from that reading comes my question.
>
> Assuming that my h-e-a-v-y bleeding is caused by hormones changes, and
> nothing that requires surgical intervention, I would like to hear your
> views on the use of progestins to correct irregular flooding periods.
> Have you had success or otherwise with progestin? Are they used long
> or short term? Do you consider taking progestin to be the same as
> being on HT? [please forgive my ignorance on this fact].
>
> Jane

I was given Prometrium which is a pharmaceutical *bioidentical*
progesterone, not a progestin the synthetic version of progesterone. It was
for reducing the heavy bleeding/flooding/constant spotting. I took it only
for about 3 wks as I was uncomfortable putting exogenous hormones into my
system. It didn't reduce the bleeding maybe because I didn't take it long
enough but an ultrasound also showed a 3 cm submucosal fibroid.

I would choose to take the Prometium before the synthetic progestin to
minimize side effects, not to say the Prometrium doesn't have side effects
but at least what you are taking is the same molecular structure as your own
hormones. I would imagine the progesterone would have to be taken
continously to keep the bleeding at bay and yes, taking it does constitute
hormonal therapy.

You have to weigh the risk/benefits.If you're constantly anemic with all
it's attendant negative effects on your health/quality of life,and the
inconvenience of limiting activities, travel etc then it would be worth it
to give it a try. While I don't agree with hormones as a blanket therapy for
all women, like any medical technology there is definitely a place for it.
Remember back in the *old days* women would have eventually succumbed to the
anemia.

Roseanne

I take Prometrium every day, but not for heavy bleeding. It was originally
prescribed to me as part of an effort to stabilize my periods and moods,
IIRC, and I have elected to stay on it because it is supposed to help
prevent hyperplasia while my uterus decides whether and when it's going to
stop bleeding, and how much.

Since taking it, I no longer have episodes of heavy bleeding like I used to
have, but I have no idea whether that is because of the Prometrium or just a
new phase in the perimenopausal saga.

It has the side-effect of helping me sleep, especially when I first started
taking it.

Of course, it's HT.

Prometrium is bioidentical and, AFAIK, it is the only progesterone
supplement that has been shown to protect the endometrium and prevent
hyperplasia.

I'm rocking along fairly well with irregular, light-to-moderate periods,
which give me a few months break occasionally. I am unworried about taking
the Prometrium until my next regular visit to my gyn, because I have no
apparent side effects. I'll revisit the issue with her then.

ep

"Jane_G" <janes_email@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:1167803424.760777.56350@s34g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
> Hello everyone
>
> The weather here is dull and wet, it's day 21 of my cycle and I am
> still bleeding. I had an ultra sound done this morning but will not
> know till Friday the outcome of this scan.
>
> In the meantime, I've had time to think and read some of the achives.
> And from that reading comes my question.
>
> Assuming that my h-e-a-v-y bleeding is caused by hormones changes, and
> nothing that requires surgical intervention, I would like to hear your
> views on the use of progestins to correct irregular flooding periods.
> Have you had success or otherwise with progestin? Are they used long
> or short term? Do you consider taking progestin to be the same as
> being on HT? [please forgive my ignorance on this fact].
>
> Jane
>