Progesterone side effects are usually found with the synthetic progesterones known as progestins. Manufacturers take the bioidentical progesterone produced from plant sources and change the structure to achieve various results e.g. give it longer lasting effects. The body recognizes these substances as foreign and so reacts to them in various ways leading to side effects.
Side effects of synthetic progesterone
The use of synthetic progesterone is quite common. The usual side effects are:
- storing of excessive salt in the body leading to fluid retention which causes symptoms of congestion such as painful breasts, generalized bloating and weight gain.
Other symptoms include
- depression and mood swings
- migraine headaches
- inability to sleep properly
- loss of sex drive
- heart problems
- kidney problems
- low blood sugar levels
- acne
- skin rashes
- premenstrual discomfort
- hair loss
- excessive hair growth
On the other hand use of bioidentical natural progesterone has virtually no side effects. At the most, using too much causes drowsiness which is easily reversed by decreasing the dose.
My daughter has suffered with severe, disabling migraones for years. They begsn wiht taking the pill at 17. She endured a horrible pregnancy and is afraid of getting pregnant again. She read about bio-identical progesterone therapy and is taking 50mg. twice a day. I know this is a process and may take time to kick in, but she reports no headache. Could it work that quickly? She also reports a feeling of being bloated–is this temporary? I would appreciate any ideas or shared experieces, anything to give us hope that this could be the answer we have been looking for. Please e-mail me at poet 353(at)aol.com–I guess I just need some reassurance that this is the right plan of action and that she could get her life back. Thank you so much.
Colleen
Hi Colleen. I’m so glad to know that your daughter is feeling better. It’s very difficult to watch your child suffering and not be able to help.
To answer your question, yes, bioidentical progesterone can work quite fast when it comes to migraine headaches. If it’s working for her, she should stick to it. The only major side effect is drowsiness if she uses too much and that is easily remedied by reducing the dose. The bloating should pass as her hormone levels stabilize. Sometimes symptoms seem to get a little worse before they get better. You must be one happy mother! Have a great day.
I am 43yrs old in good shape and eat well. My problem is cystic acne around my chin area usually after my period but sometimes before. My periods are much longer and lighter than usual. My blood hormone levels indicated very low progesterone levels at day 18 of my cycle. My alternative Dr. recommended biodentical progesterone PO. I am afraid it will make my acne worse and cause bloatedness, etc… I also have sugar cravings, trouble sleeping and mood swings. Help.
Hi, My name is Kelly, I have suffered with migraines since puberty, and they seemed to get a little better from about 18-24 yrs, I got the odd one, but after the birth of my first child they became severe, dibilitating, and effected my day to day life. I began to suffer with anxiety as a result, panic attacks etc, I never took any medications for this, dealt with it myself farely well. I concluded that I was suffering panic from the anxiety related to whether I was getting a migraine that day… I was light headed and/or dizzy most days, even when no headache was present. My second pregnancy was even worse, I had normal morning sickness up to around week 16 and the the migraines started, they were severe. After the birth of my second daughter, I started getting the bad migraines, even more frequent, around 2 a week!! Sleep deprived from having a new born at home didn’t help my situation. I have also just started taking bio identical progesterone, I have had 5 capsules and already feel a bit better, I have faith that this will work for me, I am taking the same 50mg of progesterone twice daily, everyday. And, 100mg of Magnesium 3 times a day, everyday, apparently the mag assist the progesterone to work better. I am hoping this will change my life, as currently I feel lost, and alone as doctors really don’t seem to help or care. Thanks… I will let you know how the treatment works out, if you yourself are looking at this treatment, go to this website: http://www.migrainescure.com Read Andrew Jones MD Documents… Good Luck.
Dear all, Just going to start the 50mg bio identical progesterone! Really nervous! my dizzy migraines started with my pregnancy! Your stories have really spurred me on thanks. Will let you know how I get on xxxxxxxxx
i have been taking 200mg.of progesterone a day.I have a rash ,could this be from to much progesterone? I have gain weight also which I don’t need.I’ve had a hysterectomy 15 years ago still have ovaries.
what is more advisable to go in for hysrectomy or to have progestrone tablets in a case of SIMPLE TYPICAL HYPERPLASIA OF ENDOMETRIUM. the endometrial biopsy was taken and the gross observation shows bulky curettings about 3ml volume mixed with blood and the Microscopy report is– the curetting show crowding of glands that show exaggerated proliferation and hyperplasia. the glands are convoluted,branched,show budding.Thelining cells are tall columnar with prominent oval nuclei arranged in pseudo stratified fashion in many glands.Many glands show cystic dialation.There are glands with papillary proliferation.The stroma is densely cellular.There is no cellular or glandular atypia.
Bio-identical natural progesterone is safe and effective because these can be customized perfectly to address the woman or man’s exact needs. These are available online and can be purchased without prescription.
I have been on bio-identical progesterone for 1 1/2 months now and have a continual headache from hell, and itching. Are these side effects and if so now what? I am 49 and have no progesterone what-so-ever. All other hormones are normal. Please advise…
we are trying to have a baby this last 2 weeks i was taking different hormones and on tuesday we had insimination done. The tablets that i took last week was a hormone tablet 100mg per day on sunday night i had an injection 275mg and since wednesday i am taking 100mg progeterone daily. Problem is that i have gained so much weight and i stay hungry. is this normal is there anyway that i can surpress my appetite without affecting my pregnancy… I feel bloated, depressed and irritated while this should be the best time of my life seeing that we waited 7 years for this….
Pls i want to start having children now, is it advisable to take bio-identical natural progesterone? More expecially i want to increase the size of my breast, could that also help? Pls reply to my e-mail , i needed it so soon.
I suffer from migraines. I read somewhere that after you start menstruating, progesterone is not fully produced until about 2 years after your first period. Well, coincidentally, that’s when my migraines started. I tried an herb to increase my progesterone again recently and suffered from two migraines… it might also be caused by a decrease in estrogen, not just high estrogen levels, so I’m not sure progesterone will work to cure migraines for everyone.