CONTRACEPTIVES AND HRT USERS

"Before using progesterone cream for the first time, please read First Time UsersHow to use Progersterone Cream and Estrogen Dominance.

Contraceptives

I am often asked if one can take BCP at the same time as natural progesterone. Well you can, but why defeat the object? One would have to use a lot of natural progesterone to balance the side effects of estrogen found in BCP. Serious thought is needed when deciding on a drug based contraceptive as they all have a potential to cause harm! Some side effects:

  • depression
  • increased risk of post natal depression
  • follicular cysts
  • insulin resistance
  • hair loss
  • lowered progesterone levels
  • increased risk of breast cancer
  • increased risk for invasive cervical cancer
  • DNA damage
  • elevates CRP leading to inflammation with a risk of future heart disease
  • can cause fatty deposits on the linings of arteries – raised cholesterol
  • platelet aggregation leading to blood clots
  • increases blood pressure
  • potential to exacerbate asthma

They contain synthetic estrogen and or are combined with progestin – a synthetic progesterone. HRT contains even higher levels of estrogen.

If you have any questions about Natpro Progesterone Cream

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Here is a list of what certain contraceptives contain:

  • Mirena IUD – 52 milligrams of levonorgestrel
  • Provera tablets – 2.5, 5, and 10mg mexdoxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)
  • Intramuscular injections – 150, 160, 400 mg/ml PMA
  • Yasmin tablets – 3mg drospirenone, 0.03mg ethinyl estradiol
  • Yaz tablets – 3mg drospirenone, 0.02mg ethinyl estradiol
  • Beyaz tablets – 3mg drospirenone, 0.02mg ethinyl estradiol
  • Alesse tablets – 0.10mg levonorgestrel, 0.02mg ethinyl estradiol
  • Apri tablets – 0.15mg desogestrel, 0.03mb ethinyl estradiol
  • Brevicon tablets – 0.5mg norethindrone, 0.035mg ethinyl estradiol
  • Ovral tablets – 0.3mg norgestrel, 0.03mg ethinyl estradiol

Contraceptives are designed to stop ovulation, so is there any wonder when most women want to fall pregnant and can’t? It can take months, sometime years before ovulation returns due to a severe imbalance in the ovaries. 

Let us take the Mirena IUD – it is dangerous, here is a list of conditions that could represent a health risk if a levonorgestrel IUD is inserted:

  • weight gain
  • pregnancy
  • postpartum puerperal sepsis
  • immediately after a septic abortion
  • before evaluation of unexplained vaginal bleeding suspected of being a serious condition
  • malignant gestational trophoblastic disease
  • cervical cancer (awaiting treatment)
  • active liver disease: (acuteviral hepatitis , severe compensated cirrhosis, benign or malignant liver tumours)
  • current or recent breast cancer
  • endometrial cancer
  • current Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • current purulent cervicitis, chlamydial infection or gonorrhoeal STIs  infection, or
  • known pelvic tuberculosis

Conditions where the theoretical or proven risks usually outweigh the advantages of inserting a levonorgestrel IUD:

  • postpartum between 48 hours and 4 weeks (increased IUD expulsion rate with delayed postpartum insertion)
  • current deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolus (PE)
  • cenign gestational trophoblastic disease
  • ovarian cancer
  • very high individual likelihood of exposure to gonorrhoea or chlamydial STIs
  • active liver disease: (acute viral hepatitis, severe decompensated cirrhosis, benign or malignant liver tumours)

Safe means of Contraceptives

Progesterone, if used correctly, can be used as a contraceptive. It has none of the adverse side effects that drug based contraceptives can have. It should be started 3 to 8 days or more before ovulation depending on the cycle length. This will stop the estrogen surge which occurs 2-5 days before ovulation. This surge of estrogen is necessary to complete the final step before ovulation. For more information about the mid-cycle surge of hormones, please read the pregnancy page.

A study of progesterone contraception found a failure rate of 2.66 pregnancies per 100 women, which compares well with other methods. Please be aware that stress drops progesterone levels, so protection drops. Increase the amount used to cover the stressful time, or use a temporary alternate method. If vitamin D3 level is low, this will also affect progesterone levels.

Amounts of 100-200mg/day should be used.

The Copper T is the only IUD recommended as it does not interfere with the bodies natural cycle. For those concerned about their copper levels, please increase your zinc, we should all be taking zinc anyway. I personally used it for many years and would not hesitate to use it again but those days are long gone! :) Some reviews on the Copper T.

The Tubal Legation is another means of contraception, please think very carefully about this invasive procedure as it can bring on so many adverse issues.

HRT

Here is a list of what certain HRT’s contain:

  • Vivelle-Dot patch – 0.025, 0.0375, 0.05, 0.075 or 0.1mg estradiol
  • CombiPatch – 0.62mg estradiol, 2.7mg norethindrone acetate or 0.51mg estradiol/4.8mg norethindrone acetate
  • Premarin tablets – 0.3mg, 0.45mg, 0.625mg, 0.9mg and 1.25mg of a mixture of conjugated estrogens, sodium estrone sulphate, sodium equilin salfate, sodim sulphate conjugates, 17CE +- - each dihydroequilin, estradiol derived from pregnant mares’ urine
  • Premarin injections - vial contains 25mg conjugated estrogens, 200mg lactose, 12.2mg sodium citrate, 0.2mg simethicone. PH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid
  • Premarin vaginal cream – 0.625mg conjugated estrogens, sodium sulphate conjugates, 17CE =- - each of dihydroequilin and estradiol. No liquefying base containing cetyl esters wax, cetyl alcohol, white wax, glyceryl monostearate, propylene glycol monostearate, methyl stearate, benzyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulphate, glycerine and mineral oil
  • Prempro – 0.3mg (as for Premarin)/1.5mg MPA and 0.45mg (as for Premarin)/1.5mg MPA, 0.625mg (as for Premarin)/2.5mg MPA, 0.625mg (as for Premarin)/5mg MPA

Please read the HRT page, see here. There is absolutely NO WAY that I would ever consider taking the urine of a pregnant mare!!!

How it works

Oral contraceptives and HRT are packed in 28 day cycles. The first half comprises estrogen only, the second half is a progestin, possibly combined with placebo pills. Supplemental progesterone should only be used in the second half of the Pill or HRT cycle. The same applies to users of patches. For other forms of contraception or HRT, ie. progestin only, injections, implants, IUD’s, etc., progesterone should be used every day.

NB:  2,000mg of progesterone (one tube of Natpro), divided by 28 days = 71.4mg progesterone per day.

This equates to 2.15ml of cream per day or almost 1/2 a teaspoon. Note that nothing less than 100mg/3ml of progesterone should be used daily, more if symptoms are severe.

  • 1 ml (1/5th tsp) of Natpro cream contains 33.3mg of progesterone
  • 2ml (2/5th tsp) contains 66.6mg of progesterone
  • 3ml (3/5th tsp) contains 100mg of progesterone
  • 4ml (4/5th tsp) contains 133.2mg progesterone
  • 5ml (1tsp) contains 166.5mg progesterone
  • 1/8th teaspoon (0.625ml) contains 20.8mg progesterone
  • 1/4tsp (1.25ml) contains 41.6mg progesterone
  • 1/2tsp (2.5ml) contains 83.2mg progesterone
  • 3/4tsp (3.75ml) contains 124.8mg progesterone
  • 1tsp (5ml) contains 166.5mg progesterone

A more detailed table on measuring progesterone cream can be found on How to use Progesterone Cream, see here.

Contraceptives Research Papers


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