The Natural Fertility Community

Hethir or Dalene, or anyone who has asked these questions before:

I read on the ovarian cyst page about Progersterone and how Dr. John Lee uses it to trick the body into thinking it's pregnant, therefore stopping any new cysts/follicles from forming on the ovaries. He does this for 2-3 months and in the mean time one should take herbs/superfoods to help the balance body...right? My questions are:

1- If someone has PCOS and doesn't have a regular menstrual cycle, how do they know what days to take the progesterone on?

2- It says to take Maca which will help the body produce progesterone and balance the hormones...but you're already taking the other progesterone to stop ovulation for 3 months so will that be overkill?

3- Could one take the Zymessense and Pregnancy Prep kit during these 3 months (in which u wouldn't be ovulating) along with the Maca?

4- When the 3 months is up, then what? Is there a routine with the progesterone that would reverse the effects it had on the body and encourage ovulation? Or would the body just respond on it's own?

I'm anxious to start the progesterone but it's intimidating because it purposely stops ovulation. Thanks for any feedback!

Great questions Michelle!

1- If someone has PCOS and doesn't have a regular menstrual cycle, how do they know what days to take the progesterone on?

With PCOS you would just choose the days you would start.

2- It says to take Maca which will help the body produce progesterone and balance the hormones...but you're already taking the other progesterone to stop ovulation for 3 months so will that be overkill?

Maca is very different from progesterone cream as it does not contain any progesterone. It is an adaptogen herb which nourishes the endocrine system. Its ability to increase progesterone comes from the fact that the endocrine system is healthy and functioning well which in turn causes the progesterone to increase IF that is what your body needs. It nourishes the endocrine system so that system can function at its best. The endocrine system will then keep your hormone levels healthy.

3- Could one take the Zymessense and Pregnancy Prep kit during these 3 months (in which u wouldn't be ovulating) along with the Maca?

Yes, you could.

4- When the 3 months is up, then what? Is there a routine with the progesterone that would reverse the effects it had on the body and encourage ovulation? Or would the body just respond on it's own?

After the three months is up you would switch to a regular cycle of progesterone which is 15-30mg during the two weeks before your period.

Dr. Lee recommends that progesterone use begin directly after ovulation, which is usually day 12 in our cycles (twelve days after menstruation), and ending usage once menstruation begins. Once you become pregnant, stay on the progesterone. Read below for pregnancy instructions.

If you still do not have a period, choose your dates again to stimulate a cycle. This should actually help to being a cycle. You can read more about progesterone use on my Fertility Progesterone guide.

Thanks for your response! Correct me if I'm wrong, but if one is tricking the body into thinking that it's pregnant you wouldn't be getting a mense for those 2-3 months...right? Also, you used to promote the sublingual progesterone but I've noticed it's no longer on the progesterone page. I found the one you guys used to promote, I read the liquid form was better/more effective...? And how much progesterone should one take if they're using it in the liquid form? How long can one take Prog for? Also, I've read that one has to find the correct balance themselves...this is difficult for me because #1 my cycle is irregular (pcos) and I don't know when or even if I'm ovulating right now.

So please tell me if I'm correct: (concerning 1 without a normal 28 day cycle w/pcos- maybe specific to me and no one else- disclosure claim )

Option A- One should do a "loading dose" -1/4- 1/2 teaspoon twice a day- of the progesterone starting on May 17th (for example), and stopping on May 31st which would typically bring on a mense. Continue like this for 2-3 months then reduce the dose to a regular dose during the same time each month. And one can still take the Baby & Me, Maca, vitex (except during menstruation), Zymessence, Preg Prep and DIM during this time. And this should help stimulate a regular cycle as well as ovulation...right?

Option B- Take 1/8 teaspoon twice a day from cycle days 5-26 for 2-3 months to suppress ovulation in attempt to stop anymore cysts from forming. After the 3rd month, one should then begin taking on the same schedule as above (2 weeks before your mense). The same herbs/supplements listed above can be taken during the 3 months and afterwards.

My question: Option A seems better/safer because you're not suppressing ovulation- I have a phobia as I have been irregular since stopping BC pills...but which is more prefered for a woman with pcos? Question 2- If I am ovulating but just don't know when, could more harm be caused if I make up my own dates? I just got a cycle on my own last month- the first ever since stopping the pills! But I'm concerened that it'll knock something else out of wack if I am ovulating and just don't know when. I appreciate everything Hethir/Dalene! Please PM me if you'd rather not post as this is a lot of info.

It is not necessary to suppress ovulation, just an option. Dr. Lee would use that technique with patients who were not ovulating and wanted to promote ovulation.

I personally like option A better also. I prefer the gentle, patient route. You may want to choose either Pregnancy Prep or Vitex, as the Pregnancy Prep already contains vitex in it.

You may want to base how you use the progesterone based on your new found cycle.

Thanks for your response! I thought maybe I asked too many questions and you guys got fed up lol. The Pregnancy Prep has 240mg of vitex and the suggested use is 1000- I couldn't take the pregancy prep and 1 vitex pill (500mg)? I was considering doing the same thing with dong quai also as it's only 45mg in the pregnancy prep and the suggested dose is 1100mg. Still confused regarding the progesterone...your saying I may want to base my usage of it off my cycle- meaning don't start it until I have a cycle...? Thanks again.

Didn't you say you got your period last month? If so then you would create a cycle with the first day of your period being when you "new" period started. If not choose your own start date.

You could use the herbs in that manner since you are paying close attention to the amounts.

Yes, I did. But I haven't gotten one this month and have been spotting for 3 1/2 weeks. So I am confused whether I go off and just choose a date or wait until June. I haven't even started the cleanse because of this spotting . I have mostly everything to start my new plan, but I'm just sitting on my hands waiting for this spotting to stop...its frustrating.

In your case you may want to just choose a date. Your cycles may be off for a couple of months as they are establishing themselves. Get started on the cleanse, no need to wait.

Hethir,

This is a GREAT thread! It is something I've been wondering since I found your site....I've also had a lot of women contact me through my site asking the same question!

IN fertility meds they give us provera or another type of progesterone to induce a cycle/period.... I see the instructions say to use progesterone on a certain time of your cycle, but like the first post said, with PCOS, we don't have cycles so I've always been confused....

Does progesterone benefit those of us with PCOS, without a regular cycle? Or are we better off just taking Vitex and/or Maca?

I'm not in a rush, per se, to have another cycle. My last was a little over 2 months ago...but if there is something that can bring a cycle on, or help bring a period on sooner than I would prefer that method. I hate going more than a month without a cycle....

What do you suggest....as far as progesterone & PCOS?

im confused about progesterone as well too - if we have long cycles due to pcos or they are irregular when should we use he creme?

it says the last two weeks of the cycle- but with pcos its hard to know sometimes