A saliva test indicated my progesterone levels were way above normal, I am experiencing adrenal fatigue, please help.
Hi Catherine,
I am post menopausal and have been taking 1800 mg. of Progesterone cream daily for the last few years. I recenty had a saliva test which indicated that Progesterone levels were way above normal, while estrogens (estriol, estrodiol, estrone), testosterone, DHEA, aldosterone were below normal. The Cortisol level was dismal at 1.8 when normal was 6 to 15. I know that I am experiencing adrenal fatigue but do not know what to do. Please help.
Thank you,
Susan
Dear Susan,
Frankly, I’m not surprised by your results. Pharmacologic doses of 1,800 mg progesterone cream per day is considerably greater than physiological doses of 20 to 30 mg per day.
Progesterone is normally a cyclical hormone and the body really needs to see a change in the concentration to affect a proper physiological response. If your levels of progesterone are constantly above the concentrations that it recognises as “off” or low, this is not possible.
Such high doses of progesterone can lead to suppression of natural hormone production and can promote abnormal actions in the body. That’s why it’s imperative you monitor how your body metabolises progesterone cream, particularly regular evaluation of the adrenal and female hormones.
Progesterone cream accumulates and contributes to disruption in the adrenal hormones such as DHEA, cortisol, and testosterone. Therefore, as I’ve stated on numerous occasions in the past and in my ebook ‘A Woman’s Guide to Using Natural Progesterone’ , there’s more to progesterone supplementation than just slapping on some cream. Progesterone needs to be used very cautiously.
If your progesterone levels exceed the normal reference range, then STOP using cream and begin monthly monitoring of your progesterone levels. Do not resume progesterone supplementation unless medically indicated. Washing progesterone out of the system can take months, even years.
Given your test results, I strongly urge you to source out a physician skilled in BHRT.
Consider sublingual hormones such as DHEA and pregnenolone or cortisol improving agents such as licorice root extract.
Consider also the havoc stress plays in our life and the resultant effects on our finely tuned hormone balance. Are you getting enough fiber in your diet? Are you getting to bed early? Are you taking in regular, moderate exercise? And so on.
Progesterone is a wonderful hormone but it has its limitations. You may find, once you normalise the adrenal hormones, that there is no longer a need to use any form of hormone replacement therapy.
