I feel nauseous on progesterone, why is this?
The experience reported is likened to morning sickness commonly experienced in the early stages of pregnancy. The reintroduction of progesterone creating hormone fluctuation can bring on this nauseous feeling, particularly in the first few days. If so, cut dosage right back and gently use small amounts until the feeling passes. Then increase as your body adjusts. Usually the feeling of nausea subsides within 10 days.
Nausea, in our experience, nearly always indicates liver dysfunction. And the need to support this organ. The dysfunctional liver simply cannot tolerate and cope too well with the introduction of a new hormone. These women usually react quite violently to HRT. Our observation confirms that these women suffering poor liver function are candidates for progesterone supplementation after years of deficiency, problems which compound into conditions like FMS, CFS, chronic endometriosis, adrenal exhaustion, other auto-immune problems.
Use progesterone in these cases with sensitivity and a program that incorporates steady increases in dosage over time. We suggest you start with very small doses (<10mg). You can expect to experience in 2-3 weeks time an estrogen dominance wake-up. This is when you may need to increase or double your dose to override wake-up symptoms. The receptors would have been stimulated slowly and have taken their time to response (usually because the conditions state above often have slow, sluggish cell receptability). The small doses have been enough to tickle and tease the estrogen receptors to wake them up but the progesterone doses (tolerated) has not been adequate enough to oppose and over-ride estrogen levels and this hormone's effects in the body.
Some women who have experienced levels of nausea on progesterone are nervous and reluctant to increase their dose. Nonetheless, it is important to emphasize that the dose they are currently sitting on is actually creating estrogen dominance problems like headaches, fluid retention, feelings of PMS. Contrary to what one lady was told, nausea is NOT caused by using cream through a period (she was only 3 weeks into her program suffering from endometriosis).
Favourable outcomes result from going beyond this barrier of estrogen dominance. We suggest you try an extra 1-2% dose and assess how you feel. But pull back if you experience extreme nausea. The objective at the end of the day is to treat your symptoms with progesterone. If low doses aren’t resolving your health issues, you need to push forward onto a high dose. With a good liver program in place, women are surprised how well they can now tolerate appropriate doses to treat their problems (achieve saturation) before pulling back to physiological doses.
Rachel | Dec 20, 2010 | Reply
Hi Readers,
I have been on progesterone for about three weeks now. I went through a significantly nauseous phase of at least a week, perhaps ten days. I also had a little light bleeding at the peak of the nausea for about three days, and was very crotchety. I was started on 100mgs up front – not the incremental dosages suggested by the above article. However, for me, the nausea wasn’t bad enough to make me regret persevering, because now, all of a sudden, I feel fantastic – content and calm; well worth the trouble.
Best of luck.
Carol | Sep 13, 2011 | Reply
I just started using progesterone cream on Sun. it is Tuesday and I have felt nauseous for 2 days. I’m using 1/4 teas. 2 times a day. Should I cut it in half? I am 65yrs old.
Thank you.
Diane | Jan 5, 2012 | Reply
If one experiences nausea when beginning to use progesterone cream, and you think it indicated a dysfunctional liver, what is one supposed to do to support her liver?
Catherine Rollins | Jan 5, 2012 | Reply
Hello Diane
Yes, nausea could suggest your liver is ‘burdened’ by the introduction of progesterone. Not sure how much you are applying or cream formulation. Look at both. Aim to use an organic cream where you can. And introduce progesterone very, very slowly. In other words, dab just a little on once a day, see how you tolerate it, and if you’re feeling ok gradually build up dose to reflect what is recommended by the manufacturer.
A variety of medications can cause organ damage, and anyone who has a history of liver disease should check carefully with their doctor before starting new medications. Steroid-based medications taken orally can result in hepatitis-like side effects, as can oral contraceptives, antibiotics, analgesics, and any medication designed to alter liver function. Many women with a fatty / dysfunctional liver often cannot cope with potent doses of oral hormone replacement therapy as it overloads the workload of the liver. And this can actually aggravate weight problems and obesity. These ladies usually do quite well with natural transdermal (delivered through the skin) progesterone cream.
I’d strongly recommend you visit The Liver Doctor website to learn all there is to know about liver dysfunction, cleansing and support.
Be well …
In light, love & laughter,
Catherine P. Rollins
Founder / CEO
Natural-Progesterone-Advisory-Network.com
“Supporting Women in their Choice of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)”