Thank-you for explaining the proper use of the progesterone cream. Test last week confirmed I am in menopause. I haven't had a period since September. I'm not really post-menopause yet, so would I use the cream as for someone with irregular periods? How much should I use? Thank-you again for your advice.

You can play with the once or twice a day dosage to see what suits you. If you find relief with once a day, you can increase to twice a day when symtpoms worsen. If you are currently suffering badly with symptoms, you may want to start right off with twice a day. Hope this helps.

Note to Leigh K: I'm sure you are only trying to help, but the facts are here. So many of these women have benefitted from using the progesterone cream. A while back, I read Dr. Lee's book on menopause. He stated that after menopause women still produce some estrogen, but not progesterone, and if memory serves me correctly, he mentioned using the progesterone cream in such cases.

I know this response will get me nowhere, but I had to try.

In fact, prenatal vitamins merely produce expensive urine as do infant vitamins and other vitamin supplements. In some cases supplements of vitamins produce serious toxicity. Prenatal vitamins had to be reformulated a few years ago when it was learned that vitamin A in excess of 8000IU *including that contained in food* was linked to serious birth defects. Food is the best source of nutrient needs and it supplies it in adequate quantities if one spends the time to make sure one has a balanced diet.

There is, of course a rather distinct difference between vitamins and hormones, a distinction that frequently gets blurred in these kinds of arguments by the purveyors of "natural products." There is nothing "natural" about this otc cream. It contains drugs that have been synthesized in a lab just like prescription ones. The only difference is the quantity of drug. In the otc type, the label must state an amount low enough that the FDA has determined that it will produce no effect. That's why it's sold as a cosmetic. The danger is that many of these creams contain prescription drugs not listed on the label, progesterone in amounts in excess of that listed on the label, and often dangerous contaminants. A recent study in California found that 32% of "natural products" contained undeclared prescription drugs or other contaminants.

Finally there is no such thing as "natural and benign" treatment of anything. Anything that has the potential to provide significant benefit, has an equal potential to do significant harm. There is no free lunch.

Do I understand you correctly that you had a hysterectomy to deal with insomnia and depression?

See:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50853-2002Jan28.html

As for vitamin/mineral supplements for pregnant women: Doctors prescribe them because they know that most American women do not get enough nutrients from food. Just look at the national figures for compliance with the food pyramid for proof. If an individual woman feels confident that she is obtaining enough nutrients including vitamins and minerals, than she can dispense with the prenatal vitamins. Ideally the obstetritian would do a thorough assessment of the dietary intake of each woman before prescribing vitamins, but in reality, there is no time or money for that. Again, it is up to the individual woman to be knowledgable about what she needs.

I thought that this site would not become the property of the yam scammers, who will write off the $15 USD as a business expense, until Feb 15. I guess they've already taken over.

I supply links to sites so people can get information they might find useful. Again, it's your choice as to whether to read the information available on that site or not. It's not your choice to decide whether or not such information should be available/accessible.

I've started exercizing in the evening (the only time I can do it), eating at least 3 hours before bedtime, tried drinking milk, no caffeine after 9am, sleeping in a cool room (and under the fewest covers necessary), etc. I've also tried ProGest, a small dab. But I haven't noticed any improvement no matter what I do. Some nights I sleep all night, but most I wake up at least a couple times.

But what I really want to know is, how do the hormone fluxuations during this time of our life affect our sleep so much?

Jenn...I wish I knew too! I'm having the same experience; used to sleep like the dead, now it's a rare night when I sleep more than 4 consecutive hours. :(

Warm up your hands and feet before getting into bed. I use a blow dryer on them for a few seconds. It will cut the time it takes to get drowsy which won't happen until extremities are warm.

I have used a white noise machine since my son was a baby. The one I have is over 20 years old and makes a noise like an air conditioner or fan. The ones they make now also have settings for the sound of rain, or the ocean. I take mine with me when I travel. If the power goes out during the night, I wake right up.

You need TOTAL darkness. I use sun blocking shades and cover the front of digital clocks. It needs to be pitch black, even when dawn is breaking, or the light will wake you.

Exercise is essential, but as another poster said, not too close to bedtime. I try to get 30-50 minutes of walking in every day rain or shine (or snow). It's an investment toward good health and well-being AND a good nights sleep.

An yes, I do use the natural progesterone cream and supplements. Magnesium is particularly helpful. Hope this helps.

I love hearing about everyone's experiencs with it.

Don't love hearing from Leigh. Wonder why she wastes her time here? It's painfully obvious no one agrees with her point of view. Can you say Troll? Let it go, Leigh.

If you have good information to share, then share it. Cite your sources but be fair and cite dissenting opinions. Trust that we are intelligent enough to form our own opinions and don't ever attack anyone for considering the same information and forming a diffent conclusion than you did.

I believe the improvement is due to the sensible lifestyle changes I made: regular, daily exercise; eating healthy balanced diet and less sugar; and calcium / vitamin supplements. Prior to that, I had already increased my water intake (to about 64 ounces a day) and stopped eating within 3 hours of bedtime.

Even if you don't believe (or do believe) everything Dr. Lee says, one thing he states that is right on is that if we aren't eating right, exercising, etc. then no cream or pill is going to fix us. And any good doctor should tell us that right up front even if he/she is a strong supporter of a particular medication or cream.

It took a few months to notice the changes. And my sleep is still not the good heavy, all-night sleep I used to enjoy until I hit my 40's, but it's normal to sleep lighter as we get older.

Try making simple lifestyle changes (if you haven't already), one at a time. Just make one change for a full month before trying another one.