Hi Karen and other contributors I'm nearly 50 and still having periods. I was suffering from several unpleasant menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, trouble sleeping, acute vaginal dryness and lack of libido over the past 1-2 yrs. I had a hysteroscopy/D and C due to build up of uterus lining 2 yrs ago and since then periods have been regular, but light and only about 3 days. I decided to try an OTC progesterone cream just after Christmas and was amazed at how quickly all those symptoms disappeared. If I forget to rub some on before bed I don't sleep well - hot flushes and waking up feeling very scared about something - but then I lie there and can't for the life of me work out what the hell it is I'm scared about! I live in France and the gel I'm using is called Progestogel which you can find on the Net. My first period after starting on the progesterone cream was much heavier than since the op, though not abnormally so, and I felt SO much better. My second one is due at the end of this week and I've been having the most painful menstrual cramps as of several days back. Never had anything like it before - well maybe when I was much younger, for a day or so, but never day after day! Anyone else experienced this? Does it mean I need to increase the dose? When my period starts I'm planning to have a week off the gel (although the info in the Progestogel packet says to use it every day, even when you have a period) but I've read some women's contributions to this forum who have said they can't bear to be off it that long, because all the symtoms return. So maybe I'll follow the pkt instructions instead! I started this progesterone cream without consulting my gynae. He put me on HRT twice last year (pills then patches) and both times I gained weight immediately and felt awful - effect of the estrogen I think. I have found a new female gynae in Paris who specialises in menopause and have an appointment with her in early March to discuss what I'm doing and see if she feels I should be making any adjustments or perhaps using a progesterone cream for which you need a prescription. I would be interested in any feed back to this msg. Linda

Jodi, To my knowledge, I am fairly certain that there are NO negative affects with NPC. I understand that it helps the balancing of the other hormones. I have used NPC for several years. I use it to control hot flashes and prevent the possibility of osteoporosis and breast cancer. I did "just quit" the craem once, because I thought I may not need it any more. I was fine for about a month, but then the hot flashes hit me with a vengence! It sounds to me like NPC could help you and I have never heard of any bad side to it. Have you had your thyroid checked? That could be some of it, but the NPC may help that situation too since it too is a hormone. It sounds like you are aware of the bennefits of "Natural" rather than synthetic, good! When you get the NPC ask the dealer about the best way to take it for your situation. I hope you find some relief. Hayjud

Hi Qinz, I'm very happy for you! I was forced on HRT about 5 years ago, when I had a horrible vaginal bleed, and needed a D&C. The doc had me on lots of estrogen to keep from repeat bleeding. When I tried to come off it, my Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue got soooooo much worse, so back on I went. 2 years later I tried to come off my combi-patch, and the same thing happened. I gave it 2 months, and I kept getting sicker and sicker. I don't get hot flashes. I have, in the past few years, lost alot of faith in the medical community. Money is at the root of all the decisions made, and not the best thing for us......... So, now I'm rethinking this combipatch. But.....I'm not as lucky as you.........I appear to get sooooooo much sicker with the Fibromyalgia when I try to come off it. I truly believe that our bodies get "addicted" to extra hormones, and it becomes almost like going through detox to get off them. I will start to think about trying it again. Good luck to you!

I am so glad this discussion is on here! I am 52, and was just told to go off the combo pill in August, after being on it nearly continuously since 17 when I picked it up in college. My blood pressure had started to go up last year, so we figured this was the cause. I had never had high blood pressure before - usually the opposite. I tried reducing salt and increasing exercise for a bit, but it had little impact. So, I was recommended going off or switching to the mini-pill progesterone-only. The first two weeks were fine, then I had a couple of weeks of constant overheating(no 'flashes', just constant hot). I read about how sometimes when you go off the combo pill, your insulin levels can be weird as your other systems take over estrogen and general thermostat regulation, so I cut out all the high spiky insulin foods(think sugar and white rice along with the rest of the online lists of foods to avoid) and reduced some caffeine, and the heat problem turned off completely. Now it has been three months of progesterone only, and I can see my skin aging, and hair growth slowing. I had been having a lot of brain-fog issues the past few years, and those have not changed, sadly. It's very annoying, and I hope that part at least sorts itself out by 60. Bonus and unexpected - my internal base stress level has gone down. It's just easier to cope. I have added rice and sugar back with no problems, and overheating is completely gone. I am sleeping better, although now I have weird little dreams, when I have never been one to remember dreams much at all. I do not have more energy, and some of my hand strength is just gone. Also, mentally, I find I am more detached from things and people, but not in a depressed or destructive way. More the feeling of having a choice about being involved or not, rather than having an immediate reaction (like wanting to scream at the grocery clerk that eye-rolled when asking a valid question). Hoping I am just done, but it's too soon to tell. I get mild cramping with no period, and some spotting during the week I would have normally had one in the '4th week off' time. But it's too soon to write off periods altogether. I am hoping most of the worst of it was masked during the past 5 years. But...I do have female relatives that didn't hit menopause until 56-65. One would have thought with half the planet going through this in their lives that there would be more medical study and progress on this in the last 50 years, but apparently no. lol I think starting a better workout routine and nutrition plan is next on the agenda. Wondering how much of my personality and priority-setting is hormone related. Will be interesting to see who I become now. Maybe my ten year old self has a chance again. :) She was fun.