Wild Yam Cream Update

2chr2015- Here is how my month of August looked (after irregular periods for months) - I will be 50 in November: 

August 1 - period was due - had no period

August 9th - started 10mg of wild yam in morning and 10mg at night

August 16th - got a period 15 days late (they recommend stopping cream during period and restarting after 5-7 days)

August 22 - increased to 20mg of wild yam in morning and 20mg at night

August 24th - started noticing I was feeling less "fragile", hot flashes slowing down during the day

The most troubling symptom was feeling so down for the first time at aged 49 - like a dark cloud was over me and my life had no color. My life is beautiful and blessed, 2chr - so I knew it had to be hormones.  A saliva test confirmed extremely low progesterone - so that is why I started the wild yam. 

A good friend of mine in pharmacy recommended I try the wild yam first; as some people respond well. I'm planning to keep at it for 3 months. She said it significantly stopped her low mood and anxiety. I pray that this will be the result for me, too.  I have felt so fragile sine June 11, 2018 -  I didn't want see anyone. I was so exhausted. It was awful. When a hot flash would come on - symptoms would be all over the board with each flash. Sometimes I felt like I could start weeping. For me - when I say I've had 8 better days - this is the emotional side of it all. That, by far, is the hardest of all of the symptoms - the emotional side of it. 

 

Hi Finny, is wild yam cream the same as my compound progesterone cream? I have no progesterone and high estrogen. Still get my period every month. 

Hi Patty  - Maybe some of the other women would know the answer to compound form?

The wild yam cream I am using is basically USP Progesterone Cream sold under many different brand names. I have also considered the one in Australia (I don't know if I can provide product names here?); this is also from the wild yam and their company boasts of several hundred thousand women who have had positive results. They are currently out of stock until mid-September.

The main reason I chose to use it was from all of the research I did on anxiety and depression being a result of low progesterone; and natural progesterone offered marked results.

I had this anxiety and depression experience for the first time when my cycle lasted just one day and then looking back I believe that same timeframe I also had an anovulatory cycle. These were the most difficult symptoms - don't get me wrong; the physical was awful as well...but being so fragile and unable to deal with it was by far the worst of all. 

I don't know much about the compound progesterone; but I do plan to have a consultation with a compounding pharmacy if I do not see continued benefits with this natural one. 

Can I ask how long you've been using yours? I would love to hear your experience!!!

I also get my period; although it's been very irregular, flow is different, lots of changes with it. 

 Hi Finny,  well I just lost my  message that I Sent you because my phone is acting up. I’ve been prescribed compound  progesterone  just  a few times. The pharmacist would always tell me that it takes a month to kick in but every time I would take it I would feel low. So IHaven’t really gave it a chance. Hearing a lot of women say itcan Cause cancer idk.  I don’t have hot flashes but I get hot a lot my sleep is sporadic and my periods are pretty heavy. I’m 52. My worst symptom is anxiety  that I used to control but now I know longer can. I have Ativan on days that I just want to see what it’s like to be myself again. Believe me I don’t want to take that but I take it maybe once or twice every couple weeks just to have a normal day. But I will definitely look into the Wild Yam Did you say wild yam have a site?

Thank you Finny.  I need to get my progesterone level checked soon!

Hi Patty - the brand names I researched were: Emerita Pro-Gest, Anna's Wild Yam Cream and Progesterall. If you google any of these brands; it should provide their website or take you to Amazon. I hope this helps! I am currently trying the Emerita Pro Gest. I see they also sell it at Whole Foods in the states. 

Hello again!! I found where I can get the wild yam cream I will   Definitely order some from the lady Down Under 👍. 

Yes I’ve tried the Emerita it’s good if your symptoms aren’t too bad . I had to get something stronger as I was just debilitated but I did notice some difference with this brand . 

Lori - I'm glad to hear it's a brand you tried! I'm open to the other brands; just thought I'd start with this.

I started with 10mg/twice a day and now I am up to 20mg/twice per day. From some of the books I've read, they've recommended higher loading doses the first 3 months.

I am seeing results with the 20mg/twice per day and had little results when using just the 10mg.

My depression, fatigue and anxiety have nearly all but lifted along with a lot of other symptoms - but those symptoms were the ones that drove me to try this cream (I still get the icky anxiety and weirdness with some of my flashes/night sweats -thankfully not all of them). I will do this for the 3 months and then have my levels checked again.

Some of the recommendations say to apply more creams on tougher/anxiety type of situations. Interesting - I haven't tried that. 

 

Which one are you on

That’s great news Finny there is nothing worse than the depression fatigue anxiety . Hoping my BHRT creams will kick in soon .. only been 8 days since off the patch and back on creams . The patch didn’t lift my mood and felt strange on it .. the creams are more gentle I think . 

Hi Susan - I started with the Emerita Pro Gest for my first 3 months to see how it goes. My second attempt (if this doesn't continue the results) will be to try the Progesterall. Right now I am seeing improvements and am grateful. I will get my saliva tested again at the 3 month mark to see if my progesterone levels have improved. 

Thanks, Audra! I remember one of your prior replies to me sharing that you were starting to see more better days after those first few awful months. I am hoping this will also be the experience for me. I realize it will be a rocky road - but am so thankful and relish in these days that I feel almost "myself".