Progesterone/Fertility and Low Carb

[daisy73]

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone know if low carbing improves progesterone levels in order to increase fertility?

Thanks!

[Angaa]

Hi
I don't know any science on the subject.. but my personal experience is that low carbing does help in fertility. I don't know if this is because when you are healthy and at a healthy weight that helps your fertility and progesterone or if some how eating low carbing food helps. But before low carbing I weighed about 188 at 5'8 and could not get pregnant we tried over a year and I needed clomid to help get me pregnant because of low progesterone. The clomid helped and I got pregnant in the first cycle. After I had my son I decided to do Atkins and got down to 145. I got pregnant again when my son was 5 months old and I was on a low dose birth control!!!!!

Good Luck to you

[Celeste2]

YES.

The way it works is that women who have unbalanced hormones typically have high estrogen and no progesterone. Instead of popping an egg, it's like the cycle is stuck in second gear and just makes fluid-filled cysts. The latest research on this problem, called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), says that the whole thing starts when insulin surges too high and throws the female hormones out of their delicate balance. Low progesterone means you are not ovulating. You can't just add progesterone, you need to lower insulin so the balance will repair itself and work properly. Low carbing is a FABULOUS way to lower insulin. If it is not enough (and it was not enough for me), an endocrinologist (doctor who specializes in hormones) can prescribe insulin-sensitizer medication such as Glucophage, Avandia, AvandaMet, ACTOS, and I think a couple of others to make the liver and muscles work more efficiently in storing sugar. I had to take both Glucophage and Avandia, and we just celebrated my DD's 3rd birthday, so I am speaking from experience all the way on this.

Edited to add that even using Clomid did not help me get pregnant, but lowcarbing and using insulin sensitizers DID. I had a healthy pregnancy and ever since then my cycle is working a lot better than before--but that is very common, too.


Good luck to you! It is soooooo worth it.

[daisy73]

Thanks Ladies.

Where did you keep your carb level when trying to conceive?

[Angaa]

Mine was low because I was not trying to get pregnant, under 20 grams. But I had to go off Atkins because of awful morning sickness the only thing I could eat was mash potato's and cereal. Went back on after the morning sickness went away. Have since found out that Ketosis is not good for babies brain developement so I would stay above 40-50 just in case.

Sending baby dust your way

[LowCarb Leann]

I was infertile for almost 20 years. My problem was also an imbalance in my hormones. I started Atkins in January. I conceived at the beginning of June (wasn't trying - had given up many years before). My DD is now 15 months old!

Doctor credits it to the manner in which lowcarb diets alter & regulate your hormone balance.

[daisy73]

Ok, I have stayed away from super low carb while TTC but I think I will go back on induction for two weeks and then get my carbs up to 40-50 to ensure a healthy fetus from the beginning.

Thanks for the support, baby dust, and words of wisdom!!

[Lucky4]

I was told when I was 14 I'd never have children (no progesterone). I now have 4 but that wasn't without difficulty and 2 miscarriage (another factor of low progesterone). I'm VERY happy to say that without medications, low carb and natural progesterone cream have really changed my life. The progesterone is balancing my hormones for the first time in decades, periods are getting normal, ovulation is back (although I don't want anymore kids), bald spots are starting to fill in again, cycstic lumps in the breast are gone and I feel GREAT. While the progesterone helped with the balance, the low carbing helps keep my insulin under control--since PCOS is most likely an insulin problem in the first place. The two really go hand in hand--and I've been able to stay off of medications so far--although I won't hesitate to use them if absolutely needed in the future. You can find a LOT more info in the health forum--good luck

[Lucky4]

I was told when I was 14 I'd never have children (no progesterone). I now have 4 but that wasn't without difficulty and 2 miscarriage (another factor of low progesterone). I'm VERY happy to say that without medications, low carb and natural progesterone cream have really changed my life. The progesterone is balancing my hormones for the first time in decades, periods are getting normal, ovulation is back (although I don't want anymore kids), bald spots are starting to fill in again, cycstic lumps in the breast are gone and I feel GREAT. While the progesterone helped with the balance, the low carbing helps keep my insulin under control--since PCOS is most likely an insulin problem in the first place. The two really go hand in hand--and I've been able to stay off of medications so far--although I won't hesitate to use them if absolutely needed in the future. You can find a LOT more info in the health forum--good luck

[Celeste2]

I wouldn't fear ketosis when pregnant; thin people slip into ketosis all the time, and in fact the brain prefers to burn ketones for energy.

I found that I was plenty hungry during my pregnancy so it's not like I had any temptation to go TOO low on any substance!

If you have nausea, what worked for me was pickles. Even just smelling one made me feel better and once I ate one, "all better!!". Another thing some people swear by is Sea Bands, these elastic acupressure things you wear on the wrist. They have some holistic function.

Good luck, and may a new low carb baby be in the works soon!!!!

[KajunDC]

Straightening out hormonal imbalances is one of the EASIEST things I do at my office through the use of herbs, nutrition, and diet. I have great success with fertility type work... much better than the fertility clinics in the area... because I run the tests that shows exactly what the problems are. A single blood test is not enough info to determnine the problems with the female cycle. It could be an estrogen dominance problem, it could be progesterone deficiency, it could be a pituitary problem, a hypothalamus problem, a liver problem, etc.

Until the cause is determined, things like hysterectomies, aka female castration, will unfortunately continue to be the order of the medical doctors. All because they are not finding out what is really wrong.

Sad... but true.

[Angaa]

In the Atkins book... if I'm not mistaken he advises not to go into ketosis because there is not enough studies on the effects on the baby. I've read that it MIGHT cause developement damage to the babies brain. In my opinion I would try to stay out of ketosis just in case. Baby comes first!!! I was in ketosis when pregnant (before I found out about it maybe being bad) my baby is 9 months old and fine but there are a lot of if's....

Keep us updated, Can't wait to see if low carbing helps you

Angela

[daisy73]

I just had my 21 day progesterone test today so I should no more in the next few days. Hopefully, I am worrying for nothing but my OB/GYN is being cautious and having me tested since I had an early miscarriage a couple of years ago.

Thanks Ladies!

[daisy73]

Hey everyone,

I just got my test results back today and my progesterone was a 6.1 which is apparently a little low but not too low.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[KajunDC]

Barbi,

Okay... so on one day out of the month your progesterone was at 6.1. That, unfortunately, tells us nothing.

The levels of progesterone change throughout the cycle, as does the levels of estrogen. And while the individual levels of both are nice to know, what is most important is what are they doing IN RELATION to one another. Without that info, and it must be over the course of an entire month cycle, you have no idea what is going on hormonally in your body.

Estrogen should dominate the first two weeks (compared to progesterone) and then progesterone should dominate the rest of the cycle (and throughout pregnancy.) Taking a snapshot of what one or both of these hormones is doing on one day in the month gives absolutely no relavent info.

I give my patients an 11 sample saliva test (Saliva tests are MUCH more accurate than blood tests) to determine what these hormones are doing in relation to the other throughout an entire cycle. It also shows how well the pituitary gland (which is the master gland of the body) is signaling the ovaries to produce hormones and how well the ovaries are answering.

It really is the only way to know what is causing the problem and how to correct it.

[krisfrogten]

Hi Barbi,

I can answer your question with experience, YES! After being "infertile" for 4 years, I have recently had a new baby. I started low carb last year Jan 2004 and lost 50+ lbs & in July, I found out I was pregnant.

I don't know exactly about progesterone levels because I never had mine tested, but I truly believe low carb made it possible.

[GoJackets]

Barbi -

I think a lot of women can attribute low carbing to successful conceptions. But, I'm not sure if low carbing can increase your progesterone because I found out about my progesterone after I got pregnant.

I got pregnant when I was low carbing. I miscarried at 10 weeks. I got pregnant again two months later and my doctor tested my progesterone. It was a little low. She put me on vaginal inserts for my first trimester - long enough for the placenta to take over. I do not have PCOS. There is a split as to if progesterone supplements really work. For me, the next time I get prgenant, I may not need them - but I will take them anyway. There is no harm taking them, so why risk another miscarriage if they actually do work? I feel like they do, but that is because I carried to term after taking them. Have you eliminated the possibility of PCOS? As soon as you get pregnant, you should have your progesterone tested. If they suspect you are low, then I imagine they will put you on progesterone until you reach your 12th week.

Would your dr. be able to tell you if taking the supplements can increase your odds of concieving?

[daisy73]

Thanks Dena!

I don't have any PCOS symptoms so I doubt that is it. After I posted yesterday, the doctor's office called back to tell me that as soon as I become pregnant they will start me on the progesterone vaginal inserts immediately. In the meantime, I am continuing to low carb but not at induction levels. I do eat a piece of fruit everyday in additional to lots of veggies and I'm taking prenatals.

Thanks for letting me know about your experience. It always makes me feel better to hear the success stories!!!

[goalinsight]

Read Dr John Lee's books (What your doctor may not tell you about menopause and 2nd book same title but premenopause). Sooooo....you ask why am I posting on this board with THAT?? Well, after seeing Dr Lee at a seminar he advised progest cream (a particular brand of approved-by-him progesterone cream). I had 2 miscarriages in a row and then could not get pregnant in 4 years of diligent trying. I used his technique as I was not ovulating and BINGO! I got pregnant and stayed on the progesterone throughout the pregnancy as my problem was two-fold: No longer ovulating AND multiple miscarriages due to low progesterone. Results: a very healthy baby boy.
Studies also show women using progesterone during pregnancy give birth to very intelligent babies...nice study, hunh?
Dr Lee talks about his daughter's pregnancy and his experiences with progesterone cream/fertility/regulating cycles etc in the books.

[daisy73]

Hmmm, very interesting! Please let me know the name of that cream!

Thanks!

[goalinsight]

Progest Cream made by Emirita
But there are other effective creams listed in Dr Lee's book. Do not just take a wild yam cream Dr Lee explains why that won't work...

[daisy73]

Thanks!