Progesterone Supplementation Timing In Female Cycle

[kelstracy]

Can you start taking progesterone in follicular phase of menstrual cycle? Or should you always wait until post ovulation?

 

[Mito]

Peat has said that it’s most helpful when it reinforces the luteal phase, when the ovary is producing progesterone, because there’s a positive feedback effect on the ovary.

 

[mrchibbs]

Peat has said that it’s most helpful when it reinforces the luteal phase, when the ovary is producing progesterone, because there’s a positive feedback effect on the ovary.

Yes and to this end, he's mentioned a 2 week on, 2 week off cycle to maintain maximal effectiveness of progesterone.
I would favor topical application after a shower, with a carrier oil

 

[wild-bee]

Can you start taking progesterone in follicular phase of menstrual cycle? Or should you always wait until post ovulation?

yes but it depends on your goals

you can use it a couple of days before ovulation without affecting your cycle (supposedly boosts your fertility), however if you use 'too much' for longer than 7 days before ovulation it will be suppressed (contraceptive), natural ovarian progesterone will then not be produced and you may have to supplement a higher dose for the rest of the month
progesteronetherapy.com advocates using it the whole month through for the first 2-3 months if you have severe estrogen symptoms and it's more important to get balanced than have a regular cycle

 

[mrchibbs]

yes but it depends on your goals

you can use it a couple of days before ovulation without affecting your cycle (supposedly boosts your fertility), however if you use 'too much' for longer than 7 days before ovulation it will be suppressed (contraceptive), natural ovarian progesterone will then not be produced and you may have to supplement a higher dose for the rest of the month
progesteronetherapy.com advocates using it the whole month through for the first 2-3 months if you have severe estrogen symptoms and it's more important to get balanced than have a regular cycle

Indeed, I suspect suppressing a few cycles with progesterone will restore greater functioning later on. Along with optimizing thyroid function, which is intimately involved in fertility and menstrual cycles and I've lost track of how many accounts of immediate pregnancies after thyroid function is optimized. Progesterone helps the thyroid too so it's a synergy of sorts