16 Comments

Thank you for taking the time and energy to make sense of the research and present it in a digestible way. I've got too much brain fog to be able to figure it out on my own right now. Clearly we don't have all the answers yet, but thank you for being the one asking the questions and presenting the available information.

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I know it's overwhelming! Thanks for reading. The brain fog makes it super hard, and I always have to remember I'm reading about it every day so just now it's getting a little easier to understand. I just want people to know how wrong doctors get this. Big, popular doctors.

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It's been surprising to see how many big and popular doctors have been wrong. People get attached to their position and don't seem to be flexible in their stance as new information emerges. BTW, love your blog and podcast... am a devoted diehard!! <3

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This is some great information. More people need to be exposed to Hot Flash and your writings. How can you I help achieve that

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Aw that's so nice! Well, you can share with lots of people if you have time :)

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I really appreciate the information you provide and while I thought I was pretty well informed, I keep learning more. I didn't know about the clitoral shrinkage and oh my, if more people knew about that I'm sure there would be more research or outrage (?) with respect to that side effect? I think it's unlikely to be part of the conversation between a Dr. and a patient before going on the BCP? Also, I agree about the potential difference between a "mainstream" Dr. and an integrative or functional medicine Dr. and an ND. I have had the experience of the "mainstream" Dr. vehemently telling me that she believed only in Pharma drugs and had a very low opinion of anything other than that methodology .... I knew we weren't a good fit at that point!

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To me you just have no credibility if you deny integrative/naturopathic, because then you are denying all the people who seek their help. But you can't see things until you are ready; I've got stuff in my life like that too (I hope not too much!) Thank you for your kind words. God save our clitorisis (I'm pretty sure that's not the correct plural ;)

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I absolutely agree with your perspective and lol about the spelling;) Also, I think it's not just women who should be concerned about clitoris shrinkage, I'm sure men would care about it as well! I'm going to be sharing this bit of news with as many of my people as possible!

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This is so helpful to keep this in the public view. I was 'lucky' that the pill never worked for me as I just felt terrible when I took it and other friends have had the same. Of course I now know that what I experienced was a common effect of progestins rather than progesterone and I've been able to help others who had the same experience with progestins in HRT making them feel much worse. Once they introduced progesterone to the mix it was a total game changer. I wish more people knew

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I'm so glad you found it! I had a very popular doctor swear to me that the majority of problems that patients have with HRT is from progesterone. I could tell that was progestin to her; I really don't think she knew the difference.

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You ask such important questions about Progesterone and mainstream medicine's (with some exceptions such as Dr. Jerilynn Prior) continual hesitancy to pay it the respect and attention it deserves. I must listen to the podcast with Dr. Sara Gottfried. That info about clitoral shrinkage from BCP use is news to me!

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I'd love to hear what you think about it. (Dr Sara Gottfried; I'm gonna wager you aren't impressed with the shrinkage :)

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LOL. No I am not!!

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Thanks so much for this in depth delve into progesterone … I’m still confused … so much more research needs to be done . I almost feel like a rabbit that’s being tested on. I thought my coil with what I now know to be progestin was ‘safer ‘ because it was localised . I’m now not so sure … it’s all a little confusing and I am in the arena.

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So much more research! I would have that coil too, but the doc wouldn't give it to me because I'd never had kids, said it wouldn't work (and a friend without kids tried it and said it really didn't work). Also my friends with the coil seem to be sailing through peri. It is very confusing.

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Hey! Thanks for more great content. 😘

Someone in my family actually experienced the shriveled clitoris phenomenon from having been on the BCP for years. Intercourse - even just touching the area - were very painful for her. I believe she was able to regenerate some tissue after stopping the pill as well as some other measures.

I personally am taking oral micronized progesterone. My estrogen levels have been “off the charts” high, so progesterone-only was needed. The only way for me to get pure progesterone was through a Naturopath, and then through a compounding pharmacy (which is regulated in the state of CA where I reside.)

It has helped my sleep and mood fluctuations tremendously! I’ve been on it about a year and have not had any negative side effects.

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