Progesterone for next flare?

I have been on progesterone 200 mg a day for the last 10 days. I am taking it for an unrelated problem, it was prescribed by my gyno. However I noticed everyday I was on it my UC symptoms got progressively better.

I did a little research and progesterone is an anti-inflammatory hormone. Today was my last day taking it and is the best I have felt in months. Obviously I am sure I can't take a hormone like this long term, but I wonder what affect it would have if I felt a flare coming and could take it for 10 or 14 days.

It is ironic because I was worried that taking hormones would make things worse, but I guess this hormone agrees with me!

Anyone else with similar experiences or insight?

notsosickly -

Do you mine me asking what pill you are currently taking? I am about to restart the pill because it usually makes things better for me but I am taking a low dose pill same one I was one before. I wonder if this would be a better option for me or an idea to discuss with my doctor.

Hmm, that's interesting. I just looked up the 2 active ingredients in my low dose pill. The first ingredient is a synthetic progesteron. Maybe that is why I did so well on it before.

Here is hoping. I restart the pill this Sunday. The last 2 times I was on this pill my UC did really well. We are hoping it wasn't just a coincidence and maybe this little nudge will finally help me reach complete remission instead of just doing really well, but not great!

I was wondering a lot about progesterone and UC relation for women. My GI has this opinion that during pregnancy things usually (not always) get better and under control. He even mentioned that it has to do with hormones levels. I was pregnant twice. First time, mild flare hasn't not improved very much during those 9 mons. But it was under control, I was stable, eating normally, etc (taking Colzal back then). Second time around, I was in remission, and had no symptoms at all, and about 5 months into my pregnancy I had put all the meds off. Maybe not so smart, from the time perspective, but definitely was glad to be pills free for some time.

So in my case, pregnancy (high progesterone) could have done something good for myself. But on the other hand, I was on contraceptive pills "all my live", and still developed UC. But, while taking pills, I was in remission with some occasional symptoms. Few years meds free, and then I switched to NuovaRing. And had a flare in spring last year. Don't know what have higher progesterone levels, pills I took before or NuovaRing. But I think, generally pills are higher. Maybe there was no connection with progesterone and my flare at all. And since I had terrible headaches while on estrogen (it came with getting older, I think), I decided to go for the IUD (only progesterone). And I believe, that is has the lowest progesterone level of all those mentioned. I've been on it for a month, still having mild symptoms, which started around Christmas. But added Slippery Elm to my supplements and Jarro probiotics and was back on fiber. It looks better.

Anyway, since the topic keeps coming back, I wonder if there should be done some medical research to find a correlation between hormones (esp. progesterone) and UC. Have you found something about it?

Well, I have had issues with the pill. I am know it is what caused my only 2 really bad flares. Something about the synthetic form of the hormone for me. I used to take progesterone 14 days out of the month, and it helped me a lot too. Progesterone is a bioidentical hormone, so it is quite safe to take. I know people who take it everyday. I love it because it helps the UC, but it also is a muscle relaxer, and if taken before bed, helps you sleep.

@summerstorm

Do you remember how it was with mirena and your uc? I wonder, as my gyn told me that it actually can help with managing my UC (progesterone). But on the other hand, a few weeks ago there was a thread about mirena actually worsening the UC symptoms for some ladies. How it was with you?

My dr insists that the mirena doesn't have any effect on UC. They think the progesterone could only help, but because the amount of progesterone is so small, it likely isn't doing anything. My symptoms all started 2 months after the mirena put in. I just recently had it taken out, just to see if there was any correlation. Of course, I ended up back on prednisone not too long after as symptoms reached such a bad point. I also started imuran so now I won't know if there is any link. Wish I left it on now.

@dunia. I had the Mirena in for about a year and a half. I still had periods but they were very light and lasted for just a couple of days. I know they say the mirena sometimes does stop periods. Good luck! I will let you know if anything changes with my UC. I am on other meds now so it will be hard to see any correlation between the two. It is interesting though, how many women seem to develop UC after pregnancy. Does seem like there is some sort of hormone link.

UPDATE
As I promised, during the previous discussion about Mirena and UC symptoms, I update my 'status'

I've been on Mirena for 3 months now and so far so good. No symptoms at all. Eating and drinking what I want, with common sense in place, of course.
My periods virtually stopped, some spotting occasionally. Yet still, from time to time, I get more acne on my face and back. According my dermatologist, my body would need around 6 months to adjust to IUD, so still have room for any other changes. But as for UC, it could be the way it is now.

I am on birth controll to ease the symptoms of menapause and to help fibroids. I do not advocate doing this to anyone but I feel so much like crap when I get to the white pills (inactive) that I no longer take the white pills I go straight to the active pills so that I will not have a period. then after a few months I go off them until I have a normal period. It helps me avoid having the increased symptoms during my period and it has completely alleviated PMS. Ask your gyno if this is safe it may not be for everyone.