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Wanted to start a topic on women’s health with the specific goal of improving fertility / menstrual health. I feel like it would be helpful to define what a normal/ideal cycle should be like since it’s impossible to look this up anymore or get advice from doctors (“Pain is normal now and everyone is different” is not really logical or helpful) and to get input from other women on what they find helps improve or worsen symptoms.
From what I have gathered, I think a normal cycle should be pain free – little to no cramping or aching. Maybe some lower back pain or cramping when actively bleeding, but it should not prevent you from enjoying your day. You shouldn’t need heat packs or medication all the time to deal with it – some months maybe, but not routinely.
Breasts will swell with estrogen surges but shouldn’t hurt excessively.
CM will change and you should experience EWCM when ovulating. If dry you are likely lacking in electrolytes and true hydration (not just drinking more water).
Basal body temperature should show a clear shift/increase of about 0.5 degrees after ovulation. You should also have a good minimum – not sure exactly how low is okay, but I think you should be warmer than 96.5 upon waking.. I’m currently about 97.5 (does anyone know what the ideal baseline is before ov?). If sleeping conditions are consistent, basal body temperature should be relatively stable. If not this could suggest thyroid/temperature management issues.
Somewhat related, you also should not have cold hands or feet while just existing unless you’re outside without proper clothing in the winter. Cold hands and feet likely mean your body is diverting energy resources and cannot prioritize heating your extremities..
As for improving symptoms, I’ve found magnesium, vitamin D (preferably from early morning light), adequate sleep, and getting enough calories (2000+) / maintaining stable blood sugar are the most important for me for preventing pain and overall happiness.
After stumbling into Dr Peats research about a year ago, I’ve resolved a lot of symptoms including chronic allergies/post nasal drip, chronic eczema, overall improved energy, and eventually improved menstrual symptoms. It hasn’t yet helped my husband and I in TTC but I’m hopeful that continuing to understand my body to through diet will help in the long run
While still menstruating in my 40s I solved the monthly water gain and breast swelling with Dr Peats recommendation of progest-e. It was like a miracle.
I am probably about to be thru menopause if you go by the ” no cycle for a 12 mth period ” standard. It has mostly been smooth sailing but for a week here or there where I get cycles of warmth and trouble sleeping. Then I think about what I have been eating, usually have more salt, aspirin, and progest-e.
I continue to use progest-e for 2 or 3 weeks of the month – remembering Dr Peat talking about every tissue in the body is capable of making estrogen, old men have high estrogen levels, women have the same health risks as men after menopause, and the experiment with the monkey that had an arm (?) Producing just as much estrogen after ovaries were removed.
I had a mixed experience with progest-e. In some ways it helped, but it antagonizes stored estrogen and I think that really messed with my cycle sometimes.
I do think it helped me get to a much better base progesterone level judging by temperature and mood stability. I need to get my e/p levels rechecked to confirm
One thing I didn’t like about the batch of progest-e I got was the taste. I couldn’t tell if maybe it had gone rancid because it was left in my mail box in the desert heat :/ so maybe it just wasn’t as potent
Hello. Cari, I have been looking at your recipes at the RPF for a while. I am super glad you started this website and forum!
Re women’s health, thoughts please on what to do…post menopausal some calcification of breast tissues (found out after a heart scan) with no symptoms. Thank you!I think it is in one of the progesterone papers at raypeat.com that Ray mentions that in France progesterone cream is prescribed in France for breast problems. Personally, I would rub in Progest-E mixed with coconut oil so it penetrates well. I do that when I feel a twinge. (As Ray wrote, there is no known toxic level of progesterone.)
Before finding Ray, I had a cyst in my breast removed. And when I went for the follow-up, the surgeon said, “You know, you have another one in there.” Uh, no, I didn’t know that. Modern medicine!
I soon found Ray Peat, and that second cyst must have resolved on its own. And my breasts were never sore. I have thought the I may well have been on the road to breast cancer and Ray saved me from that.
I was surprised to see Ray Peat’s book “Nutrition For Women” free to read…
“Some women with premenstrual fatigue have found that the “premenstrual” phase tends to get longer and longer, until they have chronic fatigue. I found that to be one of the easiest “PMS” problems to correct. When people are older, and have been sick longer, the fatigue problem is likely to involve more systems of the body. The larger the quantity of “toxic fat” stored in the body, the more careful the person must be about increasing metabolic and physical activity. Using more vitamin E, short-chain saturated fats, and other anti-lipid-peroxidation agents is important.” -Ray Peat
“The carrot salad improves the ratio of progesterone to estrogen and cortisol, and so is as appropriate for epilepsy as for premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, or arthritis.” -Ray Peat
“It takes a few days for the intestine to adjust to raw carrot, but the indigestible fiber is very protective for the intestine. Boiled bamboo shoots, which are also mostly indigestible, have a similar effect. These fibers prevent the reabsorption of estrogen in the intestine, and can shift the balance away from cortisol and estrogen, toward progesterone and thyroid, in just a few days of regular use.” —Ray Peat
Im very interested in this topic I have spoken at length with Cari on the RPF about the excess estrogen I have dealt with. I didn’t see before Ray say the carrot takes a few days to adjust to so I may give that another shot. Fiber tends to have me trapped in the bathroom……allday. 😂
i do wonder if any of you ladies have experienced estrogen/cortisol/serotonin increase from progest – e or any supplements that speed metabolic rate?
i always get horrible cortisol and estrogen increases from them and have taken them in the past for up to 4 months before giving up on them.
I have a suspicion the progest-e is moving my metabolism too fast and hypoglycemia is causing the high cortisol/estrogen symptoms. Would love to hear your anecdotes!
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