If you weren't too busy lusting over your high school biology teacher (biology teachers almost invariably being female and hot… why is that?), you may recall that progesterone is an important hormone in women.
It's mainly known for its role in pregnancy.
But that probably has you wondering – if progesterone is a pregnancy hormone, what use could there possibly be in using progesterone for men?
Well you could say progesterone makes men manly enough to get women pregnant.
See, most of the studies out there suggest that progesterone has a similar effect on men as the male hormone testosterone.
Like testosterone, progesterone enhances your libido, improves your mood, helps keep your weight down, increases muscle mass, gives you more energy, stronger bones, stronger erections and a whole host of other health benefits.
Progesterone also increases levels of testosterone in your body and enhances the effects of testosterone.
At the same time, progesterone reduces the female hormone estrogen and antagonizes the effects of estrogen.
It's no wonder then that progesterone can play a big role in helping you overcome symptoms of the male menopause, such as low energy, weight gain, man boobs, low libido, reduced muscle mass, brain fog, and depression.
How Does Progesterone Help Get Rid Of Excess Body Fat And Man Boobs?
The role of progesterone has been severely underestimated in men.
Depending on the stage of a woman's menstrual cycle, men can have just as much progesterone in their bodies as women.
Most scientific studies have focused on the effects of progesterone on women, and its role in men has been neglected.
It's only recently that scientists have started to realize how important this hormone is in men.
When it comes to determining a man's masculinity – body fat, muscle mass, libido, sperm count, erections, etc. – the latest studies suggest progesterone is just as important as estrogen and testosterone are in men.
In fact, progesterone is a precursor to both of these hormones (meaning both estrogen and testosterone are produced from progesterone), so it plays a big role in deciding the levels of these hormones in our bodies.
Where guys with man boobs and excess body fat generally have high estrogen and/or low testosterone, progesterone works, in part, by lowering estrogen, and raising levels of testosterone.
Progesterone Acts With Testosterone
Progesterone has many of its own unique effects on the body. In men, the studies suggest that progesterone works a lot like testosterone, so much that it can even be considered a second male sex hormone.
In a study published in the book, The Hidden Structure of Interaction, researchers found that levels of testosterone and progesterone in men rise and fall together in weekly and monthly cycles. Also, both testosterone and progesterone levels rise together in response to increased sexual activity in men.
How Progesterone May Help Prevent Hair Loss
Progesterone is also the most potent known inhibitor of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a known cause of male pattern balding, prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer. By blocking 5-alpha-reductase, progesterone promotes higher levels of testosterone in your body.
Progesterone Antagonizes Estrogen
Not only does progesterone raise levels of testosterone and have similar actions to testosterone, it also acts against estrogen, much like testosterone does.
Progesterone antagonizes the effects of estrogen on your body via multiple different mechanisms. One such mechanism is via regulation of cell metabolism to promote the oxidative pathway. This prevents conversion of the much weaker form of estrogen, estrone, to a more potent form, known as estradiol.
We know for example, that like testosterone, progesterone reduces estrogen-driven cancers like prostate cancer in men, and breast and endometrial cancer in women.
As men age, both their levels of testosterone and progesterone decrease, while estrogen levels increase. When high estrogen levels are unopposed by testosterone and progesterone, it leads to a condition called estrogen dominance:
Here Are Some Known Problems Caused By Estrogen Dominance In Men
- Gynecomastia (man boobs)
- Excess, stubborn and hard to lose body fat, especially abdominal and chest fat
- Hair loss
- Male breast tenderness
- Cellular changes leading to cancer, including breast cancer in men
- Enlargement of the prostate
- Inflammation of the prostate
- Increased frequency of urination (waking up multiple times at night to go for a pee)
- Heart disease (makes you more prone to chest pains and heart attacks)
- Depression and fatigue
- Reduced sex-drive
- Erectile dysfunction
And Here Are Some Known Benefits of Natural Progesterone Therapy For Men
- Helps use fat for energy, making it easier to lose weight
- Increases muscle mass
- Protects against prostate and breast cancer (both are increasing in men, because of increasing levels of estrogens in the modern environment)
- Increases sex drive
- Corrects erectile dysfunction in much the way viagra does, by increasing production of nitric oxide
- Helps normalize blood sugar levels
- Normalizes thyroid hormone function
- Stimulates new bone formation
- Improves brain function, has antidepressant properties
- Improves skin problems including acne, seborrhea, rosacea, psoriasis
- Diminishes muscular aches and pains, has anti-inflammatory properties
- Improves sleep pattern
As we man age, it's important for us to focus on the estrogen to testosterone ratio (E:T ratio), to stay lean, stave off the man boobs, preserve our libido, and our masculinity. But perhaps we'd get better results if we focused on the E:T&P ratio (estrogen to testosterone & progesterone ratio).
If Natural Progesterone Has So Many Benefits, Why Don't Doctors Routinely Prescribe It For Their Patients?
Since progesterone is a natural substance, it can't be patented for sale at high profit margins. That makes pharmaceutical companies uninterested in marketing and promoting progesterone. If pharmaceutical representatives don't market a product to doctors, most doctors tend to be unaware of its benefits.
Doctors are simply not educated about the uses of natural progesterone to help reverse the clock in men. If you look online though, you'll find a few doctors who are self-educated on the topic, and have been successfully treating many of the above conditions using natural progesterone therapy.
How Can You Use Progesterone To Get Rid Of Your Man Boobs?
Step 1: See Your Doctor
If you have man boobs, make sure you see your doctor to exclude any medical causes first.
Absent a medical cause, it's likely your man boobs are caused by an over-exposure to environmental estrogens, in which case your progesterone levels are likely to be low.
Step 2: Get Your Progesterone Levels TESTED
Before you start using the progesterone cream mentioned below, it's important to get your progesterone levels tested, so you KNOW they are low.
Thankfully, nowadays you don't have to go through the arduous process of seeing your doctor for a progesterone test. You can get yourself easy to use home testing kits, where you send samples off to a lab for accurate testing. I recommend saliva tests instead of blood tests, because saliva tests are more accurate.
Step 3: BOOST Your Progesterone Levels (If They Are Low)
Eat These Progesterone Boosting Foods
The following nutrients in food are known to increase progesterone levels naturally:
Omega 3 fatty acids
A good source of omega 3 is flaxseed oil. Take between 15 to 75ml per day.
Zinc
Good natural sources of zinc include sesame seeds, raw pumpkin seeds, green peas, and raw cremini mushrooms.
Zinc deficiency is very common, especially in those who do weight-training and exercise regularly. Zinc also inhibits the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrogen.
Vitamin B6
This both increases progesterone and decreases estrogen. Liver, kidney beans, soy beans, navy beans and chickpeas are a good source. Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts are also a good source.
Use A Natural Progesterone Cream Specifically Formulated For Men
Natural bio-identical progesterone is perfectly safe and has no known side-effects, especially when used at a low, physiological dose.
It's better to use a cream than a pill, since progesterone is poorly absorbed orally, and what little is absorbed is then broken down into unwanted metabolites by the liver.
On the other hand, progesterone is readily absorbed by the skin into the blood, which bypasses the liver, making transdermal creams far more effective.
Do Progesterone Creams Cause Cancer?
This is a common objection a lot of people have against using progesterone creams.
Many progesterone creams come with a cancer statement, because the state of California requires this statement by law.
This is an outdated piece of legislation that does not differentiate between synthetic and natural progesterone. Where progestins in synthetic progesterone have been shown to cause cancer, there is no evidence that bio-identical progesterone derived from natural yam products, cause cancer.
In fact, studies show that natural progesterones reduce cancer risk.
What Type Of Progesterone Cream Should You Get?
Again, it's crucial that you get a natural progesterone cream.
Pharmaceutical companies made a lot of money at one time producing and selling a synthetic version called progestins. These were soon found to have quite a few undesirable side-effects.
The progesterone cream you buy should be natural and free of artificial additives like parabens. As a guy, you should be looking to use half the dose recommended for women, so 10 to 12 mg per application, one or two times a day (though this does depend on your hormone levels from any tests you have had done).
If you are in the US, look for “USP progesterone”, where USP stands for “United States Pharmacopia” which refers to the grade or purity of the product.
Here's an example of a good progesterone cream for men (USA only)
What Dose Should You Use, And How Should You Apply The Cream?
I recently spoke with a progesterone expert who worked closely with leading progesterone expert, Dr. John Lee. She advised me that men should start with using up to 12 mg of progesterone twice per day for the first 3 months, and then to reduce the dose to 6 mg of progesterone twice a day.
So with a cream that contains 300 mg of progesterone per ounce (like this one), use one quarter of a teaspoon twice per day for the first 3 months, then reduce to one eighth of a teaspoon twice per day.
Rub the cream on any one of the following body parts:
- Upper Chest & Neck
- Face
- Inner Arms & Inner Wrists
- Inner Thighs
- Behind Knees & Behind Calves
- Ankles
Progesterone creams are meant to work by getting into your blood and into your systemic circulation, which is why you should apply it on the above areas that have a rich blood supply on the surface.
It's not a good idea to apply it directly on target fatty areas like on your man boobs or your belly, because the progesterone will just build up in your fatty tissues, and you won't get the right dose in your blood in a controlled fashion.
Why Men Must NOT Use Progesterone Creams That Are Made For Women!
Women require much higher levels of progesterone than do men. Most of the progesterone creams on the market are made for women, and they have a much higher dose of progesterone per ounce.
Where a women's progesterone cream will have 450 to 600 mg of progesterone per ounce, a men's cream should have no more than 300 mg per ounce (unless a doctor experienced in bio-identical hormone therapy, deems you to require a higher dose).
You might think that you can get a women's cream that contains 600 mg of progesterone per ounce, and use half the dose recommended for women, but this would be a mistake. The stronger progesterone concentrations in these creams would be absorbed too quickly into your bloodstream.
This is why you must get a weaker progesterone cream that is made specifically for men.
Is It REALLY OK To Use Progesterone As A Guy?
Don't despair when you look for a progesterone cream and mostly find ones that are made for women.
Don't be put off when you go online to read about progesterone and keep coming across advice given by women for women.
Because of the early misconception that both estrogen and progesterone only play major roles in women, most information, materials, books and treatments for progesterone and estrogen imbalance are tailored around women.
But just because women are getting all the attention with hormones, doesn't mean YOU'RE not affected by them as well.
Thankfully, there is more awareness today than ever before on the importance of progesterone for men. If you know where to look, you'll find there are a few progesterone creams out there that are made specifically for men. Here's a good one that I have personally used and benefited from:
https://chestsculpting.com/get-progesterone
Or just type “Hewis Progesterone” on eBay.
How Long Should You Use Progesterone For?
This depends on your progesterone levels.
If you do a saliva test and find that your progesterone levels are low, then continue to use progesterone for as long as your levels remain low. If this is the case then I'd advise you see your doctor just so they can keep an eye on your levels and the dosage of progesterone you use.
If however, you don't do a saliva test, then give progesterone a trial – see if it works for you. Many have reported benefits within a few days of using a good progesterone cream like this one, while for others it can take a little longer. If you feel progesterone isn't helping you after 6 months of use, then you can do one of two things:
- Stop using progesterone and focus your efforts on other methods of man boob reduction.
- See a doctor who specializes in using bio-identical hormones to treat conditions related to andropause (the male menopause). If the standard small dose for men isn't working for you, or it's making things worse, it could be that you need a much higher dose of progesterone. With higher doses, I would strongly recommend using progesterone under the guidance of a qualified professional.
Where Can You Get Natural Progesterone Creams From?
Natural progesterone creams are readily available over the counter in the US and Canada, so you should be able to find some at your local chemist or drug store.
Take a look at the ingredients list and make sure the cream contains natural bio-identical progesterone, doesn't have any artificial ingredients, and is made specifically for men, with a concentration of no more than 300 mg of progesterone per ounce.
Here's a good progesterone cream for men that meets all of the above criteria:
https://chestsculpting.com/get-progesterone
Where Can You Learn More About Progesterone?
Dr John R. Lee was a leading expert on progesterone and its benefits on the human body. Here is an interesting article on his website on hormone balance in men:
https://www.johnleemd.com/testosterone-booster-male-menopause.html
Most of Dr Lee's work on progesterone in males focuses on the prostate rather than on gynecomastia and man boobs. But this information is all still very relevant to you and me because the hormonal changes that cause prostatic enlargement are very similar to those that cause the development of man boobs.
Be Warned However…
Progesterone can be awesome, I've seen it work wonders for some guys, and yet do nothing for others.
The only way to find out what progesterone will do for YOU is to give it a try.
If you're not too convinced, do some more reading online. You'll find there are very few, if any, complaints about side-effects from people who use a quality natural progesterone.
If you do try it, make sure you give it around 6 months to have an effect. Though you can notice its effects much earlier, it takes longer to work on some people than it does on others.
Right, so the warning…
Progesterone does NOT replace a good diet, lifestyle and exercise regimen. If you are overweight for example, nothing will help you more than bringing your weight down. Progesterone can help of course, but you must also do the right type of exercise and eat well. If you have man boobs, you have to follow a system that covers all of your hormonal bases – not just progesterone, but also all of your causes and sources of high estrogen, low testosterone, and high insulin.
When Will Progesterone NOT Work?
When it comes to losing man boobs, progesterone is just one piece of the puzzle. To successfully reduce man boobs, you need to follow a full, comprehensive program on natural male breast reduction.
Progesterone can really help accelerate your results if, at the same time, you're following a good male breast reduction diet, exercise and lifestyle regimen. But you'll likely only be wasting your money if progesterone is the only thing you use.
To discover all the other things you need to do to lose your man boobs naturally, click the link below:
Can I put progesterone cream before exercising. When is the best time??
I don’t think there’s any consensus on when is a best time to apply progesterone. What we do know is that most of your testosterone is produced in the later hours of sleep, just before you wake. So I apply my progesterone before going to bed. I very much doubt there’s any added benefit in applying progesterone just before exercise.
Please don’t expect any immediate results in your chest. Like any supplement, progesterone takes time to have its effect. Also, progesterone is only meant as a supplement to exercise and good nutrition. The one immediate effect me and many of my clients have noticed with progesterone, is that it’s an awesome natural way to boost your libido, an indication that it’s testosterone-enhancing effects are working.
Great info..I’ve been using progesterone cream to lower dht..I’ve read some studies that claim progesterone lowers free testosterone in men.That is something we certainly do not want..What are your thoughts?
From what I understand Justin, progesterone normalizes your hormone levels. If your testosterone levels are low, then progesterone will help increase your testosterone levels. If your testosterone levels are already normal, then progesterone will not raise or lower testosterone. If your testosterone levels are high, then progesterone will lower your testosterone levels.
So before you take progesterone, always make sure you check your hormone levels first.
i cant order anything online , is it available in supermarkets ? pls name the brands if so
Hi Vidhan, I’m afraid I’ve only ever ordered my progesterone online. You could try asking at your local health store.
I am almost 63. About two years ago I was diagnosed with low testosterone and put on high levels of testosterone due to low LH. I got gynocomastia and shrunken testicle sac (felt like my balls wanted to ascend to my abdomen). My estrogen increased from 46 to 86. I started taking progesterone and overnight my gynocomastia and shrunken sac went away. I was amazed.
It appears that my low testosterone might have been caused by statins and low progesterone. Getting off statins and getting on progesterone has made my testosterone normal enough that my doctors will not prescribe it for me. Also being only on progesterone has reduced the size of my enlarged prostate to the point where my urologist says it is normal for my age although peeing is still difficult. But for me progesterone, decreased my estrogen, probably increased my testosterone, decreased the size of my prostate, got rid of gynocomastia and shrunken sac and upped my mood. Not bad.
Hi David
Thanks for sharing your story. Progesterone is great stuff. From what I can tell, the body takes from it what it needs. If you are low in testosterone, it will use progesterone to make testosterone. If your testosterone levels are already normal, it won’t make excess testosterone. It balances things out, which is why there are very few known side-effects if any. It’s generally far better to take progesterone than testosterone.
Did you self-medicate with progesterone? Or did your doctor prescribe it? If you self-medicated, where did you hear about it?
Sorry Garry, I never got back but will give you an update.
I am still on progesterone and have been over two years now. About 60 mg per day (four pumps from a pump bottle). And to answer your question, I did not do it on a doctor’s prescription. In fact it was the opposite — although my doctor has been quite surprised at my results.
Gynocomastia has never returned nor has a shrunken sac. My pee problem turned out to be a bladder condition and an anti-spasmotic is managing that pretty well.
I have learned a lot since the first post that you and your readers might further consider. When I first found out I had low testosterone my level was about 150. Progesterone bumped it up to about 325 and by later adding d-aspartic acid, whiched bumped up my LH from 2 to 3, my testosterone went to 448. So not bad.
D-Aspartic acid can help improve testosterone if you have low LH like I did but remember you need something to make testosterone from so I kept up the progesterone and added pregnenolone (250 mg per week) and DHEA (25 mg per week) to have a continuous good source of precursors available for making testosterone.
Also learned that since pregnenolone and pregesterone comes from LDL (“the bad cholesterol”) there was a study done that showed that returning the hormones of progesterone, DHEA, pregnenolone, and testosterone to “youthful levels” helped cholesterol profile.
So I began a regimen of taking all of the hormones except testosterone and along with d-aspartic acid to raise testosterone, and my cholesterol profile improved. Cardiac risk is down form normal (1.o) to .7 of normal based on cholesterol profile.
After following the Atkins diet since 1995, I have now ramped that up to a full ketogenic diet and that seems to be helping with the belly fat we all get when we age. Hoping to get leaner.
Thanks for the update David, I’m sure the readers here will find your experience with progesterone very helpful. Congratulations on losing those man boobs.
I am beginning to conclude that most of the fat we get on our bodies is from either excessive estrogen or excessive carbohydrates and these excesses deposit fat in different areas of the body. Estrogen excess seems to deposit fat in the things, hips, butt and breast/chest and carbohydrates tends to deposit it in the belly and love handles.
Maybe that is why we often can’t get rid of stubborn fat in one of these areas: we are applying the wrong corrective method.
Hi David, thanks for the insight. From what I’ve read and seen, carbohydrates seem to enhance the effects of estrogen in the body, and decrease the effects of testosterone. If you don’t already have the problem of excess estrogen and too little testosterone, then carbohydrates can either help to give rise to this problem, or they can result in the typical android body fat distribution of belly fat and love handles.
I have a feeling you might be aware of the research of Dr. Ray Peat? I’d been reading and implementing his research into my diet (oxidative metabolism, thyroid, hormones, etc.) for three months before realizing I had a man boob problem and kind of always have but didn’t really acknowledge it – having read through your book now I see some similar conclusions to his. Peat has done a lot of research on progesterone and I recently ordered oral progesterone (i believe it’s the only supplement he’s ever developed). Here’s an article he wrote on Estrogen: http://raypeat.com/articles/hormones/h1.shtml
Hi Donovan
I’ve heard of Dr Ray Peat, though I haven’t studied his work in detail just yet. That’s a very interesting article you linked to. I never knew there was any association between red light exposure and estrogen/progesterone. That’s something I’ll definitely look into.
Regarding oral progesterone, from what I’ve read so far, I’m under the impression the dermal route is best, as it avoids metabolism by the liver. But hey, I could be wrong. I’ll read up Ray Peat’s stuff and get back to you.
Hi Garry Davidson,
i am 31years old without beards or mustache. I also developed man boobs since puberty but it refused to reduce since then especially my left chest.. What can i do about this because i have been under physicological depression for more than 15years now. I can move bare chested and all that.. Pls email me the remedy to my problems? Thanks in anticipation!
Sydney,
from Nigeria, West Africa.
Hi Sydney.
If you have unilateral (one-sided) gynecomastia, then the first thing you must do is get it checked out by your doctor, just to make sure there isn’t any underlying disease. I advise all man boob sufferers to do this, but it’s more important with unilateral gynecomastia, which is more likely to have an underling disease process associated with it.
Progesterone can definitely help, but it really is important to first see a doctor.
Can progesterone cream increase testosterone in the body and cause prostate cancer
Hi Steve. The idea behind using progesterone, is to increase testosterone. Studies suggest that the whole thing about testosterone causing prostate cancer is a myth, and that it’s actually rising levels of estrogen that results in prostate cancer in men. You can read more about the role of estrogen and testosterone in prostate cancer on this article on Ray Peat’s site.
Think about it. Testosterone levels decline with age. Old men have low testosterone levels. If high testosterone levels resulted in prostate cancer, then it would be adolescent kids and young men in their twenties who were most at risk of developing prostate cancer, not elderly men.
Have been dealing with BPH [benign prostatic hyperplasia] for about 6 years. Did not want to deal with our legal drug dealers (medical doctors). I tried the naturopath route and was badly disappointed for reasons too long to describe; fortunately, thanks to tHe internet I found an excellent while unlikely site.
They recommended about 17 different natural supplements, among which was progesterone cream. I have been using the cream for about 8 months. It is claimed that the only receptor in the male body for progesterone, is located in the testicular sack. My BPH symptoms have improved, specially by having less pain.
Hi Gary,
I have been suffuring with gynecomastia since around 2008. I thought working out like crazy was the answer. It wasn’t. Nothing worked for me. I didn’t know what to do. For years, not even my doctors could help. In 2012 (4 years from my initial symptoms) I was finally diagnosed with low testosterone believed due to a head injuty that I sustained from a motorcycle accident in 2006. I have been on a prescription testosterone supplement for about 1 year now and it’s been a god send (except for my gynecomastia!) I came across your book through your YouTube video. I was instantly blown away! I’ve fully adopted all of your program as fully and completely as I can; from diet, exercise, limiting chemicals, etc. It’s only been 1 week but it’s already working! The puffy nipples were the first thing to go after about 2 days. I just received my progesterone today and I’ll start applying it tonight. I hope it too makes a difference. Thank you so much for your vast knowledge and insight on this matter. Your program is life-changing! Thank you.
Hey Ryan, great to hear your success story, keep up the good work! Let us know how you get on with the progesterone.
What about using it for regrowing hair…? I think I’m going to try it.
I’ve no idea! But I’d love to find out! Please do let us know how you get on :)
I am turning 30 this year. I still have a baby face and my hairline is receding quickly. Prone to depression/mild social anxiety and addiction. No man boobs. My father is much the same turning 51 with an enlarged prostate, but his hairline seems intac He’s getting man boobs and has erectile dysfunction. I started with 20mg a day yesterday. Also, I have worked out tremendouslyand eaten like a horse and it is still hard for me to gain muscle mass. 6’2″ 185lbs. Maybe 5% body fat. I got up to 210 but it was mostly water weight. I was in an accident at the age of 15 that caused two far urgein my my facial bones.
Hi Garry,
I just wanted to say how brilliant to see a man writing about progesterone. I am using it in very high doses to help my husband who has prostate cancer. When he was first diagnosed five years ago his PSA (which I know doesn’t really count for much) was at 4.3 Following a biopsy it confirmed a 3+3 gleeson score low grade cancer. Watch and wait was put into operation. I have long been a fan of John Lee and ordered his book on prostate cancer. He recommended between 8mg – 10mg. This had no affect. I began writing to the natural progesterone therapy people who have also been studying cancer for years. They suggested having a blood test. The original blood test revealed very low testosterone, high progesterone (for a man but due to the supplements) and extremely off the scale estrogen. We upped my husband’s dose to 100mg a day and the following year PSA test revealed it had reduced to 3.5. Acceptable for a man of 63. His high estrogen was mainly caused by xenoestrogen that is all around us these days, in the environment, cleaning products, foods, plastics clothes and it exactly replicates estrogens within the body. Our diet is a main cause for too much estrogen although not necessarily from carbs. The high carb modern diet is, however, responsible for diabetes, obesity, heart problems and many metabolic diseases. Men have to take responsibility for their own health. My husband is typical of the man who leaves it to me to sort it out. His PSA went up last year to 7.8 and following another biopsy his gleeson score 3+4. The doctor has advised surgery. However, we are on a ketogenic diet together with various alternative options. If you’d like an update I shall post again.
I hope this helps a bit.
Hi Anne, thanks for the great post.
I’m sorry to hear your husband’s PSA is up again. Another expert on progesterone is Ray Peat. I learned a lot from his articles, you may want to check out his site.
I hope you find a solution for your husband. Do let me know how you both get on.
Best wishes,
Garry
Anne:
See my post below about my regimen.
I think a broader regimen might help your husband reduce his PSA again. Most importantly is to find a way to get the estradiol down and testosterone up. To do that I would suggest:
Add pregnenolone capsules every other day to supplement the topical progesterone (longer half life or pregnenolone) , add DHEA capsules (an alternative route to making testosterone but use sparingly once a week) and get LH up with daily d-aspartic acid (capsules). Also get Vitamin D up (it is really a hormone more so than a vitamin).
Check regularly for testosterone, estradiol, LH and Vit D.
Hi, I’ve been using 10mg ProgesterAll for around 2 weeks now, and I noticed the small gyno I have had might have actually become worse.
All other effects are great, happier, raised libido and such, but I am scared that my gyno might grow. I am 19 male.
Do you have any experience of this? It’s so hard to find any science on this subject, especially on men.
Thanks beore hand
I meant to say puffy nipples, not gyno. I had a little puffy nipples 2 weeks ago, started using Progesterone cream to raise my low testosterone levels, I also had a low Pg/e2 ratio. Now however, my nipples are bigger than ever. It’s freaking me out a bit.
Hi Magnus. You should always check your hormone levels before you start using progesterone and after you’ve used it for a while. If things are getting worse you should stop using it. Reduce your dosage gradually rather than stop using it suddenly. You may consider using pregnenolone in the future, but check your hormone levels first and consult with a physician.
Update from new test results:
For over a year now, I have been taking a regimen of 60 mg of topical progesterone a day, 100 mg of prognenolone tablets every other day, 25 mg of DHEA a week, and 1500 to 2000 mg of d-aspartic acid (increases LH) per day. All are over the counter. I also take 5000 IU of Vitamin D a day.
The results have been amazingly good. In August of 2013 my testosterone was up to 448 (estradiol not taken) and my LH was 3. Then last month, April of 2014, my testosterone had increased to 590 and my estradiol was way down to 10.5. My Sex hormone binding globulin was 52.3 (LH not taken). Vitamin D was 49 last August but was not tested this time.
I have come a long way.
In November of 2010 before I began my first hormone therapy my testosterone was 155, my estradiol was 46, my LH was 2.1, and in February of 2011 my sex hormone binding globulin was only 30 after ten weekly shots of testosterone. I had low Vitamin D for a long time even though I live in Memphis.
I had really low LH and that could have been a lot of my problem. For men who have that, here is the article showing d-aspartic acid boosts LH:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19860889
But I would not take d-aspartic acid long term without taking plenty of testosterone precursors (the three I take) to make sure you don’t deplete yourself of them.
Several men I know are now trying my routine and I will continue to update as warranted.
Hi David
Thanks again for your helpful contribution.
If anyone reading this is planning on using progresterone, pregnenolone, or DHEA, I strongly suggest you check your hormone levels before and during treatment, just like David has been doing.
If you want to learn more about progesterone or about David’s experience with the hormone, he informed me that he posts quite frequently over at http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/ (hope you don’t mind me sharing that one David). David and I have also learned a great deal from Ray Peat, over at http://raypeat.com/.
Hey Garry,
Im a 19 year old suffering from Gynecomastia for about 4 years now, Im in the process of ordering Progesterone. However I’m confused on whether I should order the cream or gel recommended by your friend David. I would also like to know if I apply it the chest only or others areas of the body also?? And how much do you recommend applying?
Please get back to me Garry, Thank you
Hello Gary
What’s with the slang, “man boobs”? I find your article well written and then you use the slang terminology for no apparent reason. Male and females have breasts, not an uncommon phenomena for anyone dealing with issues. why should we degrade men with such slang.
Richard
the site has been very helpful in explaining that progesterone is also produced in male, to my younger sister who is in grade twelve this year, she did not believe me at all and i was happy to prove her wrong and be of great help to her and now she knows. Thnks
I am 65 years old now and I have had man boobs since I was about 15. I hope your method will help.
Please don’t use Flaxseed oil for Omega-3, because it has estrogenic properties. use morning primrose or fish oil instead.
It is preferable to use gel as it does not get caught in the fat deposits under your skin and stay there for prolonged durations. Gel on the other hand is readily absorbable and generally removed from the application site in 12 hours. Cream does not. I am a doctor and have prescribed bio-identical hormones (testosterone for women) since 1994. I used Salivary testing back then when it was new on the market. Blood testing is inadequate for hormonal evaluations as it does not demonstrate the actual cellular usage…rather what is circulating in the blood stream and possibly not be utilized. Look for a doc that uses salivary testing….it works extremely well. In all considerations… it is better than what was. Start low…let time pass to availuate how YOUR body reacts…as all people react different. Hormone usage is not a game… it is serious and can create problems if not used correctly. SLOW….. give your body time to “REREGULATE!
Thanks for your input Albert.
I take the gelcap 12hour a day is it OK?
Will progesterone therapy help me with my hair loss? I am starting to get a noticeable receding hairline and am 37 years old and read that progesterone blocks dht. Please help of anyone knows or has any experience with progesterone cream and hair loss. Thanks so much.