Question about Wild Yam Cream and Cyclen BCP

JodyGirl · 03-01-2003, 02:42 PM

Hi all -

I'm on Cyclen bcp and not trying to conceive (childless by choice). In addition to PCOS I also have *very* painful endometriosis. Someone recommended Wild Yam cream for the endo pain - so I got some, rubbed it in, and wow! what a difference. I'm pain free for the first time in two weeks!

My PCOS is such that I do not produce any estrogen naturally, at all, according to blood tests. My last blood test showed my estrogen levels to be less than a post-menopausal woman. So, I need to be on a bcp in order to have *some* estrogen. My progesterone naturally is also very low, and my testosterone is high.

The Cyclen pills have only a miniscule amount of progesterone - 0.025 mg.

What I'm wondering is, is it harmful for me to use the Wild Yam cream while on the Cyclen? I cannot go off Cyclen because bcp is the only kind of birth control I can tolerate. I am seeing a gyne in September and am going to make arrangements for tubal ligation. (I'm 36)

The Wild Yam cream has done so much good for me, that I would hate to have to do without it.

Can someone please advise? I was thinking that most 'combination' bcps have some synthetic progestin in them, which is different from progesterone, of course - but since I have so little to begin with, and there is only a scanty amount in the Cyclen, I don't see how the extra progesterone my body will produce as a result of the Wild Yam could be dangerous.

I do not smoke and I exercise every day and am following the IR diet.

Any info is much appreciated.

Blessed Be,

JodyGirl · 03-01-2003, 02:47 PM

Ok, I just answered my own question...now, mind you, Wild Yam and Pro-Gest are *not* the same thing, but if Wild Yam is a progesterone precursor and Pro-Gest is natural progesterone...well, you get where I'm going. Here's what I found on the Pro-Gest website:

Will using natural progesterone with oral birth control pills alter their effectiveness?
Using natural progesterone should not alter the effectiveness of oral birth control pills providing you keep taking the oral birth control pills as prescribed. Birth control pills may be progestin only pills (synthetic progestins), or a combination of progestins and estrogen. Adding supplemental progesterone will only increase the progestational effect in the body.