TMI Question about NPC Induced Periods

shortandsweet · 07-04-2009, 11:01 PM

I haven't had my period naturally since 7/6/08. I successfully induced a period in January 2009 by using Natural Progesterone Cream (NPC). I never got one again after that. I have since tried to induce another cycle via NPC on two separate occassions, but both of my tries have been unsuccessful.

I am currently in the midst of my second attempt to induce a period. This "period," if I can even call it that, consists of little more than spotting. I had a slight flow today, but it quickly ceased. What is strange about my last two NPC "periods" is that there has been blood but very little tissue. There is almost no flow whatsoever, but there is a great deal of very dark red spotting. Has anyone here experienced this when using NPC? Does this mean that my uterine lining is not building up?

Can stress affect the success of NPC use or, in my case, the lack thereof? I am incredibly stressed about this situation. I just want to get my period over with so I can move on and not have to worry about it all the time. I feel like less of a woman not being able to get a period. I have been trying very hard to bring it back without resorting to hormonal progesterone options (i.e. NPC or Provera). I drank tons of parsley, ginger, and spearmint teas. I have spent months taking vitex supplements. I have also tried taking dong quai supplements. I have tried these methods countless times only to have them fail and I reluctantly used NPC again only to have it also fail. I don't even know why I bother. Part of me always holds out hope that I will finally be able to get my body to work, but I ought to know better by now.

I am tempted to throw in the towel in regards to alternative remedies. They seldom work for me. I feel so much stress as I constantly focus on what my body is and isn't doing. I don't want to just not try to get things to work as they should though. I can't stop worrying about it right now even if I try to.

I have taken birth control pills in the past. I don't want to take them again. I don't like how they make me feel and they don't solve any of my body's issues. They simply mask them. I don't even know if they would work for me anymore. Nothing else is working.

I wish I could just be normal and that my body would start working like it is supposed to. I know I should see a doctor about my periods, but I am so ashamed of my current weight I haven't been able to bring myself to make an appointment. I have gained 25 pounds over the past year. I was already morbidly obese before my most recent weight gain and I currently weigh more than I ever imagined I would.

I told myself I would never be where I am. It makes me so sad that I didn't control myself and that my body is so messed up. This is just depressing. I have started working on eating better and on getting some exercise, but it's a constant struggle. Whenever I lose 10 pounds I find myself sabotaging my own success. It makes no sense, but I find myself binging like crazy whenever I reach that milestone.

I'm going to use NPC for three more days so I can finish out my 14 days of use, but I feel so discouraged about how my body is failing. There is no chance whatsoever that my periods are messed up because I am pregnant. I am not sexually active. My periods are messed up because my body is too. This scares and disappoints me. I feel defective and like I will never be normal. *sighs*

fruitpop · 07-05-2009, 01:40 PM

Hiya,
I'm sorry I don't know about NPC but I know exactly how you feel!! I'm not having periods either, and I was completely 'fobbed off' by my doctors when I got diagnosed, they simply just told me I needed to loose weight before anything else... But I don't think they realise how difficult it is!!!

I'm considering going back to my doctors anyway, because not having my periods is stressing me out too! I don't feel 'normal' I just want my body to work!
I was really considering buying NPC but I think I might go back to my docs first, and then if they send me away again I might buy it, I'm so confused by all the supplements and things I don't know which would be of any use!

I've read you take it on certain days of your cycle, but without having a period it's hard to know where you are in your cycle, so maybe that's why it's not working so effectively? I'm not so sure.. but please keep me updated if it or anything else works.. I think it would be good for you to see your doctor, if you can get the courage up.. I understand though, if one more doctor tells me to loose weight I fear I will just burst into tears!!

Good Luck!

faith4miracle · 07-06-2009, 09:18 AM

shortandsweet - i know how you feel about your AF, i haven't had one since February. i am starting my second cycle of NPC, because the first one didn't bring it. i find if i don't regulate my AF monthly, and let it go a couple, it takes a long time to get it back. i have to take NPC a couple cycles, and finally it works....so i hope i get my AF this cycle. i spent alot of money on herbal suppliments too, and they didn't work, this includes vitex and dong quai. with PCOS, many of us have weight issues. that's what i like about soul cysters, there are sooo many of us out there in the same boat. i quit eating dairy and fried foods, and my weight started coming off. i haven't applied as much exercise as I should, so sometimes i think, starting with little changes can go along way. you can do it too. don't give up on NPC, it sounds like your body is trying to do something, so keep on taking for your cycles.

shortandsweet · 07-06-2009, 10:44 PM

Thanks for the support, fruitpop and faith4miracle. I truly appreciate it! It helps to know that I'm not alone with my frustrations and experiences. Only a cyster could understand how I feel. No one else seems to understand my frustration with not having periods and how my body's failure to function makes me feel emotionally.

Speaking of my body functioning, I am pleased to report that I officially got my period in its entirety today. I am so relieved! Even though I am tired and have been cramping a lot, I do not regret using NPC to induce this cycle. My period is now very heavy and the cramps have been pretty painful today, but I can only imagine how awful things might have been had I allowed any more time to pass without having a period. Yes, I would have preferred to have gotten my period on my own without having to use NPC. I'm sure it would have happened eventually, but it probably would have taken months to finally happen. Enduring more stress associated with worrying and constantly being upset about my body not working right just wasn't worth it to me at this time just to say things happened 100% naturally on their own. NPC may not always work exactly when I want it to, but at least it finally worked now. I am just happy to have started this period so I can get it over with and move on.

Part of me wants to try to get my period 100% naturally next month, but I am going to use NPC again. I have never used NPC on a regular basis. I am interested to see if using it for three or four cycles would help my body balance itself out so I don't need the cream in the future. I don't feel comfortable depending on NPC to menstruate. That's why I was so reluctant to give in and use it to induce my current cycle. I don't want to nor do I plan to use it forever. I hope someday not to need it. My body has always been unreliable when it comes to periods, but things have gone from bad to worse in terms of my scarce cycles in recent years. I'm sure that weight and stress have played a role in that.

I plan to couple my NPC efforts with healthier eating and trips to the gym. My eating today was far from healthy. I had way too much chocolate and garbage. Yes, I finally have my period, but that wasn't the best excuse to use to eat the junk I did in the quantities I ate it. Not that I need my period to make an excuse to eat poorly....*LOL* I don't have a period too often, but that hasn't stopped me from eating junk food! What's done is done though. Tomorrow is a new day!

fruitpop · 07-09-2009, 09:27 PM

Hey shortandsweet, congratulations on getting AF! I don't think you should feel bad about having to use NPC to bring it on... I think NPC is a good idea, obviously it wouldn't be nice to rely on it every month but sometimes I think we need to give our body a bit of a 'kick' to balance things out for a while!

I've ordered some NPC today, hopefully I will have a successful AF sometime soon! It'll be interesting to see if after using it for a few months if you can have AF on your own, I've seen stories from some people who say this happened!
Although I do think my lack of AF is because of weight gain... Although, I've eaten terribly today too heehee!