[isobasic]

Thanks for your reply, isobasic.

Yes I do get luteal swelling which can sometimes be accompanied by mild aches/pain and sometimes very sharp pain, especially in the tissue up towards the armpit. The swelling tends start decreasing a few days into my period (I assume this is the same for most people).

Do you think a progesterone cream might be something worth looking into? Could it change the positive effect the EPO is having on my skin/breakouts? Is a cream the only way to increase progesterone or are there natural things I can eat/take?

Thank you again, all the information here can be a bit overwhelming!

There's vitex i think, which is meant to increase your own production, or phytoprogestins like in red clover / fennel (i think, you'll have to check me on that) which simulate the effects of pg in the body. I read that bad pms symptoms were a sign of low pregesterone in luteal stage (I'd have rock solid boobs a week or so before my period, v painful, and horrific cramps). I did try pc but I used to put it straight on my boobs (apparently to be avoided, oops) and every day, so i think I overdid it a bit and I ended up seemingly even smaller than I'd started and having hot flushes etc! So if you do use it, i'd be very careful and only use a tiny bit in the luteal stage only. I'd ask someone a bit more experienced with it (tibetan I think was a fan). The best thing I did for my skin and cramps was marvelon bcp, it balances your hormones out and is anti androgenic so clears up the skin etc.

No problem! I try and share my experience but everyone is different, you might have to do a bit of experimenting before you find your sweet spot hormonally!