[uhuccup]

So I didn't knew how to name the thread..
I've been taken the birth control bill for about 2 years. I've been taking some high on estrogen and some low on estrogen. I've got no breast growth, they were only slightly fuller, nothing worth mention. I just got a big butt and cellulite, which sucks!
And most of the herbs work with by highering estrogen. So herbs won't work for me, will they?
Has someone experienced growth on herbs who has taken the birth control pill without any growth or swelling?

[surferjoe2007]

So I didn't knew how to name the thread..
I've been taken the birth control bill for about 2 years. I've been taking some high on estrogen and some low on estrogen. I've got no breast growth, they were only slightly fuller, nothing worth mention. I just got a big butt and cellulite, which sucks!
And most of the herbs work with by highering estrogen. So herbs won't work for me, will they?
Has someone experienced growth on herbs who has taken the birth control pill without any growth or swelling?

It's actually estrogen plus progesterone for the breasts, whereas it's estrogen for the butt. Prolactin, insulin, human growth hormone and reducing testosterone play lesser roles.

You could try progesterone cream or switching to progestin BC if you're still on BC. I don't know any herbs that raise progesterone specifically, but there are some that help you raise all hormones including progesterone: fenugreek, goat's rue, wild yam and shatavari. In theory maca should too, but for some reason it tends to mainly go to the butt. These aren't as fast as progesterone or progestin, but eventually should push you towards the middle. Fennel can raise prolactin. Saw palmetto extract, lots of mint tea, and many other herbs lower testosterone.

The main estrogen herbs I know of are pueraria mirifica, hops, flax, red clover and soy isoflavones (eating whole soy takes so much it's usually impractical). You probably want to avoid pueraria mirifica and hops for a long while, unless you get a lot of progesterone cream or progestin. The others and most other herbs can actually lower estrogen if it gets too high; so if later on you think you need estrogen but don't want to risk overdoing it you can try them.

A healthy diet which includes B vitamins, especially B6, vitamin D, iodine and a little calcium can provide your body with what it needs to make missing hormones too; since it wants to fix itself. For those you get lots and lots of bran or whole grains, a little UV sun, a sprinkling of kelp and a glass of milk respectively. But usually people get way too much calcium and not enough vitamin D to utilize the calcium. 650 mg calcium and 2000 IU vitamin D is ideal (a light tan, maybe). Lecithin and biotin, in egg yolks, might help with cellulite.

[uhuccup]

I'm not taking the birth control pill since 7 months any more. Too many horroble side effects. I fear that the side effects will appear again if I try herbs..
But there's some progesteron in every bc, isn't it?
I remember that I've taken one bc with progesterone .. Wasn't nice either only butt growth and cellulite and so many negative side effects!

Interessting to know! Where do I get iodine? Which food?

[isobasic]

I'm not taking the birth control pill since 7 months any more. Too many horroble side effects. I fear that the side effects will appear again if I try herbs..
But there's some progesteron in every bc, isn't it?
I remember that I've taken one bc with progesterone .. Wasn't nice either only butt growth and cellulite and so many negative side effects!

Interessting to know! Where do I get iodine? Which food?

Every kind of birth control has some kind of progestogen in it, but they all have very different effects and different levels of oestrogen involved. It's really trial and error, but looking at the general trend of certain reviews may help. If for the particular pill you've been using most people had growth but you didn't, maybe there's something more that you need.

[surferjoe2007]

Most BC is a combination of estrogen and progestin or estrogen only. Just a few are progestin only and some are low dose.

Iodine is in the sprinklings of kelp. And I'm not sure if Austria iodizes salt like the US does. If not then deficiency and thyroid problems are very common in those who don't get a lot of sea vegetables or seafood. I think the US got tired of all the bad thyroids and said, "Hey, let's just put iodine in salt".

If you try pueraria mirifica or hops without a lot of progesterone for hormonal balance, then you probably will get a lot of the side effects of BC. At least those that tend to come around your period. The other herbs are more likely to reduce those problems instead by creating better hormonal balance.

[uhuccup]

Thank you both!
Is gestagen a type of progesteron?
I tried a bc pill with 0,02, 0,03 and 0,04 estrogen.
And with gestagen. I also had a 3-phase-bc which had an different amount of estrogen in every phase..

So if I'll take a herb, it shouldn't be pm, right? Because then I'll get all the bad side effects like on BC.. I got depressive and my libido was 0. I also got migrane.. Too bad.
What do you mean by "like before your period", surferjoe? If I have migrane before my period I'll get migrane on PM?
Fenugreek, Maca, Shatavari or Goats Rute would be better?

I got no breast growth on BC, is that a sign that only estrogen like Pm won't work for me?

[surferjoe2007]

Gestagen is progestin. It might not have been much though, and the estrogen could have overwhelmed it.

Ya, IMO you shouldn't use PM, at least not by itself. Ya you might get migraines, heavier periods, cramps, all the monthly woman issues. PM could be used with a lot of progesterone cream or a pure progestin BC. But BC tends to have extra sides, especially the ones with the higher doses. Other than that fenugreek, shatavari or goat's rue would be better. They could even balance you out and reduce monthly issues. Maca too, but not as much for NBE. It tends to go to the butt for some reason. Saw palmetto extract might be nice too in case your testosterone is high; that could also block NBE while still allowing butt growth.

Ya only estrogen probably won't work for you. But the only way to be 100% certain that your progesterone is too low and your estrogen is too high is a hormone test.

[uhuccup]

Gestagen is progestin. It might not have been much though, and the estrogen could have overwhelmed it.

Ya, IMO you shouldn't use PM, at least not by itself. Ya you might get migraines, heavier periods, cramps, all the monthly woman issues. PM could be used with a lot of progesterone cream or a pure progestin BC. But BC tends to have extra sides, especially the ones with the higher doses. Other than that fenugreek, shatavari or goat's rue would be better. They could even balance you out and reduce monthly issues. Maca too, but not as much for NBE. It tends to go to the butt for some reason. Saw palmetto extract might be nice too in case your testosterone is high; that could also block NBE while still allowing butt growth.

Ya only estrogen probably won't work for you. But the only way to be 100% certain that your progesterone is too low and your estrogen is too high is a hormone test.

I don't have any monthly issue, except from migrane (sometimes, was worse when I was on bc). No cramps, a light period
So PM could be taken with progesteron? That means cycling, doesn't it? First half of cycle PM, second half progesteron. But goats rue would be better.
I wish I could afford a hormone test.

[surferjoe2007]

Ya, with cycling.

A simpler option without having to guess at hormone levels is to combine a few hundred mg red clover, a few hundred mg saw palmetto *extract*, and any amount of one of the balancing herbs. Anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000+ mg to an extract with way more. You might guess and use a little progesterone on top of this, for half the cycle. Everything else is all month. I don't think you can get too much estrogen from red clover. Whether you're low or high, it's a lot weaker than PM for NBE but shouldn't make you overdo it.

[peggy]

10 years ago I took red clover to improve my skin and after taking it for some weeks I stopped getting my period!! So I definitely would not say that red clover is a weak phytoestrogen. Its pretty strong.