The Mini-Pill - Progesterone only

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Is anyone taking the Mini-Pill, which is a Progesterone-only one, instead of a combined Oestrogen and Progesterone one?

I have only had a brief experience on taking the pill over 10 years ago when I went on a combined pill for a short while in an attempt to lessen the bad Pre-Menstrual Tension I was suffering with.

There was a health scare on this particular brand of pill though so I came off it

Last week I went back on the pill again for only the 2nd time in my life (I'm 46) and the Dr recommended the mini-pill (Cerazette is the brand), which is just progesterone, which is apparently safer as it's the oestrogen which is more likely to cause cancer/bad side effects

http://www.cerazette.co.uk/

My chest is quite swollen, I need the toilet more often and I seem to have developed a sudden craving for pain au chocolats but I have to say my mood has been generally very good - I feel more focused and motivated generally and have got more tasks done

I read online that this progesterone only pill is like maintaining your body in a state of permanent pregnancy, as Progesterone is the pregnancy-promoting/maintaining hormone apparently

I also read that Progesterone plays a role in the connections/communications between neurons(?) in the brain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progesterone

"Previous studies have shown that progesterone supports the normal development of neurons in the brain, and that the hormone has a protective effect on damaged brain tissue. It has been observed in animal models that females have reduced susceptibility to traumatic brain injury and this protective effect has been hypothesized to be caused by increased circulating levels of estrogen and progesterone in females.[62] A number of additional animal studies have confirmed that progesterone has neuroprotective effects when administered shortly after traumatic brain injury.[63] Encouraging results have also been reported in human clinical trials."

"One way in which progesterone helps to alleviate some of this excitotoxicity is by blocking the voltage-dependent calcium channels that trigger neurotransmitter release.[67] It does so by manipulating the signaling pathways of transcription factors involved in this release. Another method for reducing the excitotoxicity is by up-regulating the inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor, GABAA."

"There is also evidence that the addition of progesterone can also help remyelinate damaged axons due to trauma, restoring some lost neural signal conduction."

Have other people any experience with the Mini-pill/Progesteron-only pill or Cerazette?

More info on why progesterone might be specifically useful to people with autism:-

http://gailbuck.hubpages.com/hub/autism-biochemistry

"The steroid hormones, progesterone, oestrogen, testosterone and adreno-corticotropic hormone or ACTH are also relevant to autism. The production and secretion of ACTH is activated by the hypothalamus when the body is stressed. This hormone stimulates the adrenal cortex to synthesize cortisol, which in turn acts to promote gluconeogenesis in the liver and to stimulate the breakdown of proteins to amino acids in the muscles. So, the ingestion of the ACTH precursor, progesterone, in the form of birth control pills, would cause an increase in ACTH, making a person better equipped to handle stress. The resultant increase in cortisol would also activate glucose and amino acid synthesis, helping the brain and body to function better."

I took it years ago, my periods stopped while taking it and I thought it caused depression, (certainly caused a strange apathy).

IUD had same two effects, as did pregnancy.

Having none of the extra progesterone now and having terrible monthly turn arounds of mood, so I'm not sure which is better or worse.

For me the mini pill made the good times not so good and the bad times not so bad.

It took the fight out of me, like a neutered cat.