10 Signs of Low Progesterone
Why is progesterone important?
Progesterone is a key fertility hormone that usually spikes before your period to provide a healthy environment for a potential baby. When you ovulate, you not only release an egg to be potentially fertilized but you also create something called a corpus luteum which helps to produce progesterone.(1) This is stimulated by your luteinizing hormone (LH) that is signaled from your pituitary gland in your brain.(1) If the egg is fertilized and you become pregnant, progesterone works to create your womb and provide needed nutrients to the growing embryo.(1) If the egg is not fertilized, then your progesterone levels begin to fall with the breakdown of your corpus luteum, your uterine lining that would have been the womb beings to shed and you start your period.(1)
This hormone is also key for supporting mood, anxious thoughts, and keeping you feeling calm, relaxed and gaining restful sleep. But if you have experienced PMS, which is not normal but very common, before your period then this could be a sign that you may be running low on this crucial hormone.
Potential causes of low progesterone
Anovulation
There are many causes for low progesterone production. Anovulation or irregularities with ovulation as seen in many cases of PCOS or when on specific types of birth control can cause the body to not create the corpus luteum which helps release progesterone. When you do not ovulate, this can lead to mid cycle spotting since there is a drop in progesterone that would normally signal the body to shed your uterine lining or you may have a longer than normal menstrual cycle to the tune of 35 days or more between your periods due to a lack of signals to tell your body to shed your uterine lining.
High Stress
Another key cause is ongoing high stress. Women are powerful and are able to achieve true greatness but the key here is to leverage the natural rhythms that come with fluctuating hormone levels throughout the month. Unlike men who have a 24 hour hormone rhythm, we have a month long hormone rhythm and in some cases this can give you the competitive advantage because you can tap into an insane amount of energy and drive in the first half of the cycle and a deep intuition with an ability to make edits and detect false information in the second half. But this also means that rest and self care are crucial to keep this balance in check. Overworking every single day without rest can lead to burnout sooner than later and your body will start to let you know pretty quickly. Progesterone is made in the same pathway as cortisol (your stress hormone) and when in a constant state of stress then your body will favor the production of cortisol over progesterone since you are in the fight or flight survival mode.
Low Thyroid
Low thyroid hormones can also contribute to low progesterone levels. There is a tight regulation between the release of your thyroid hormones, your metabolism and the production of hormones that support fertility. When it comes to progesterone, low levels of progesterone can lead to low thyroid function and vice versa. Low thyroid function can lead to low progesterone levels.2 With estrogen dominance, hypothyroidism can show up and contribute to irregularities in your menstrual cycle and issues with weight loss. Sometimes this can result in normal labs for thyroid levels but you are still experiencing signs of low thyroid hormone such as cold sensitivity, weight gain, body aches, low mood, hair loss, constipation and low energy. This is when it is key to look into your sex hormones. When you are in a state of estrogen dominance with low progesterone, the activity of your thyroid hormones are inhibited. This can lead to low levels of active T3 thyroid hormones but a normal TSH thyroid panel. (2)
Low Cholesterol
Lastly, low cholesterol levels can lead to issues with hormone production all together. This was one symptom that I had, I have never had high cholesterol. In fact, on one panel I had done, my LDL was so low that it did not show up on the chart! Cholesterol, although it has a bad reputation in mainstream media, is extremely crucial in the function of your endocrine system and helps with the production of not only progesterone but also testosterone, estrogen and the natural formation of vitamin D. If you have low cholesterol, it would also be advisable to check your vitamin D levels which has an extremely long list of benefits for your body that I will get into in another post. Plus, cholesterol helps with the production of bile acid that helps to break down fat and rid the body of toxins. A healthy balance of estrogen to progesterone results in a healthy level of “good” cholesterol and could be one of the reasons that as we age and go through menopause, a drop in a balance of hormones increases your cholesterol levels. In the case of low progesterone and low cholesterol this could be caused by issues with malabsorption, low iron levels, thyroid issues, excess weight or an infection among other reasons.(3)
10 signs that you may have low progesterone
Heavy menstrual cycle
Long menstrual cycle
PCOS
Low Mood
Anxious thoughts
Insomnia the week before your period
Night sweats before your period
Bloating
Unexplained weight gain
Breast tenderness
How to naturally support healthy progesterone levels
Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to raise your progesterone levels naturally.
Work on your stress levels, make some lifestyle changes where needed. Say no to things that no longer serve you and maybe take a look at your life overall to see where sources of your stress may be coming from. Some things are out of your control but see what you do have control over and make a decision about if you want to make a change.
Limit caffeine to less than 200mg a day.
Eat magnesium rich foods such as nuts, seeds, leafy greens, dark chocolate and beans.
Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, fiber and high quality fats to address potential nutrient deficiencies.
Exercise but not too much, avoid burnout and overdoing it, especially when it comes to cardio.
Work with a practitioner to determine if there are other causes of your low progesterone such as low thyroid function, low cholesterol, or adrenal insufficiency.
Lastly, work with your doctor to determine if topical progesterone creams are appropriate for you. It is important to understand your true hormone levels and make adjustments based on lab work rather than guessing.
The Fertility Cleanse for Estrogen Dominance
This three month program focuses on my three phase method for supporting estrogen dominance. The program starts with a 2 week reset to kickstart your results, a one month deep dive into your natural detoxification abilities and a one month masterclass series on using your menstrual cycle to achieve the results you desire.