13 Signs of Low Progesterone
Problems can arise when progesterone levels are too low when you are trying to conceive. So, what are some signs of low progesterone?
Progesterone is the hormone released in the second half of your menstrual cycle after ovulation. The corpus luteum produces progesterone, which is the sac that remains once you ovulate and turns into a hormone-producing gland during the luteal phase.
Progesterone is a sex hormone released from the ovaries that is vital for conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
The word progesterone can be broken down as ‘pro’ meaning to promote and ‘gesterone’ meaning gestation or pregnancy.
Progesterone will peak after ovulation and then either remains high if you get pregnant or will drop if you do not get pregnant. This drop in hormones will then trigger the release of your uterine lining (meaning you will get your period).
While progesterone is crucial for healthy fertility and pregnancy, it’s still important whether you are trying to conceive or trying NOT to get pregnant.
Progesterone:
makes the uterine lining sticky for egg implantation
protects the uterine lining
has anti-anxiety benefits due to it’s relationship with releaseing GABA – our natural relaxation mood chemical
has muscle relaxation effects (which may also be why if you ARE ovulating you could experience some constipation around ovulation because it’s slowing things down)
balances out estrogen levels
Certain things can impact progesterone production:
stress
nutrient deficiencies
lack of ovulation
estrogen dominance
under eating
not eating enough fat
over-exercising
high prolactin
low thyroid function
short luteal phase
menopause
Signs and symptoms of low progesterone include:
PMS
cramps
painful periods
heavy periods
cyclical headaches / migraines
irritability
anxiety
poor sleep
breast tenderness
bloating
ovarian cysts
irregular periods
infertility
1st trimester miscarriage
LEARN EXACTLY HOW TO SUPPORT HEALTHY PROGESTERONE LEVELS NATURALLY IN LESS THAN 1 HOUR!
You may be wondering: “are there any foods that can help to increase progesterone levels?”
The good news (actually, great, amazing, fantastic news) is YES - there are certain foods that contain nutrients to help increase progesterone in the body.
This important question we need to be asking is: why is my progesterone low in the first place?
This is taking a root cause approach when it comes to understanding our health and hormones. When we answer this question, we are understanding what is driving the imbalance (which is showing up as symptoms in the body).
By addressing the root cause, not simply just the symptom (or the hormone imbalance for that matter), we can find long-term, sustained healing.
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I’m so passionate about sharing this info with anyone on a hormone healing journey, so I’m letting you in with all the info here!
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What are signs of low progesterone?
Here are 13 signs and symptoms of low progesterone levels:
1. Anxiety
Anxiety is the experience of feelings of worry, helplessness, and fear can overpower aspects of your day. Progesterone has anti-anxiety effects due to its relationship with GABA, your natural relaxation mood chemical. If your progesterone is low or your are not producing enough each cycle this can show up as anxiety because you are not producing as much GABA. This is why anxiety is one of the signs of low progesterone.
Source: 12715262
2. PMS
Another one of the signs of low progesterone is PMS. Premenstrual syndrome or (PMS) is defined as life-disrupting physiological and psychological changes in the luteal phase of the cycle. Symptoms include cramps, bloating, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and mood swings. After the menstrual cycle begins, symptoms typically disappear. The reason PMS is one of the signs of low progesterone is because of the difference in hormone levels between estrogen and progesterone. During the start of the luteal phase, progesterone is increasing, but if pregnancy doesn’t happen it will drop by the end of the phase. This drop-in progesterone may be more extreme for some women and this causes estrogen to increase rapidly. This extreme shift in hormone levels could be the cause for PMS symptoms
3. Heavy Period
Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as releasing more than 80 mL of blood per menstrual cycle, though it is reported that about 50% of females who report heavy menstrual bleeding, do not meet the 80 mL standard. The normal bleeding amount is only 50-60 mL of blood. Progesterone administration has been shown in a study to have protective effects in reducing the flow of heavy periods. Heavy bleeding can result from imbalances in estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen functions to build up the endometrial wall for menstruation. If estrogen levels are high or simply not balanced by progesterone heavy periods may result.
4. Cyclical Headaches
Cyclical headaches are recurrent during the same time each menstrual cycle, typically a complication of PMS, and are one of the signs of low progesterone. PMS is one of the signs of low progesterone due to imbalances levels of estrogen and progesterone. When progesterone is low, this puts you in an estrogen dominant state. It has been shown that estrogen can interfere with cellular responsiveness and cerebral vessels. Through passive diffusion, estrogen can cross the blood-brain barrier very easily, so this causes the brain levels of estrogen to reflect the levels within the rest of the body’s circulation. When levels of estrogen are high in circulation in the body, this causes an increase of estrogen in the brain and a low level of progesterone. The high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone can cause cyclic headaches. This shows that cyclic headaches are one of the signs of low progesterone.
5. Irritability
Another one of the signs of low progesterone is irritability. Similar to the effect on anxiety, progesterone also helps to reducing irritability and mood swings because of the effect on cognition. A study found that there were significant improvements in mood and irritability due to progesterone administration compared to a placebo.
Source: 8520187
6. Poor Sleep
Poor sleep is another one of the signs of low progesterone. In a study, they found that those who were administered progesterone had a better ability to restore normal sleep when there was a disturbance in the night compared to the control group. Additionally, progesterone helps to dilate the upper airway from an increase in activity of one of the tongue muscles.
7. Breast Tenderness
Another one of the signs of low progesterone is breast tenderness. This is a PMS symptom that can typically occur during the luteal phase. Imbalances in estrogen and progesterone can worsen breast tenderness and pain.
Source: 27493619
8. Bloating
Bloating is also one of the signs of low progesterone. A study found that in the luteal phase, water retention, as well as sodium retention, increased with low levels of progesterone and high levels of estrogen. This happens because the estrogen lowers the osmotic threshold for which water is reabsorbed in the body. The hormone arginine vasopressin is responsible for the reabsorption of water into the body. When estrogen levels are high, this threshold is lowered and therefore more water will be contained rather than excreted through urine which causes the body to bloat. Because estrogen is high and progesterone is low this is why bloating is one of the signs of low progesterone.
Source: 18580296
9. Painful Periods
Painful periods or dysmenorrhea is noted as painful cramps before or during menstruation. The cramps in the uterus can be caused by high amplitude contractions, increased uterine tone, and high levels of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are sex hormones that work in opposition with progesterone, so when progesterone decreases right before menstruation, then prostaglandin will increase. Prostaglandins in the reproductive system aid in contractions for labor, but when you are not in labor these contractions are labeled as cramps. This is why painful periods are one of the signs of low progesterone.
Source: 28944048
10. Ovarian Cysts
Cysts are sacs filled with fluid or with tissue that reside near the ovaries. 10 out every 100 women have a cyst, and many are born with them, but in some cases, they are developed due to other causes. Additionally, some cysts are benign and cause no pain, but others do cause pain and grow larger over time. Symptoms of an ovarian cyst are abdominal pain, irregular periods, heavy cramping, and pain while using the bathroom. Cysts can be one of the signs of low progesterone. In a study of dairy cows, they found that a single injection of progesterone in the early stages of cyst growth reduced its lifespan and caused ovulation to occur in some cases.
Source: Ovarian Cysts Book 15996493
11. Irregular Periods
Irregular periods can occur due to a variety of reasons, but its main cause is the lack of normal ovulation. Lack of ovulation, where the egg is not released from the ovary causes low progesterone because the body is not preparing for pregnancy. Some reasons for irregular periods can be stress, PCOS, not eating enough, or coming off of oral contraceptives. This is why irregular periods are one of the signs of low progesterone.
Source: 25681845
12. Infertility
Infertility is another one of the signs of low progesterone. This is because adequate progesterone is necessary for healthy fertility. Progesterone helps to maintain the integrity of the uterine lining for the egg to implant. Without optimal progesterone, this puts you at higher risk of miscarriage and can be a reason behind your fertility struggles. Many studies have found that the beneficial use of administering progesterone to patients who are experiencing infertility to increase conception and pregnancy rates.
Source: 10338267
13. 1st Trimester Miscarriage
The first trimester of pregnancy is typically where most miscarriage cases occur. The first trimester is the most vital stage because the fetus is very fragile and doesn’t even have all its organs and limbs formed fully yet. It is very important to have optimal progesterone levels for a healthy pregnancy. Studies have found that those who are administered progesterone in the first trimester have a better chance of reducing miscarriage if your progesterone levels are low. This is why first trimester miscarriage is one of the signs of low progesterone.
Source: Progesterone Therapy
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are several signs of low progesterone your body may be giving you.
Remember: simple shifts build to make a big impact over time!
Healthy progesterone levels are possible for you.
-Krista
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KRISTA KING, MS, RDN, LDN, IFNCP
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