Progesterone is a hormone in your body that stimulates and regulates a variety of functions. It is produced in your adrenal gland, ovaries, and placenta (if you are pregnant). It helps prepare your body for pregnancy and conception, regulates your menstrual cycle, and affects your libido. If you don’t have enough progesterone, you may have difficulty getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy.
progesterone levels
Progesterone levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. Levels increase each month during the second half of the menstrual cycle, about seven days before your period. This is because one of the most important functions of progesterone is to cause the uterine lining to produce special proteins to prepare it for implantation of a fertilized egg. If the coating is not thick enough, implantation will not occur.
If you don’t have an implant, your estrogen and progesterone levels drop. That causes the lining of the uterus to break down and you have your period, which sheds the lining.
Read: The female reproductive cycle >>
If you have an implantation and become pregnant, progesterone is produced in the placenta and levels remain high during pregnancy. The levels are even higher if you are having more than one baby.
The combination of high levels of estrogen and progesterone stops ovulation during pregnancy. Progesterone also causes the milk-producing glands in the breast to grow during pregnancy, which is what allows the breasts to produce milk for breastfeeding.
“Normal” progesterone levels depend on the person’s age and sex. For women and people assigned female at birth, factors include what stage of your menstrual cycle you are in and whether you are pregnant.
Causes of low progesterone
Low progesterone levels may be due to:
- Possible miscarriage
- Ovulation or ovarian problems.
- Menopause
Symptoms of low progesterone
If you are not pregnant, some symptoms of low progesterone levels include:
If you are pregnant, you need progesterone to keep your uterus healthy until delivery. If your levels are too low, you may not be able to carry the pregnancy to term.
Some symptoms of low progesterone levels in pregnant women include:
- Plucking
- Abdominal pain
- Frequent low blood sugar levels
- Regularly tender breasts
- Constant fatigue
- vaginal dryness
The hormones progesterone and estrogen complement each other. Therefore, when there is not enough progesterone, estrogen predominates. And that can cause symptoms such as:
A simple blood test (PGSN, or progesterone test) can help you determine if your progesterone levels are too low. It can help you determine why you are having trouble getting pregnant, confirm whether you have ovulated, monitor hormone therapy (formerly called hormone replacement therapy), and evaluate the status of a high-risk pregnancy.
Read: Clinically speaking: What you need to know about hormone therapy >>
Treatment for low progesterone
Several types of treatments can help address the symptoms of low progesterone. If you are trying to conceive, hormone therapy can help increase progesterone and thicken the lining of the uterus. That can improve your chances of getting pregnant. If you have severe menopausal symptoms, your hormone therapy will probably be a combination of progesterone and estrogen.
Natural remedies to increase low progesterone levels include:
- Eat more foods with zinc, such as seafood, whole grains, and nuts.
- Increase your intake of vitamins B and C, which help maintain progesterone levels.
- Regulate stress levels (cortisol is released when you are very stressed, which reduces progesterone levels)
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