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 rise each month during the second half of the menstrual cycle, about seven days before your period. This is because one of progesterone’s most important functions is to cause the uterine lining to produce special proteins to prepare it for implantation of a fertilized egg. If the lining 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 implantation occurs and you become pregnant, progesterone is produced in the placenta and levels remain high throughout pregnancy. Levels are even higher if you are having more than one baby.
The combination of elevated 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 a person’s age and sex. For women and people assigned female at birth, factors include what stage of their menstrual cycle they are in and whether they are pregnant.
Causes of low progesterone
Low progesterone levels can be caused by:
- Possible miscarriage
- Ovulation or ovarian problems
- Menopause
Symptoms of low progesterone
If you are not pregnant, some symptoms of low progesterone levels include:
- Low libido
- Hot flushes
- Migraine attack or headache
- Depression, anxiety, or other mood changes
- Irregularity or absence of the menstrual cycle.
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 sensitive breasts
- Constant fatigue
- Vaginal dryness
The hormones progesterone and estrogen complement each other. So when you don’t have enough progesterone, estrogen dominates. And that can lead to symptoms like:
A simple blood test (PGSN or progesterone test) can help you determine if your progesterone levels are too low. It can help her find out why she is having trouble getting pregnant, confirm whether she has 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’re trying to conceive, hormone therapy can help increase progesterone and thicken the lining of your uterus. That can improve your chances of getting pregnant. If you have severe menopausal symptoms, your hormone therapy will likely 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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