Low Progesterone Symptoms
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Headaches, fatigue and poor mood are symptoms of many different conditions. One of them, particularly in women, is low progesterone.
This hormone is essential for menstruation, reproduction and overall health. Let’s look at what progesterone does, symptoms of low progesterone, causes and treatments.
Low progesterone symptoms
Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries and prepares the uterus for pregnancy, according to the Office of Women’s Health. During the menstrual cycle, progesterone levels rise after the ovary releases an egg. The hormone prepares the uterine lining for a fertilized egg and then supports a healthy pregnancy. This includes helping to prevent miscarriage, premature labor and preparing for lactation. Without a fertilized egg, progesterone levels fall and indicate to the body it’s time for menstruation.
Aside from healthy menstruation and pregnancy, progesterone supports your thyroid and helps with your mood, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
When the progesterone levels become too low throughout the menstrual cycle, you can have high estrogen levels. This hormonal imbalance can cause physical and mental health problems. Symptoms vary in women who are pregnant and those who are not, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In pregnant women, low progesterone symptoms include:
- Spotting
- Breast tenderness
- Low blood sugar
- Fatigue
- Complications such as ectopic pregnancy, preterm labor and miscarriage
Symptoms of low progesterone in women who aren’t pregnant include:
- Irregular periods
- Missed periods
- Headaches
- Anxiety or depression
- Mood changes
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hot flashes
- Bloating or weight gain
- Difficulty conceiving
While women are much more likely to deal with low progesterone levels, men can also experience too low levels of the hormone. Symptoms in men include mood changes, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and loss of muscle mass.
Causes of low progesterone
There are many different causes of low progesterone, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Common causes include:
- Irregular or lack of ovulation.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal imbalance that causes irregular ovulation.
- High stress levels can interfere with your body’s ability to make progesterone.
- Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can also cause low progesterone production
- Hyperprolactinemia, a condition that causes your body to make too much of the hormone responsible for lactation, which can lead to irregular menstruation.
- Low cholesterol, which also can lead to low progesterone.
- Perimenopause, which involves declining estrogen and progesterone levels.
- Extreme dieting, which can lower hormone levels.
- Too much exercise, which can stress the body.
Low progesterone treatment
If you experience symptoms of low progesterone, talk to your primary care provider (PCP) or OB/GYN. They can order a blood test to check your hormone levels, according to the National Library of Medicine. Some pregnant women may also receive a progesterone test to assess risk for preterm labor or miscarriage. Progesterone is also used in in-vitro fertilization treatments.
Your PCP or OB/GYN may prescribe prescription progesterone to treat low levels of the hormone. It is available in various forms:
- Oral pills
- Injections
- Cream or gel suppositories
Your health care provider can monitor your health and hormone levels over time.
You can also support healthy progesterone levels with habits such as:
- Eating foods rich in vitamins B and C, magnesium and zinc
- Getting about eight hours of sleep
- Reducing stress levels
- Regular exercise, but not over exercising
Image: Getty Images
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