Low Progesterone Effects: How to Raise Your Levels

Brandi Jones, MSN-ED RN-BC
·6 min read
1

Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD

Progesterone is a hormone (a natural chemical messenger) essential to reproductive health. For those assigned female at birth, it supports breast development, menstrual cycle regulation, pregnancy, and lactation. Low progesterone can cause irregular menstrual periods, problems conceiving (infertility), pregnancy complications, and breastfeeding problems. It can also lead to symptoms like headaches and mood swings.

This article will review the effects and symptoms of low progesterone, its causes, its diagnosis, and treatment options.

<p>COROIMAGE / Getty Images</p>

COROIMAGE / Getty Images

Effects of Low Progesterone

Progesterone plays a role in breast development, menstrual cycle regulation, and preparing the body for pregnancy and lactation. When progesterone levels are low, it can cause irregular or missed periods, infertility, frequent miscarriages, preterm labor, breastfeeding problems, and estrogen dominance.

Menstruation

Progesterone levels rise and fall throughout your monthly menstrual cycle. Levels are lowest from day one of menstruation (period bleeding) through ovulation (about halfway through your cycle). Ovulation is when the ovary releases an egg. If a male sperm fertilizes it, this can lead to pregnancy.

Progesterone levels rise around ovulation, telling the uterus to thicken its lining to support a possible pregnancy. This creates a supportive environment for a fertilized egg to implant and grow into a fetus.

If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone levels decline about nine or 10 days later after ovulation. This prompts the uterus to shed its lining during menstruation. If pregnancy occurs, levels rise to about 10 times their normal levels to maintain the pregnancy.

If progesterone levels are consistently low, this can lead to period irregularities, such as:

  • Having a period too often (or not often enough)

  • Breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods

  • Heavy menstrual bleeding

  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

  • Amenorrhea (not having a period)

  • Anovulation (not ovulating)

Fertility

For those experiencing infertility, low progesterone is a possible cause. One reason for this is that low progesterone levels can prevent the uterine lining from thickening. If this happens, a fertilized egg cannot implant into the uterus.

Low progesterone can also shorten the luteal phase (the last half of the menstrual cycle). If this phase ends too quickly, a fertilized egg cannot successfully implant, contributing to infertility.

Irregular periods can also contribute to infertility because they make tracking ovulation difficult. If you are unaware of when you ovulate, determining when you are most fertile and when to plan sexual intercourse for conception can prove challenging.



Ovulation and Fertility

Females can become pregnant if they have unprotected sexual intercourse for anywhere from five days before ovulation until one day after ovulation. This is because male sperm can live for up to five days. You have a higher chance of getting pregnant if you have unprotected sex right before ovulation.



Pregnancy

In addition to making getting pregnant difficult, low progesterone levels can make staying pregnant difficult or lead to pregnancy complications such as miscarriage or preterm labor.

A thick and healthy uterine lining is essential for a healthy, successful pregnancy. This lining is where the fertilized egg implants, becomes an embryo, and grows as a fetus. With low progesterone levels, the lining may not be thick enough to support the growing fetus, resulting in a miscarriage (early pregnancy loss).

During pregnancy, progesterone is an important part of maintaining a healthy pregnancy. A decrease in progesterone is associated with preterm contractions, which can lead to preterm labor. Preterm or premature labor is when a baby is born before the 37th week of pregnancy.

Symptoms: How to Tell if You Have Low Progesterone

The best way to tell if you have low progesterone is to see a healthcare provider for testing. However, specific low progesterone symptoms may be clues that prompt follow-up, including:

  • Abnormal uterine bleeding

  • Irregular periods

  • Spotting and abdominal pain during pregnancy

  • Frequent miscarriages (in people who are trying to become pregnant)

Though low progesterone alone can cause symptoms, it can also cause an imbalance in estrogen. Estrogen is the other primary female sex hormone. This can lead to estrogen dominance and cause symptoms like:

  • Weight gain

  • Mood changes

  • Headaches



Progesterone Testing

A healthcare provider may order a blood or saliva test to check progesterone levels. To obtain a blood sample, a healthcare provider uses a small needle to collect blood from your vein in a vial. Saliva tests require you to spit into a sterile cup. Reasons they may order it can include:

  • Infertility

  • Frequent miscarriages

  • Symptoms of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (which is when a fertilized egg tries to grow outside the uterus)

  • To check the health of a high-risk pregnancy

  • You are pregnant and receiving progesterone therapy

  • Period problems



Related: High Progesterone Symptoms and Side Effects

Understanding Low Progesterone Causes

Progesterone levels naturally decrease as a female approaches menopause. In addition, lifestyle factors and specific health conditions can cause low progesterone. Though this is not an exhaustive list, possible reasons for low progesterone include:

Treatment: What Increases Low Progesterone?

You can often rebalance your progesterone levels through lifestyle modifications for mild cases of low progesterone. This can include:

  • Reducing stress

  • Getting plenty of sleep

  • Maintaining a healthy weight

  • Regular mild to moderate physical activity

  • Eating a nutrient-dense diet low in sugar and processed foods

  • Maintaining intestinal (gut) health (consider probiotics)

  • Avoiding excessive alcohol intake

You can also consider an anti-inflammatory or vegetarian diet. Some experts note that this can help prevent estrogen dominance. Supplements that may also help balance hormones include:

A healthcare provider may also recommend progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the form of progestin. Progestin can help with conditions or symptoms such as PCOS, recurrent miscarriages, amenorrhea, endometriosis, or irregular periods.

Progestin comes in different forms, including shots and vaginal creams. A healthcare provider can determine the best method for you based on your underlying concerns, age, and pregnancy status.

For example, if you have irregular periods and do not wish to get pregnant, they may suggest oral hormonal birth control, a birth control shot, or an intrauterine device (IUD). If you are or wish to get pregnant and you have a history of preterm birth due to a shortened cervix, they may suggest vaginal progesterone.

Related: Estrogen and Progesterone in Females

Summary

Progesterone is one of the two primary sex hormones that play a key role in female reproductive health. It works with estrogen, the other primary female sex hormone, to support breast development, menstrual cycle regularity, and pregnancy. Low progesterone can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, and pregnancy complications.

If low progesterone leads to estrogen dominance, you may experience symptoms like weight gain, mood changes, and decreased sex drive. There are both lifestyle modifications and medications that can help balance progesterone levels. 

Read the original article on Verywell Health.