Progesterone is an important sex hormone that supports menstruation and pregnancy in women. Decreased levels of this hormone in the body may cause irregular menstrual periods, mood swings, and difficulty getting pregnant.
It also plays an important role in the female reproductive system. Generally, hormones are chemical messengers that tell the body how to work. Check some important functions of progesterone in the body below:
- Improve mood
- Support thyroid function
- Regulate bleeding during menstruation and the menstrual cycle
- Thickening the uterus lining for implantation (the process in which a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus)
- Support a pregnancy
Pregnancy and Progesterone
This is a vital hormone that supports pregnancy because it thickens the uterine lining (also known as endometrium). As a result, the fertilized egg can implant and grow. Primarily, this hormone is produced by the ovaries. Specifically, the corpus luteum and the empty follicle in the ovary release an egg during ovulation. Therefore, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) tells the corpus luteum to produce more progesterone to support the developing embryo if an egg is fertilized by sperm at ovulation. Most of the time, progesterone levels continue to rise during pregnancy. This hormone is also involved in suppressing uterine contractions to avoid preterm labor and help prepare the mammary glands for breastfeeding.
What is The Role of Progesterone in Menstruation?
This sex hormone is also responsible for thickening of the uterine lining. It helps prepare it for pregnancy. However, if conception does not occur, the progesterone levels drop, and the menstrual cycle starts. The blood you see during a menstrual period is the lining of the uterus that breaks down.
How Does Low Progesterone Affect My Body?
Usually, only doctors can determine if the progesterone levels should be checked. In general, hormones are a complex system in the body, which means either high or low levels of hormones can cause symptoms. Typically, estrogen balances the levels of progesterone. When a person has reduced levels of progesterone, it often leads to increased estrogen levels, which may cause the following symptoms. Examples include:
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Gallbladder problems
- Reduced sex drive
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
What Are The Symptoms of Low Progesterone?
Low progesterone can cause symptoms whether a person is pregnant. Check some symptoms that occur in people who are not pregnant below:
- Hot flashes
- Bloating
- Unusual weight gain
- Sleeping problems
- Mood changes
- Anxiety or depression
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Headaches
- Irregular menstrual periods
Check below also some symptoms that may occur in pregnant women with low progesterone:
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Breast tenderness
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Light bleeding (also known as spotting)
- Miscarriage
If any of the previous symptoms occur, immediately contact your healthcare professional. Otherwise, it may lead to unpleasant outcomes.
Causes
There are multiple causes of low progesterone. Check some of them below:
- Anovulation – It happens when ovulation does not occur. In other words, the ovary does not release an egg.
- PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome) – This condition causes an imbalance in hormones that often leads to missed periods or unpredictable ovulation. It may also cause small cysts to grow on the ovaries.
- High stress – Cortisol (stress hormone) may interfere with the production of progesterone.
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) – This condition makes the body produce progesterone more slowly.
- Hyperprolactinemia – In people with this condition, the body produces too much prolactin. This hormone is responsible for lactation. High amounts of prolactin in the blood may also disrupt other sex hormones (including progesterone).
- Low cholesterol
- Perimenopause
- Over-exercising or extreme dieting – It may increase cortisol levels, which negatively affect the production of progesterone.
What Does Low Progesterone Mean For Men?
While males do not need as much progesterone as females, reduced levels of this hormone may cause some health problems. These include low sex drive, mood swings, loss of muscle mass, depression, extreme tiredness (fatigue), and difficulty concentrating.
Diagnosis
Unfortunately, there is no way to check progesterone levels at home. Doctors often use a blood test (a PGSN or progesterone test) to measure progesterone levels and confirm or rule out low progesterone. It is also important to know that progesterone levels fluctuate, and there is a wide range of acceptable levels. Usually, physicians measure progesterone levels when you are trying to conceive or have problems with ovulation.
How Do Progesterone Levels Fluctuate?
Usually, the progesterone levels are low in the follicular phase of the cycle (the first half of the menstrual cycle), and it less than 2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. It often increases at ovulation and reaches the peak in about 7 days after ovulation (approximately 20 ng/mL). While progesterone levels drop if you are not pregnant, the levels increase significantly if you have conceived. Mostly, the progesterone levels are about 90 ng/mL during the first trimester of pregnancy, and may increase even more in the third trimester (more than 300 ng/mL).
Typically, progesterone levels drop when a person enters menopause. They can even drop below 5 ng/mL.
Treatment
Healthcare professionals often prescribe different options to treat low progesterone. They usually depend on several factors, including the severity of the condition, existing health problems, age, sex, and preferences. Moreover, progesterone is available in different forms. These include:
- Cream or gel suppositories – These options often come with an applicator similar to a tampon. Thus, you should insert the applicator into the vagina and push the applicator to release the medicine into the vagina.
- Pills – These pills are taken orally (swallowed).
- Injections – People may also receive progesterone as a shot (injected into the skin) to help maintain the uterine lining during pregnancy or IVF treatment.
While low progesterone treatments are low-risk, some of them may cause some adverse reactions. Do not take any medicine that contains progesterone without consulting your physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I increase my progesterone levels naturally?
You can consider the following options to safely and naturally increase your progesterone levels. For example:
- Physical exercise
- Reducing stress
- Getting enough sleep
- Eating a healthy diet rich in vitamin C, Zinc, Magnesium, and vitamin B
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Usually, it is recommended to visit a doctor if any of the following symptoms occur. Examples include irregular menstrual cycle, headaches or migraines, depression, anxiety, or mood swings, or vaginal bleeding between periods.
How does low progesterone affect pregnancy?
A reduced progesterone level negatively affects the body’s ability to make a thick and healthy lining on the uterus that helps a fertilized egg attach. However, when it attaches, more progesterone is required to help the embryo grow into a fetus. In normal circumstances, the progesterone levels are high until you are ready to give birth. It is important to know that a low level of progesterone during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of pregnancy complications. These include miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and preterm labor.
Can low progesterone cause infertility?
Yes. Low progesterone can make it more difficult to become pregnant because this hormone helps prepare the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg. Without enough progesterone, the lining may not be thick enough to support early pregnancy. However, infertility has many possible causes, so your healthcare provider may recommend additional tests to determine the underlying reason.
Can stress lower progesterone levels?
Yes. Chronic stress can increase cortisol (the body’s primary stress hormone). Since the body uses some of the same building blocks to produce cortisol and progesterone, prolonged stress may interfere with normal progesterone production. Managing stress through regular exercise, adequate sleep, relaxation techniques, and a healthy lifestyle may help support normal hormone balance.
Is low progesterone common during perimenopause?
Yes. As women approach menopause, ovulation becomes less regular. Since progesterone is mainly produced after ovulation, irregular or missed ovulation often leads to lower progesterone levels. This hormonal change can contribute to irregular periods, mood changes, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms commonly experienced during perimenopause.
Can low progesterone cause heavy or irregular periods?
Yes, low progesterone may allow estrogen to stimulate continued growth of the uterine lining without adequate balance. As a result, the lining can become thicker than usual, leading to heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular cycles, prolonged periods, or spotting between periods. However, these symptoms can also occur due to other medical conditions, so proper evaluation by a healthcare provider is important.
Can birth control pills affect progesterone levels?
Most hormonal birth control methods contain synthetic hormones called progestins, which act similarly to natural progesterone. They work by preventing ovulation and changing the uterine lining and cervical mucus. Blood tests that measure natural progesterone may not accurately reflect the effects of these medications, so tell your healthcare provider if you are using hormonal contraception before having hormone testing.
Are there foods that contain progesterone?
No, foods do not contain natural progesterone in amounts that meaningfully increase hormone levels in the body. However, eating a balanced diet that provides adequate protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals—including magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6, and vitamin C—helps support overall hormone production and reproductive health. Dietary changes alone usually cannot correct clinically low progesterone.
Can low progesterone be prevented?
Not always. Some causes, such as aging, menopause, or certain medical conditions, cannot be prevented. However, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a balanced diet, managing stress, exercising regularly without over-training, getting enough sleep, and treating underlying conditions such as thyroid disorders or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may help support healthy progesterone production and overall hormonal balance. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
