How Does Low Progesterone Symptoms Impact Your Periods?

Heard terms like ‘oestrogen’ or ‘progesterone hormone’ in your biology class? Now that you’ve started menstruating or are in your child-bearing age, it's time to revisit these terms and understand their impact on your menstrual health.

Today, we will be focusing on progesterone, a key hormone that when dipped can cause health issues. Keep reading to understand more about low progesterone symptoms, and how it affects your chances of conceiving. While you are at it, also check out the treatment for low progesterone.

• What Is Progesterone?
• Progesterone’s Role In Your Menstrual Cycle & Pregnancy
• Signs & Symptoms Of Low Progesterone Levels
• What Causes Low Progesterone Levels?
• What Is The Normal Level Of Progesterone?
• What Is The Treatment For Low Progesterone Levels?

Progesterone is a hormone which is instrumental in regulating your menstrual cycle. It is often associated with female fertility. It’s because this hormone prepares your body for conception and controls your libido. Primarily, it is produced in the ovaries every month after your ovulation is over. When you get pregnant, it starts secreting in the placenta too.

Just like other hormones, progesterone also tends to fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle. It increases after ovulation and thickens the inner lining of your uterus. This action prepares your uterus for implantation and possible pregnancy.

When the lining isn’t thick enough for implantation, the levels begin to drop. It causes the lining to break and your periods start. At times like these using high-quality sanitary pads or tampons is the best option. Try out the ALWAYS Platinum Ultra Thin Pads which locks odour and wetness with its gel-based absorbent core and odour-neutralising technology. Likewise, you get the best protection and comfort through its soft non-woven topsheet.

For tampon lovers, the ALWAYS Tampax Cardboard Tampons is a perfect pick. These tampons have an innovative absorbent core and a protective skirt that keeps leakage at bay. Its anti-slip application provides easy, smooth insertion.

If implantation occurs, the ovaries and placenta keep producing progesterone throughout the pregnancy. The role of progesterone doesn’t end here. It also helps in breast development and breastfeeding. Hence, if you are trying to conceive, keeping your progesterone levels in check is a must.

It’s important to sight the clues your body might leave to indicate low progesterone levels. Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of low progesterone hormone:

From the above low progesterone symptoms, spotting is the key sign of low progesterone during pregnancy. On the other hand, low progesterone can also signify ectopic pregnancy (where the foetus develops outside the uterus) which sometimes can lead to miscarriage. Besides this, its lower levels can also cause shorter menstrual cycles lesser than 24 days and heavy period flow. In case you develop any of the above symptoms of low progesterone, it’s best to consult a doctor.

Your body might have low progesterone levels due to the following reasons:

Stress can make your cortisol levels rise. This in turn makes it difficult for your body to produce enough progesterone.

Your body doesn’t ovulate in this condition. This means your uterus won’t produce enough progesterone.

Women with underactive thyroid can’t produce hormones that regulate the endocrine system. This in turn causes low levels of progesterone.

In this condition, the pituitary gland in your body secretes more prolactin. This rise affects the production of progesterone resulting in low levels.

To produce enough progesterone, your body needs balanced levels of cholesterol. If these levels are low, your body won’t be able to produce enough progesterone.

Your doctor would carry out a blood test to determine the progesterone hormone levels in your body. The ideal progesterone levels vary from person to person. It largely depends on factors like age, sex and health. For a woman, other factors include the phases of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Here’s what is considered as the normal range of progesterone for women:

1. Beginning of the menstrual cycle: 0.1 to 0.7 ng/ml
2. End of the menstrual cycle: 2 to 25 ng/ml
3. First trimester of pregnancy: 10 to 44 ng/ml
4. Last trimester of pregnancy: 65 to 290 ng/ml

Here’s how the progesterone hormone rises and dips through your menstrual cycle:

1. Follicular Phase: Low progesterone, shouldn’t go beyond 0.89 ng/ml
2. Ovulation Phase: Rise in the levels up to 12 ng/ml
3. Luteal Phase: Highest progesterone levels accounting for 1.8-24 ng/ml

If you are noticing any signs of low progesterone, you should seek help from the doctor. He might recommend any of the following treatments for low progesterone.

If you are trying to conceive, your doctor is likely to recommend this treatment for tackling low progesterone. This solution can also help with your menstrual irregularities and abnormal bleeding.

Creams or gels meant to be used topically can also balance out your progesterone levels. But these creams should only be used if recommended by your doctor.

Oral pills can help you regulate your menstrual cycle and thereby keep progesterone hormone in check. Note that you should consume these medications only if prescribed by your doctor.

Looking to manage your period cycle better? Our guide shares practical tips on how to make period end faster that you can try today.

If you are wondering, “How to increase progesterone naturally?” then here are some solutions for you:

1. Consume foods rich in zinc like nuts, crab, lobster, breakfast cereals, and whole grains.
2. Practice meditation to reduce stress. As it will help in controlling your cortisol levels which tend to rise instead of progesterone.
3. To maintain your progesterone levels, make sure to increase your intake of vitamins A and B.

Remember that before making any changes to your diet, you must consult a doctor.

Takeaway

By now you might have understood how essential the hormone progesterone is for you. Developing low progesterone levels can impact your menstrual cycle and fertility. However, there’s no need to worry. Simply consult a doctor as he can help you navigate the right treatment for tackling low progesterone symptoms.

FAQs

Periods with low progesterone are often heavy or irregular. It can also cause shorter menstrual cycles which last less than 24 days. If you notice that your periods are irregular or shorter, you should seek medical help immediately.

Heavy periods don't always mean low progesterone levels. However, when your body produces low progesterone and more oestrogen, it can thicken the uterine lining. This can result in heavy periods.

Some of the natural ways to increase progesterone in your body are by reducing cortisol levels (stress), loading up on vitamins A and B, and zinc-rich foods like nuts, crab, lobster, breakfast cereals, and whole grains.

Disclaimer

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