Progesterone is nowhere near the focus of estrogen, but for the women who have to suffer because of this hormone deficiency, low progesterone becomes an absolute focal point of their lives. Spotting, shortened cycle lengths, insomnia, anxiety, foggy brain, and infertility are just a few of the many symptoms that come with this condition. Understanding what it means to have low progesterone, what causes this, and how to deal with it is key to moving forward.
What Is Progesterone?
Progesterone is one of the major hormones that are secreted by the female reproductive organs after ovulation during the second part of the female menstrual cycle. Progesterone is important for fertility; indeed, it has been referred to as the pregnancy hormone. In addition to its role in reproduction, progesterone is involved in happiness, sleep, strong bones, and healthy skin.
Low levels of progesterone can either occur due to low levels of production while a woman is young or simply be part of the process of perimenopause and menopause when the body begins to produce less progesterone in the ovaries.
Common Symptoms of Low Progesterone
Shortened Menstrual Cycle
One of the first indications of low progesterone levels in the body is a cycle that is shorter than normal. A cycle lasts between 28 and 30 days on average, and if it is less than 26 days, this could be an indication that the progesterone level is low. This condition is commonly referred to as Luteal Phase Defect (LPD) due to the fact that this is the time of the cycle when progesterone should have high levels. Low progesterone levels will cause a destabilization of the uterine lining, resulting in earlier menstruation.
Spotting
The luteal phase defect will also cause spotting. As in the case with a short cycle, spotting can result from low progesterone levels in the body. It can either occur together with a short cycle or on its own.
Early Miscarriage
Another effect caused by low levels of progesterone is miscarriages, particularly those occurring during the first trimester. It is known that the progesterone produced by the ovary, particularly the corpus luteum, is vital for the maintenance of a pregnancy and sustenance of the uterus until the time when the placenta assumes this function.
Estrogen Dominance
Low levels of progesterone can lead to estrogen dominance, regardless of whether or not the levels of estrogen in the body are exceptionally high. In case there is an excess of estrogen over progesterone, one can experience heavy flow, pain in menstruation, breast pain, and mood swings.
Mood, Sleep, and Cognition Disturbances
Progesterone impacts the function of GABA receptors, which are the same receptors affected by drugs used to treat anxiety. GABA is a neurotransmitter that induces calmness and helps with sleep. If progesterone levels are low, the function of GABA will be decreased, causing anxiety, PMS, and depression.
One of the major causes of insomnia is low progesterone, especially when the type of insomnia includes the patient waking up many times during the night and having trouble falling back to sleep. Furthermore, progesterone is a neurosteroid with neuroprotective properties. Decreased progesterone levels might lead to a lack of memory clarity, sometimes even brain fog, which is not explained by anything else.
Supporting Low Progesterone Naturally
When it comes to treatment, age plays an important role. When working with younger and cycling females, there is definitely some potential for helping to stimulate natural progesterone production within the body. With premenopause and especially menopause, ovarian function is greatly reduced, thus limiting the possibilities of replacement hormone therapy with progesterone. These are the methods applicable to premenopausal women trying to boost their natural production.
Vitex Agnus-Castus (Chaste Tree Berry)
When speaking about natural herbs with strong evidence base for boosting progesterone, Vitex agnus-castus should be mentioned. There is a wide range of evidence that supports the use of Vitex to increase progesterone in a number of ways, among which are improved neuro-endocrine signaling and decreased prolactin production (this hormone inhibits ovulation and decreases progesterone production).
Nutritional Support
Various nutrients are directly involved in the formation of progesterone and ovarian health:
- Vitamin C is one of the most abundant vitamins in the ovary and has a significant impact on the development of follicles and the production of progesterone. Taking additional supplements or eating foods that contain Vitamin C could positively affect the functioning of the ovaries.
- Fats are the main components used in hormone production. A fat-rich diet is the key to healthy hormones. Essential fatty acids, in particular evening primrose oil and borage oil with a high content of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), are considered especially effective in supporting progesterone levels.
- Lean protein is a source of amino acids necessary for hormonal communication and production.
- Vitamin B6 and zinc are two specific nutrients known to promote the formation of progesterone. Foods rich in these components include shellfish, salmon, beef liver, chickpeas and other legumes, as well as nuts and seeds.
Lifestyle Factors
Stress happens to be one of the greatest factors contributing to low progesterone levels and is often not taken into account when considering its cause. The problem here is the increase in cortisol and prolactin, which are stimulated by stress and affect the process of ovulation and progesterone production. It should be noted that the body does not see any difference between the stress associated with a bad working environment or lack of good sleep and the positive stress from exercising or fasting.
How the DUTCH Test Measures Progesterone
Progesterone levels can be tested using a blood test, saliva test, or a urinary test. DUTCH testing utilizes urine to test two types of progesterone metabolites, and this difference is very important, as you will see later.
The detection of metabolites not only allows for an estimation of the amount of progesterone produced in the body. This helps understand whether the process of its metabolism takes place correctly. There are cases when a woman produces enough progesterone, but she fails to metabolize it properly into alpha metabolite, which helps achieve calmness, relaxation, and deep sleep. In such a case, although the level of progesterone in the body looks good according to the blood test, the woman feels anxious, suffers from lack of sleep, and mood disturbances.
Specifically, the DUTCH test provides such information, offering both patients and doctors a much broader picture of progesterone metabolism than either blood tests or salivary tests do alone. This is precisely the sort of data point that could explain a woman’s symptoms despite seemingly adequate progesterone levels.
If you have concerns about low progesterone, one of the first steps you can take is to consult with a DUTCH-certified doctor. You can schedule a free consultation online on dutchtesting.org to determine whether this test is the right choice for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the most common symptoms of low progesterone?
The most common symptoms are the presence of shortened menstrual cycles, mid-cycle spotting, heavy bleeding, estrogen dominance, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, and difficulties conceiving and staying pregnant.
2. What causes low progesterone?
Low levels could be due to poor ovarian output, anovulatory cycles, high prolactin or cortisol from stress, or the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause.
3. Can low progesterone cause anxiety and sleep problems?
Yes, because progesterone interacts with the GABA neurotransmitter system, which helps calm the body down. If your progesterone is low, then your GABA will be low, causing anxiety, irritability, PMS, and night wakening or insomnia.
4. What natural approaches can help support low progesterone?
Evidence-based ways to increase the natural production of progesterone among premenopausal women include Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree berry), Vitamin C, healthy fats such as evening primrose and borage oil, lean protein, foods high in Vitamin B6 and zinc, and stress reduction techniques.
5. How does the DUTCH test measure progesterone differently from a blood test?
The DUTCH test tests two major metabolites of progesterone in the urine sample, one of which is alpha-progesterone, associated with calmness and sleep. Thus, you can see not only how much progesterone was made but also how the body metabolizes it.
6. Can you have low progesterone symptoms even with normal blood test results?
Yes. Some women make enough progesterone but aren’t converting it properly to the alpha metabolite that is required to help you feel relaxed and sleepy. Your blood work comes back fine, while your DUTCH work shows a metabolic profile indicating why you continue to experience these symptoms.
7. Is low progesterone the same as estrogen dominance?
Not really, but they are very close. Having low progesterone creates a situation of relative estrogen dominance – regardless of whether you have high estrogen levels – just because the hormonal balance is off.
