Progesterone: The Hormone You Need to Know About!

Have you ever felt like your body was working against you—struggling with poor sleep, mood swings, irregular cycles, or persistent fatigue? If so, low progesterone could be the culprit. While estrogen often steals the spotlight, progesterone plays an equally essential role in maintaining hormone balance, fertility, and overall wellness. Let’s explore what progesterone does, how it changes throughout life, and the effects of having too little of it.

What Does Progesterone Do?

Progesterone is often referred to as the "calming hormone" because it promotes relaxation, stable moods, and restful sleep. It’s mainly produced in the ovaries after ovulation and serves several key functions:

• Balancing estrogen: Helps prevent estrogen dominance, which can lead to symptoms like heavy periods, breast tenderness, and mood swings.

• Supporting sleep and relaxation: Activates GABA receptors in the brain, aiding in calmness and promoting deep, restorative sleep.

• Regulating menstrual cycles: Ensures ovulation occurs and supports a healthy luteal phase (the second half of your cycle).

• Aiding fertility and pregnancy: Prepares the uterus for implantation and helps maintain pregnancy during its early stages.

• Protecting bones and metabolism: Works with estrogen to support strong bones and regulate insulin sensitivity.

When progesterone levels are optimal, you feel calm, balanced, and energized. However, when those levels drop, your body will often signal for help.

How Progesterone Changes Through Life

Progesterone levels fluctuate based on where you are in your reproductive journey.

• Reproductive Years (Teens to Late 30s) During your reproductive years, progesterone is produced after ovulation each month. However, factors like stress, poor ovulation, or conditions such as PCOS can lead to low progesterone levels, causing symptoms like:

  • Irregular or heavy periods

  • PMS, anxiety, and mood swings

  • Trouble sleeping

  • Mid-cycle spotting

• Perimenopause (Late 30s to Early 50s) As you approach perimenopause, progesterone production begins to decline, often much earlier than estrogen. Common symptoms of low progesterone during perimenopause include:

  • Increased anxiety and irritability

  • Difficulty sleeping and frequent nighttime awakenings

  • Shorter or irregular cycles

  • Breast tenderness

  • Migraines or headaches around your period

• Menopause and Beyond Once menopause arrives, progesterone production nearly ceases. While estrogen typically receives more attention in menopause treatments, low progesterone can still contribute to symptoms like:

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Increased stress and emotional sensitivity

  • Brain fog

  • Joint discomfort

Signs You Might Need More Progesterone

If you're experiencing any of the following, your body may be signaling the need for more progesterone:

• Difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Anxiety, mood swings, or feeling “on edge”

• Irregular or heavy periods

• PMS symptoms that feel more intense than usual

• Mid-cycle spotting

• Frequent headaches or migraines

How We Can Help

If low progesterone is impacting your quality of life, we’re here to help restore balance. Here’s how we support you:

• Comprehensive Hormone TestingWe take the guesswork out of your health with thorough hormone testing. A full panel can help us assess your progesterone levels in relation to estrogen, cortisol, and other vital hormones.

• Bioidentical Progesterone TherapyFor those who need extra support, bioidentical progesterone supplementation can make a significant difference. Depending on your needs, we offer it in various forms, including topical creams, oral capsules, or sublingual drops.

• Lifestyle & Nutritional SupportYour lifestyle plays a critical role in progesterone production. We’ll guide you on:

  • Nutrient-rich foods that support progesterone production (such as zinc, vitamin B6, and magnesium!)

  • Stress management techniques to prevent cortisol from interfering with progesterone

  • Sleep strategies to support natural hormone balance

If you suspect low progesterone is affecting your well-being, we’re here to help. Schedule a consultation today, and let’s create a personalized plan to help you feel your best!