Progesterone 101: How Does Progesterone Affect My Period and Fertility

What is Progesterone?

Progesterone is one of the essential female sex hormones. It is a steroid hormone produced in your body by adrenal glands (the glands present on top of your kidneys), corpus luteum (a temporary group of cells that your ovary forms just after ovulation during each menstrual cycle)  and the primary reproductive organs (ovaries in females and testes in males). 

It is produced by the corpus luteum in the starting stage of pregnancy and by the placenta (an organ that forms during pregnancy to provide nutrition and oxygen to the growing baby and remove waste products) in the later stage.

How is Progesterone Formed in Your Body?

Some cholesterol in your body gets converted into progesterone because of a series of chemical reactions caused by specific enzymes. Firstly, cholesterol gets converted into pregnenolone, and then pregnenolone is converted into progesterone. This process mainly occurs in your ovaries (small, oval-shaped glands on both sides of your uterus that produce eggs and hormones).

Effects of Progesterone on Your Body

Are you ready to uncover the secrets of progesterone? Join me as we explore its vital functions.

• Preparation of Uterus: It thickens the endometrium(the inner lining of the uterus) to prepare it for implantation of a fertilised egg.
• Regulation of Bleeding: It controls menstrual bleeding by supporting the endometrium.

1. Pregnancy

• Supports and Maintains Pregnancy: It helps to conceive easily. It reduces the contraction of the uterus during pregnancy.
• Breast Development: It helps develop the breast and milk ducts for breastfeeding.

1. Other functions

• Mood Regulation: It is known as the “Calming Hormone” as it plays a crucial role in maintaining your mood.
• Bone Health: Progesterone, along with oestrogen, helps maintain bone mineral density (BMD) and prevents osteoporosis (bone thinning).
• Sleep: It promotes relaxation and better sleep.
• Maintaining Electrolyte Balance: It helps maintain normal sodium levels in the body.
• Respiration: During pregnancy and the last phase of every menstrual cycle, progesterone increases the respiratory rate.

Progesterone and Menstrual Cycle

Did you know that progesterone is the silent guardian of your menstrual cycle?

Yes! Let us explore how it works.

The second half of your menstrual cycle (approximately from day 15 to 28) is a progesterone-dominant phase. In this phase, the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which performs the following functions,

• It is responsible for thickening endometrial tissue and developing new glands and blood vessels, providing a good environment for the easy implantation of a fertilised egg. 
• It thickens the cervical mucosa and forms a thick mucus plug to prevent entry of any harmful substances into the uterus.
• If your egg is not fertilised in this cycle, the corpus luteum breaks down. This leads to a sudden drop in your progesterone levels. This decrease leads to the breaking down of endometrial tissue (the beginning of your period).

Progesterone and Fertility

If your egg is fertilised in this cycle and gets attached to the endometrium, the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone. During the first 3 months of the pregnancy, the corpus luteum produces progesterone; for the next 6 months, the placenta produces progesterone. Its level continues to rise as pregnancy progresses (the highest progesterone level is during 7 to 9 months of pregnancy). This increased level of progesterone prevents your body from producing eggs during pregnancy.

Let us understand the functions of progesterone - how it prepares the uterus and maintains pregnancy,

• It thickens the endometrium and the blood vessels of the uterus, which provides nutrition for the fertilised egg.
• It helps the uterine muscles to relax; this reduces the risk of contractions that can lead to miscarriage or early delivery.
• Along with oestrogen, it is responsible for the growth of breast and milk ducts inside the breast. These milk ducts carry milk from milk-producing glands to the nipple.

How to Know if Your Progesterone Levels Are Normal?

Your healthcare provider usually advises a blood test to know your progesterone level. Here are the normal values of progesterone according to different phases of your life.

Causes of Progesterone Imbalance in Your Body

An imbalance in progesterone can be due to various factors; here are some factors that directly affect your progesterone levels,

• Age: As women age, particularly after the mid-30s, the function of the ovary slowly reduces, leading to low progesterone levels.
• Stress: Chronic stress increases the level of cortisol in the body, which interferes with progesterone production. This leads to low progesterone levels.
• Poor Nutrition: A diet that lacks essential nutrients such as Vitamin B6, zinc, and magnesium, which support hormonal production, can lead to progesterone imbalance.
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): In this condition, small cysts are formed on the ovary; due to this, ovaries do not release an egg, or there is irregular release of egg, leading to lower progesterone levels.
• Thyroid Disorders: The thyroid gland produces hormones which maintain body metabolism. These hormones influence the balance of sex hormones like progesterone. Hence, any variation in thyroid hormones can cause an imbalance in progesterone.
• Anovulation: The ovary fails to release egg during the menstrual cycle, and the corpus luteum does not form properly; this leads to low progesterone levels.
• Hormonal Birth Controls: These include progesterone pills, patches or intrauterine devices that hold back the protection of hormones, including progesterone.
• Medications: Some medications, like antidepressants, corticosteroids, and antipsychotics, interfere with hormonal balance and affect the production of progesterone.
• Obesity: Excessive body fat leads to overproduction of oestrogen in the body; this causes an imbalance of progesterone.
• Perimenopause: When a woman reaches menopause, the functions of the ovary reduce, leading to irregular ovulation and a drop in progesterone levels.

Symptoms of Low Progesterone Levels

There are specific symptoms that you might experience if progesterone levels deflect from normal.

A low progesterone level can have an impact on your health when compared to high progesterone levels. 

Symptoms of Low Progesterone in a woman who is not pregnant are,

• Irregular or missed periods
• Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Mid-cycle or Premenstrual spotting
• Difficulty Conceiving 
• Mood Swings and irritability
• Anxiety or depression
• Weight gain 
• Bloating 
• Irregular Sleep 
• Hot Flashes (especially during perimenopause)

Symptoms of Low progesterone in a pregnant woman are,

• Miscarriage (early loss of pregnancy)
• Spotting or light bleeding 
• Preterm Labour (delivering the baby before the due date)
• Ectopic Pregnancy (fertilised egg gets attached to a part of the body other than the uterus)

Tips to Naturally Combat Low Progesterone Levels

If you are looking to support your progesterone levels naturally, there are various dietary, lifestyle and self-care practices that can help you.

1. Maintaining a Healthy Diet

Consume foods rich in,

• Magnesium: For example, banana, avocado, spinach, kale, dark chocolate, pumpkin seed and almonds.
• Zinc: For example, beef, oyster, shellfish, chickpea, lentils and eggs.
• Vitamin B6: For example, turkey, chicken, fortified cereal and potatoes.

Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.

2. Lifestyle modifications

Here are some key lifestyle modifications to promote normal progesterone levels,

• Regular sleep habits
• Moderate exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight

3. Stress Busting Techniques

You can try the following methods to keep your stress under control,

• Journaling and creative hobbies
• Self-management of excessive tension - A yogic technique to calm the mind
• Meditation and relaxation techniques
• Aromatherapy

Treatment and Management of Progesterone Imbalance

There are various approaches to treating progesterone imbalance. Here are some treatments which are practised routinely.

1. For Low Progesterone Levels 

The following are the treatments for low progesterone levels,

• Progesterone Supplements (pills, ointments and injections)
• Fertility Treatment
• Thyroid Hormone Therapy
• Hormone Replacement Therapy

2. For High Progesterone Levels

The following are the treatments for high progesterone levels,

• Adjust or discontinue birth control.
• Monitoring Pregnancy

To Sum Up

Imagine a delicate dance, a hormonal ballet, where progesterone takes centre stage, orchestrating the rhythm of your reproductive life. 

Doesn’t it sound wonderful? Yes! That’s how important progesterone is in maintaining your health. 

A balanced progesterone level plays a crucial role in every phase of your life. Low progesterone levels can be problematic, leading to various issues such as menstrual irregularities, infertility and miscarriages. If your progesterone level is too low or too high, seek medical advice to understand the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment at the right time.

To learn more about menstrual health and fertility, connect with experts at Nirva Health.