Imagine that your uterus is a little house which prepares itself for a baby to move in. Progesterone acts like an interior decorator and maintenance crew all rolled into one.
It is a hormone which is a messenger in your body that helps you tell about your body functions. When you start realising the eggs (ovulation), it starts making progesterone. It makes your uterus lining thick and cosy. You can think like putting down a sofa carpet and getting instant heating.
If a fertilized egg arrives, then progesterone tries to keep your uterus nice and stable, through which the egg can easily grow into a baby.
You have been thinking, ” Why is this such a complicated word progestation?”. “Pro” symbolises “for ” “gestation” symbolises “pregnancy“. Scroll down to know more about impact of low progesterone
Why is Progesterone important?
- For your menstruation cycle: You can consider that estrogen is used for building up the walls of your uterus house. Then progesterone comes after the ovulation and that helps to thicken the lining of the uterus. So it is like putting a comfy and soft carpet ready for a baby to settle in. It is also used to balance the effects of estrogen.
- For pregnancy: Somehow, a baby goes into the uterine house, and then progesterone acts like a super-strong security guard. It tries to keep the walls strong and protects the egg from squeezing so that the baby can easily grow.
- For your feelings and sleep: Progesterone helps your mind to stay calm and make your sleep better. It acts like a natural pill through which you can feel less anxiety and stress.
- For strong bones: It is beneficial for keeping your bones strong and healthy like giving them the right building materials.
Progesterone is the main reason behind keeping your body working smoothly, especially in terms of pregnancy, menstruation cycle and overall well-being of your body.
Symptoms of low progesterone levels
There is such super specific action through which you can, but there are few signs that your body can give you.
The clue your body gives:
Irregular period:
- This is a big one. If your periods are coming in irregular intervals. If your period is heavy someday and becomes lighter than usual. All these incidents could be a sign.
You may have trouble getting pregnant:
- If your progesterone is low, the lining of your uterus is thin and not ready for welcoming, then the fertilized egg might face trouble “sticking” or implanting properly.
Your Mood and Sleep are Off:
- You can think that progesterone is the key to your soothing effect on your brain.
- When the levels of progesterone are normal then it helps you stay relaxed and less stressed.
PMS is worse than usual:
- When progesterone levels drop too low, it throws off the hormone balance.
- This can make those usual PMS symptoms feel way more intense.
- Imagine your normal PMS is like a little drizzle. Low progesterone turns it into a full-on storm.
Impact of Low progesterone
– It can be tough to conceive, and pregnancies might not last. Progesterone is the main element for creating a great environment in the uterus of your body to develop a baby. Without enough of it, it is harder to get pregnant. If the lining of the uterus is not strong enough to support the growing egg, then it can lead to the reason behind your miscarriage.
– You might feel extra emotional, anxious, or down. You could get more headaches and struggle to sleep well. Low progesterone can be the reason for your anxiety; in this stage, your calming effect is gone. If the levels are not in the correct stage, then it can cause irritability, where a small thing can bother you more than usual. During low progesterone, you might wake up frequently during the night and fall asleep even if you are tired. This lack of sleep can also worsen your mood problems.
– Your breasts might feel tender or painful.
– Your monthly cycle might get messed up, with weird bleeding. Also, if your period consistency is low, then it can also be a red flag. If your cycle is much shorter than usual, that can be one of the signs.
Ways to check progesterone level at home
First of all, it is important to remember that direct test progesterone levels at home but lab tests are not the same. However, some methods can give you insights into your progesterone production.
At-home PdG Testing :
- These tests can give you information about if ovulation occurred and if progesterone levels are sufficient during the luteal phase.
- PdG (pregnanediol glucuronide) appears in your urine after progesterone.
- You use urine test strips at specific times in your cycle.
- The strips show if PdG is present, indicating progesterone production.
- This is useful for tracking ovulation and assessing progesterone levels after ovulation.
- These tests give you an idea of progesterone activity, not precise numerical measurements.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Tracking:
- This test is used to take the temperature every morning before you get out of bed. As progesterone is slightly increased in your BBT after ovulation.
- Firstly, you have to maintain a proper record of your temperature daily. A sustained temperature rise indicates that your progesterone production has increased.
- This method does not give you the amount of progesterone in your system, but it does show that it is being produced.
- It is important to note that this method requires consistency and temperature should be taken accurately.
At-home blood test:
- Some blood test kits exist that you can easily mail to the laboratory.
- This test can give more accurate results, but still, it requires a lab to process the sample.
At home, you can do PdG and BBT tracking tests. They can provide you with valuable information about progesterone levels; they don’t even replace a doctor’s evaluation.
If you have concerns about your progesterone levels, consult a healthcare professional. They can order a blood test and provide appropriate guidance.
How can I increase my progesterone levels naturally?
Manage stress:
- If you have any tension or problem, you can easily talk with your friends or family. Going for a walk can also help you to reduce stress or anxiety.
- You can do yoga: Gentle stretching and breathing can calm your mind and body.
- Meditation is the most important element for decreasing stress. Taking a few minutes to quiet your mind can lower stress levels.
- Slow, deep breaths can help you relax quickly.
- You should make sure you get enough good quality sleep. Irregular sleep can also lead to stress and anxiety.
Maintain a healthy weight:
- Both being underweight and overweight can affect hormone balance.
- Your focus should be on whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Eat a balanced diet:
- Vitamin C acts as a helper for progesterone. You can easily find vitamin C from Oranges, Grapes, Strawberries, Blueberries and Bell peppers.
- Zinc is like the building blocks for hormones. Your body needs it to make progesterone and other important hormones. You can have zinc in the form of Chickpeas, Oysters and Pumpkin seeds.
- Vitamin B6 helps your body regulate hormones. It’s like a traffic cop, making sure everything flows smoothly. You can have chicken, fish and bananas.
Limit Sugar and Processed food :
- Sugar can cause rapid spikes and drops in your blood sugar level, which can affect insulin and other hormones.
- Processed foods are often high in unhealthy fats, additives, and artificial ingredients that can disrupt hormone function. They also often lack the nutrients your body needs for hormone production.
- They can also lead to inflammation in your body, and inflammation can disrupt hormone production.
- These foods can cause big swings in your blood sugar, which then leads to swings in your hormones.
Consider Herbal Remedies (with caution):
- People have used herbs for centuries for the treatment of various health issues, including hormone imbalance.
- Chasteberry (Vitex) is one herb that’s often mentioned for hormonal support.
- You can consider herbs as potentially helpful but not guaranteed solutions.
- Many herbal remedies haven’t been thoroughly studied, so we don’t always know exactly how they work or how effective they are.
Regular Exercise:
- Physical activities can be beneficial for reduce stress, anxiety and tension.
- It can help you to improve sleep cycle and maintain a healthy weight, all of which support healthy hormone balance.
- Essentially, gentle and consistent exercise is better than extreme workouts.
Natural approaches may support hormonal balance, but they are not providing you a guaranteed solution for medical treatment.
Sometimes, self treatment can be risky, so you should always take consult from a doctor or professional guidance.
Conclusion
Low progesterone is a common issue that can cause a range of problems for women, from irregular periods and trouble getting pregnant, to mood swings and sleep problems. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough of this important “pregnancy helper” hormone.
If you’re worried about low progesterone, talk to your doctor. They can do a blood test to confirm and suggest the best treatment. Natural approaches like managing stress, eating well, and exercising moderately can help, but always with a doctor’s guidance, especially when considering herbal remedies.