The Symptoms And Treatment Options For Low Progesterone Levels

Progesterone is a female sex hormone that plays a crucial role during pregnancy. It prepares the uterus to carry the baby and ensures a healthy pregnancy. However, when this hormone is out of balance, it can cause several health issues, such as:

Decreased sex drive
Mood swings
Depression
Breast tenderness
Irregular menstrual cycle
Heavy bleeding

Moreover, if progesterone levels are low, your uterus won’t be able to carry a baby. Even worse, low progesterone levels may indicate ectopic pregnancy which can result in miscarriage or fetal death. Thus, it’s important to make sure that the hormone levels are balanced to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Not only in females, but progesterone hormones also play a crucial role in sperm development for men.

What Are The Symptoms Of Low Progesterone Levels?

Irregular periods are one of the common symptoms of low progesterone levels. However, if you are planning a baby, it may be difficult for you. Without the correct progesterone levels, your body won’t be able to create the environment for eggs and developing fetus. If you have low progesterone levels, and still wish to become pregnant, then you may increase the risk of pregnancy loss.

With that, some of the symptoms of low progesterone include:

Recurrent pregnancy loss
Missed periods
Uterine bleeding
Ectopic pregnancy
Early labor
Abdominal pain during pregnancy

Low progesterone levels may also result in migraine. Also, doctors don’t suggest birth control pills containing estrogen to those who have migraines.

What Is The Normal Level Of Progesterone?

Progesterone levels have two phases and change throughout the menstrual cycle.

The follicular phase – In this phase, the hormone levels are low and shouldn’t exceed 0.89 ng/ml. However, during ovulation, it reaches 12 ng/ml. After ovulation, the corpus luteum starts working, and the hormone level increases.

The luteal phase – This phase occurs after ovulation. In this phase, the progesterone levels skyrocket and reach 1.8/2.4 ng/ml.

As you age, the progesterone levels start to decline. This also results in a decrease in fertility and menopause. So, how do you check the progesterone levels? Generally, the progesterone levels are checked with a blood test conducted by a health provider. However, you can also go for a hormone test to get deeper insights into your progesterone levels and take action to balance it.

How To Treat Low Progesterone Levels?

If you have low progesterone levels, then you may not need treatment. However, if you are planning to get pregnant, then it is wise to undergo hormone therapy. It will help you increase hormone levels and prepare your uterus for a healthy pregnancy.

However, it is wise to know that hormone therapy can work wonders for your overall health. You can treat menstrual irregularities and abnormal bleeding with this therapy.

With that, here are some of the ways to increase your progesterone levels:

Use progesterone creams – Progesterone creams are well-known to balance hormone levels. It is provided by a professional doctor. You need to insert at least six doses of it daily unless your doctor recommends it otherwise.
Oral pills – These pills can relieve you from irregular menstrual cycles and heavy bleeding. The dose is recommended by your doctor.
Vaginal suppositories – These are inserted once or twice a day.

However, if these methods don’t work to relieve your symptoms, it is wise to consult with your doctor immediately. They may suggest some other treatment options that can work well for your body.

So, are there any natural ways to treat progesterone levels? Well, the short answer is YES!

Manage stress – Stress is a major factor that reduces hormone levels. When you are stressed, your body will release cortisol instead of progesterone. Thus, it is essential to reduce stress in your life.
Give your diet a makeover – Your diet also plays a crucial role in balancing the hormone levels and improving your overall health. Some of the foods you should add to your diet include dark chocolate, nuts, fish, carrots, eggs, seeds, whole grains, etc. These foods are rich in certain minerals and nutrients that will help your body produce sufficient amounts of progesterone to keep your body fit and healthy.
Maintain a healthy weight – Apart from eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight is also crucial to balance your hormone levels.

Wrap Up

Progesterone is the most important hormone in the female body. If it is unbalanced, it can wreak havoc on your overall health and cause pregnancy problems.

Apart from the reproductive system, it can cause several health issues, such as high cholesterol levels, thyroid, adrenal gland issues, etc. Thus, it is wise to balance these hormone levels to stay fit and healthy.