Should you be concerned about low progesterone? If you are in your childbearing years then healthy progesterone levels are especially important. Progesterone is crucial in getting pregnant and continues to play a role in maintaining a pregnancy. When not enough progesterone is being produced in a woman’s body it may be beneficial to boost levels of this essential hormone with a pill, cream, or suppository. How do you know if you have low progesterone though and what should you do about it?

Many women discover they have low progesterone when they are trying to get pregnant or have complications with a pregnancy. All that is needed to determine progesterone levels is a simple blood test. The level that is considered “normal” can vary between women and throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle.  While there are not always noticeable symptoms of low progesterone, some women may experience these symptoms when they aren’t pregnant:

Weight gain: The decrease in progesterone that comes with age can lead to a harder time burning calories. You may notice weight gain if you have a hormone imbalance.

Headaches/migraines/hot flashes: Menopausal symptoms that are common like hot flashes and headaches can often be helped with progesterone supplements.

Lower libido and fatigue: Lower levels of progesterone may lead to frequent tiredness and wanting to take naps. It may also cause you to be less interested in sex and have lower energy in general.

Irregular menstrual cycle: Progesterone is an important hormone that affects your menstrual cycle. If you have irregular menstruation, spotting mid-cycle, or cramping you may have low levels of this hormone.

Infertility: An inability to get pregnant may be a sign that you have low progesterone. Progesterone plays an essential role in pregnancy and your doctor will likely perform a simple blood test to see if that is causing your infertility.

For women who are pregnant, symptoms of low progesterone may include spotting and abdominal pain, breast tenderness, vaginal dryness, and frequent low blood sugar. Even if having low progesterone doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms it can still affect a pregnancy. That is why progesterone supplements are often given as part of hormone replacement therapy for women trying to become pregnant or who have had complications in the past with a pregnancy.

There are some lifestyle changes you can make that will help with your progesterone level. Reducing stress can be especially helpful since stress produces the hormone cortisol. When cortisol rises because of stress it is being produced instead of progesterone. Certain vitamins are also helpful to maintaining progesterone levels including vitamins B and C. Maintaining your overall health will help with some of your symptoms.

In many cases however the symptoms are more severe and aren’t helped by simple changes in your diet. That’s where HRT treatments can benefit many women who are experiencing symptoms of low progesterone. Progesterone is available in multiple forms like creams, capsules, and suppositories and can be compounded specially for each woman’s unique needs.