One of the biggest hormone problems that plagues women is having low progesterone levels.
In some cases, this is somewhat natural: it happens during menopause, perimenopause and in periods of hormonal flux.
Nonetheless: a diagnosis of low progesterone is fairly common even among women of reproductive age. This occurs to two main groups of women: first, the estrogen dominant, and secondly, the stressed.
Low progesterone and estrogen dominance
Estrogen dominance is the condition of having too much estrogen relative to progesterone.
Symptoms of estrogen dominance include being overweight, PMS, menstrual cramps, decreased libido, bloating, breast swelling and tenderness, fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis, PMS-related headaches, mood swings, and thyroid malfunction.
You can become estrogen dominant if progesterone levels fall too low – yet you can also experience symptoms of low progesterone if estrogen levels become too high. Phytoestrogens in the diet, birth control pills, inflammation, and a sedentary lifestyle are a few of the many ways to cause unnaturally high estrogen levels. Check out this post on estrogen dominance for more.
Low progesterone and pregnenolone steal
Hormones are produced in a cascade. I like to think of the system like a set of dominoes: the hypothalamus (a part of the brain) tells certain glands like the pituitary and adrenal glands how hard to work, then their own hormones go on to signal to other hormones, and on and on. The dominoes fall in a perfectly regimented pattern if all of the surrounding dominoes do their jobs, too.
Unfortunately, when things go wrong early on in the hormone production process, there can be many significant problems down the line.
Progesterone is affected by one such problem.
Progesterone is synthesized fairly early in the hormonal cascade, and it’s activity is highly influenced by the level of stress–either physical or emotional–a woman is experiencing. I wrote about this in a post about a year ago, titled “The HPA axis: what is pregnenolone steal?”
Another name for pregnenolone steal is as progesterone steal.
Pregnenolone is the primary “precursor” hormone. It sits at the top of the domino chain and is directed to be used by the body however it sees fit. The primary decision the body makes with pregnenolone is whether it wants to make sex hormones like progesterone or stress hormones like cortisol.
If a woman is stressed, her body “steals” the pregnenolone and uses it for stress hormone production instead of progesterone production.This means that other female hormones also take a hit — accounting for why some women have low hormone levels across the board — but progesterone is one of the hardest hit. If a woman has low progesterone in her labs, it’s a pretty good bet that her body is using her resources to produce cortisol rather than progesterone.
For this reason, reducing stress is actually the only clinically well-known way to increase progesterone production.
This isn’t an easy answer. Stress reduction takes real work. We cannot just promise to sleep more or to spend more time with ourselves or our families, and then let these promises drift away as life marches on. Instead, we have to make concrete changes to our schedules, to our jobs, to our relationships, to our feelings about our existence. Often, psychologists can be uniquely helpful, as can group involvement, friendship, spiritual communities, and yoga and meditation.
Stress levels can also be reduced by making sure to eat a nourishing diet that doesn’t have any kind of a starvation component. Physical stress is nearly as important to address for this as emotional stress. Eat when you are hungry, and do your absolute best to assure your hypothalamus that it has nothing to stress about.
Symptoms of low progesterone (without estrogen dominance) include:
classic hypothalamic amenorrheic symptoms: irregular cycles, infertility, anxiety, low libido.
If you reduce your stress levels, you may see these problems slowly tick away. Perhaps most delightfully, progesterone is well-known as carrying with it significant libido-enhancing power. Reduce your stress, and your sex life make thank you, too.
This is a common theme for women’s health. Stress can have a very significant impact on us — far more so than it does on men.
Why? It is actually an evolutionary adaptation. The female body needs to protect itself against becoming pregnant at a time of famine, war, or other kind of life-threatening strife. The way it does so is by shutting down hormone production whenever stress appears to be too strong or chronic. Stress indicates that it may not be a “safe” enough environment to be pregnant.
Hormones may be a complex and challenging part of being a woman – but they can also be a rewarding one. The trick is simply to learn how to raise a white flag and stop being in a state of constant warfare against the body – and instead start practicing how to live in harmonious dialogue. I talk in great depth about how to do so in my best-seller – Sexy by Nature – which you can take a look at at Amazon, here. It was a real adventure, but I finally learned how to do it (and get my progesterone levels back up!), and you most certainly can, too.
What about you? Are you low in progesterone? What success have you had working with it?
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How long does it usually take to see an increase in progesterone once you reduce stress? Is there an improvement in a matter of days? Is it a cumulative effect over a few cycles?
This post is brilliant! And, unfortunately, it’s a topic that is little discussed, especially in terms of overtraining. I experienced the symptoms of low progesterone when strength training three times a week vigorously. My diet was in order, life wasn’t too stressful, but the workouts were generating a huge metabolic/hormonal response. Because I was limiting exercise to three hours a week and supporting my training well calorically and nutritionally, I thought I was in the clear, but unfortunately, even that was too much. I got so frustrated I stopped altogether (and actually loosened up on my nutrition) and my system got back to normal almost immediately.
However, I absolutely love strength training (maybe I’m addicted to the adrenaline rush!), and I really want to resume training, but in such a way that supports rather than destabilizes my hormones. Any advice would be much appreciated!
This same thing just happened to me! I’m so glad I found this article. I’ve been too terrified to over-google my symptoms but this makes sense. I was also strength training and running three days a week. But I’m also in school full-time and a single mom. I want to do it all, but my body slammed on the brakes (two episodes of nearly fainting while working out plus massive anxiety attacks). I was afraid I might be dying of some rare cancer (thanks for nothing, google!). I’m thinking of switching to yoga and being super mindful that I’m getting ALL my calories in. Thanks for sharing!
<3 <3 yes please rest!!! rest is THE BOMB :)
Yes almost identical happened to me. I think having extremely nosy neighbors for over a year also added to messing up my cycle. I still continued to train with extremely heavy weights and did my cardio also a minimum of 4 times a week. I still have symptoms but I believe things are slowly returning back to normal. I hope your matter is resolved now.
I had no idea that cortisol production was involved here. I suffered from low progesterone (without estrogen dominance)about one year ago (at 27 yo). I have since recovered. I have psoriasis, which flares up with increased cortisol production. My psoriasis was at its worst when I had the low p problem. I wonder whether my flare up was a cause or part of a symptom of my problem? If my body was producing more cortisol to sustain the psoriasis, then I would have been loosing out on production of other hormones. My diet was unsuitably low in calories at the time.
Cee – Just wanted to comment, as psoriasis is often linked to diet. I have has psoriasis since I was a kid, and found out in my 20’s I am gluten-intolerant (gluten = wheat/rye/barley). When I changed my diet, my skin cleared up tremendously and I rarely have bad psoriasis breakouts. Just something to think about! – Kitt
I have a question — I’ve been struggling with what I’ve been told is Hypothalamic Amenorrhea for a few years now. I’ve lost and regained my period several times due to fluctuations in weight, calorie intake, and exercise, but have always managed to get it back by changing my lifestyle. I had my period in January 2012, then didn’t get it again for an entire year. My gyno did bloodwork which was normal, except for low hormone levels (also had an ultrasound to check for cysts on my ovaries, result was negative.) In November of last year I took provera and had a withdrawal bleed, but no period in December. I then got my period this January (same time that I did last year, while I was on winter break from school) after further reducing my exercise, mainly cutting back on running. However, I haven’t gotten another period since.
My question is about the provera test: since I responded, that means that I have adequate estrogen, right? So why am I not ovulating? Could I have a problem with progesterone production? I’m currently 5’4, about 110 lbs, exercising lightly about five times a week (playing squash, walking, yoga, and very short runs about once or twice a week) and eating 2000+ calories per day. I don’t have any of the classic symptoms of PCOS or estrogen dominance. I do have a fair amount of stress at school, but I do my best to manage it.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Your blog has been extremely helpful to me in my struggles with this problem.
Yes, that’s possible. Both estrogen and progesterone are likely low for you, and progesterone the lowest. Low progesterone is caused by stress to the hypothalamus — both metabolic and psychological. This takes real healing and real efforts, but it looks as though you are on the right track. 🙂
Adi, I am right there with you! I am the same height as you and was diagnosed with HA at 114 pounds. I reduced exercise to walking and yoga only and gained up to a BMI of 22.3 before my cycle returned, though irregular. You can do this! You know what has to be done and are working towards changing your lifestyle so you can be healthy on the inside, good for you!
Stefani, thank you for your post! Since my cycle returned (and even on my Clomid cycles) my progesterone seems to drop a little too quickly but has gotten better. I completely agree that stress has something to do with it, the hardest part is trying to find ways to manage that stress! Thank you for all you do!
Thank you for this! I just started using my progesterone cream on week two of the Whole 30 and have noticed that everything has come to a stand still and gotten worse (acne, tighter pant & a desire to nap) since I introduced the cream into my nightly ritual. I am going to shelf the cream, continue with clean eating and exercise and work on lower stress 🙂
Yes!!
I’ve got a question… I had a miscarriage in ’05. Then had a very healthy pregnancy in ’08. Since then this past Feb we tried again and I suffered a horrible miscarriage. Last month I had yet another, luckily this one was quick and my body actually took care of it all. If I have low progesterone, could this cause the miscarriages? And if so, should I be tested for this before we try to conceive again?
Yes – low progesterone is highly correlated with miscarriage. However, the reason why is unclear. Does low progesterone itself cause the miscarriage? Or is it just a sign of another factor causing the miscarriage? Doctors are unsure. Nonetheless, it is worth talking over these issues with your doctor and doing everything you can to boost progesterone and reproductive health to safeguard your pregnancy as much as possible. All my best to you and your husband, Jorgan.
Check for the mthfr gene regarding miscarriages.
YES!
I have low progesterone( 1.9ng/ml) , Can this unable me to get pregnant , what drugs can i use to increase it please ?
I had a miscarriage and then infertility…until they figured out I had low progesterone and I took Clomid. Some may not like the idea of a medication and prefer natural remedies…and that is a personal decision…but Clomid did the job for me. But I waited too long and was only able to have 1 child before I felt I was too old and risky. Don’t do that.
I think my 20 year old daughter has this problem. We are having trouble getting a diagnosis and treatment. She has trouble with mood swings, sleeping too much, anxiety, and jitteriness. Medical doctors have been of little help and are referring her to a psychiatrist. She has had a blood test showing she is low on progesterone. Birth control pills were prescribed, which only made her symptoms worse. What kind of doctor can help her?
Thanks for any information you can give me.
Cindy, a frustrated mom
Hi Cindy, I am experiencing the same symptoms as your daughter and a naturopathic doctor can help her. I have finally found someone who understands what I am going through and wants to treat me naturally. They treat the problem not the symptoms, so important. I hope your daughter gets relief. I am looking forward to finally getting some myself.
Hi Kathryn, can I get your contact info. I am having symptoms of low progesterone and it causes me insomia. I never seek medical help cause im working in middle east now and most of the doctors here arw not even verse with hormonal problems. I suspect im having low progesterone. I really need help, there are months that I will have 10days without proper sleep
Cindy, What you described is exactly what I have been dealing with. I am 35 yrs old & have had a child…However, I have never been able to take b/c, it does exactly as you described your daughter. I recently had my hormone levels tested, with low progesterone but estrogen is good. I also have very high cortisol levels… I’m trying to find some answers as this, along with some other health issues…is ruining my life! If I could get the irritability & lack of energy to level out, I might have a fighting chance. I read your post & felt as though it could be my own mother writing! I’m curious if you’ve gotten any answers for your daughter…
I would love to chat with someone that can relate.
Best Wishes~ Heather
Heather what is ur contact info I am going through the exact same thing n can give u some info.
Heather, I have same problems as you. High cortisol, insomnia, low progesterone. Have you found some things to help?
Hi Cindy I am going through the same symptoms plus much much more. I have ruled out the serious stuff but now following a very very strict clean eating food program. Everyone is different and they need to find what is best for their body and resolve what the cause is. I would pursue getting help in increasing the minerals that the body may be missing. Perhaps someone can help with increasing her calcium via cottage cheese and skim milk. Also tell her to start a journal and write down everything that happens to her and help her sort through it to see what are some triggers or what food is not doing her body justice. Our body does talk to us it’s just we may need some help to recognize signs. Good luck hope you find some answers. Read and research never give up.
Hi! I’ve been searching hi and low for an answer to my continuous light period. 11 days now and counting. This is my first period like this. I am 48, one child, normal periods until the past 3 months when they started coming very close together, now non-stop. Recent blood and saliva work shows a low Pg/E2 ratio and higher than normal testosterone. Everything else on blood/saliva = normal. I have wicked breast pain now, too; plus constant fatigue and a hard time losing weight although I eat right and exercise. I’m not overweight, just more than I’d like to be for my pants! In desperation, I used a little Progest creme last night. Slept great, but still period. Thoughts? And, many thanks!
Sounds like you’re doing the right things, especially paying attention to your progesterone and estrogen levels. I’d personally give it a little more time to see if it works itself out on its own — menopause can do some interesting things when it starts cropping up (and 48 is a perfectly normal age for that to happen). On the other hand, you may want to explore whether or not you have any kinds of cysts or fibroids, which can cause long-term bleeding, with your doctor if these symptoms persist.
Sprint exercises, though not too many, keeping your carbohydrates within a reasonable limit, weight-training exercises, plenty of sleep, and sleep reduction are all other great steps to take to keep hormones as balanced as possible in this time of transition.
I have extremely low progesterone and have had it since puberty. I have been fired from jobs (dealing in customer service) because I would become irate and become a total b*tch on my period, I have severe insomnia (I sometimes go 5 days with 3 hrs a night of sleep), constipation (1 bowel movement a week if I am lucky), I know the minute my period starts and even the minute I start ovulating because the pain becomes unbearable, I can’t be on birth control because IUDs were worse then childbirth for me, I now have seizures every time I ovulate and menstruate (in the last 3 months I have had 6 seizures), my heartbeat is horrifically irregular and my chest always hurts, I have a constant headache and I do mean constant for like months at a time, I have breathing problems, sometimes all I do is pass blood clots on my period, I have horrid neck pain and all over pains, if I pick at my nails the whole nail comes off, I have lost the hair on the sides of my head, I become dizzy up to 20 times a day, night sweats, I get cysts almost constantly, I am tired all the time even when I just woke up, spotting, I get taser like shocks all over my body, and I can go on and on but those are the truly scary things that can happen with low progesterone.
My point is, if you have severely low progesterone go to a doctor if you can and if you can’t eat healthy as possible and get some progesterone natural cream. You can and more then likely will have a stroke if you let it go too long. I just thought I wasn’t woman enough to handle the changes when I was menstruating and never told anyone, don’t ever just think it’s normal and not ask. I am trying to fix it myself (I have no insurance) but who knows if it will work or not. My period starts tomorrow so we will see.
Sara, how are you doing now? How did you treat your low p? I have many of your symptoms (while on progesterone 100 mg) and am searching for answers
I did a saliva test this past summer, and found out I have very low progesterone. According to my Results/Chart, The Normal Range ranges from 75 to 270. My morning rate was at 30, where as my night Rate was 21. Can this be what’s been causing some brain fog/foggy thinking? Thanks!
~ Kayla.
quite possibly!
Hi, thank you for this Info!! I found out my husband and I are pregnant after having a miscarriage 2 months ago. I had blood work done and I have extremely low progesterone levels and may quite possibly lose this baby. We think that may be the cause of my other 2 miscarriages, although we do have 1 daughter. Can low progesterone lead to uncontrollable irritability? I know it can lead to mood swings. I was on progesterone birth control for a long time, and the high levels of progesterone made me extremely difficult and moody. I’m wondering if I just need a more balanced progesterone level. Your article helped me understand jus how much my extreme stress is hurting my body!! Thank you!
Hi Stefani,
I was diagnosed hypothyroid last year and have been on rx since then. I stopped birth control in march and never regained my cycle. I have reduced stress, reduced exercise to 4x a week, and eat paleo. With my gyno i have done progesterone withwrawl to force a period a few times. Each time I seem to lean out and loose a little weight. Additionally I get a little “Hyperthyroid” while on the progesterone. Can this indicate a deficiency? Thanks for all you do!
WHY DOES ELIZABETH GET HYPER THYROID ON PROGESTERONE
WHAT KIND OF PROGESTERONE WERE U ON
I HAD ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF HYPO THYROIDISM. MY DR RAN A BLOOD TEST AND TOLD ME ALL WAS FINE AND PUSHED ME OUT THE DOOR. GETTING NO JOY – I HAD SLOW SPEECH WHICH GOT WORSE\I AM POST MENOPAUSE AGE 57 SO I WENT ON JUST ANSWER.COM AND WAS RECOMMENDED TO DO SEX PANEL TEST :ESTROGEN PROGESTERONE AND TESTERONE AS WELL AS ALL B VITAMINS HEAVY METAL AND GLUTEN INTOLERANCE
I BET I HAVE LOW PROGESTERONE I GET MY RESULTS IN 5 DAYS
IS THE NATURAL PROGESTERONE CREAM FREE OF SIDE EFFECTS
MY SLOW SPPECH GETS WORSE FROM AM TO PM
Hi Dee, I am on this page reading about progesterone, but when I read your post I wanted to make a comment. I hope you see it. Please check out Stop the Thyroid Madness and Thyroid Change for help!! The slurred speech might be caused by poor thyroid functioning! Did your doctor do a complete thyroid panel? For us thyroid patients, we know a COMPLETE panel is necessary. (TSH, T4, T3, and anti bodies.) I would get a second opinion on that thyroid test. Call it a hunch, but I bet you are a fellow low thyroid sufferer. Good luck!
What is the difference between low on progesterone and estrogen dominance? Other articles explain them as being the same thing.
Well, I see it two ways. You can have a good amount of progesterone but an overabundance of estrogen, or a normal amount of estrogen and a low amount of progesterone, and you’d want to fight them in slightly different ways. Low P needs healing from stress, and estrogen detox needs all of the liver and gut support.
Thanks a lot for the explanation!
I am 24. For the past two years I have been a medical guinea pig. My problems started out by having horrible painful cramps and sometimes breakthrough bleeding in my second week of ovulation and also during my actual period. After being on 8 different forms of BC, depo provera (which I got pregnant with my son on) I had other forms of BC includong Apri, two forms of Zovia and Zovia combined with a 5mg Provera pill. Everytime they switched my BC I would get better for a cycle and then come back even worse. My horrible cramps and breakthrough bleeding were then added onto with hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, inability to self lubricate,and more pain. After three ultrasounds and a laparoscopy I decided to ask..”hey why havnt we done any bloodwork”? I had bloodwork done just before I got off zovia and six weeks later to compare. Being off birth control did wonders for me! All my added symptoms disappeared but I am still back to horrible period cramps and breakthrough cramps. I was told friday that my labs indicated my estrogen to progesterone ratio is 10.8 to 5.2 and they want to begin me on a 12 day/mo natural progesterone supplement. I am to start it next week. I eat very very healthy (portion, fresh produce, unlrocessed meats, etc) and do light jogging and yoga often. I am naturally high strung and suffer from OCD. I cant lose weight and Infact am overweight. Being a 3rd shift mom with a 3 & 6 year old doesnt help my disorder either. What is your opinion on my case?
I am 48 y/o and I have had one pregnancy and birth. My medical history includes 20+ history of hypothyroidism, treated with Levo thryoxine 200mcg, severe insomnia and migraines. I had an endometrial ablation 10 years ago which stopped my periods until about 2 years ago. Since the ablation they were very light. They ended about 8 months ago.
SEVERE FATIGUE is what took me in to the physician’s office. I finally requested a hormone panel and I have high estradiol and low progesterone. I am set up to do the saliva test. I have virtually no stress in my life at this time (although I am a recovering TYPE A personality). I have been at my ideal weight for about 3 years. To my knowledge I do not have irritability, mood swings, breast tenderness, etc. Just fatigue and headaches. I work in the medical field but nothing I read makes sense. Am I to assume that I’ll be given a progesterone cream/pill? BTW, my Thyroid panel was WNL.
well explained about progesterone learned many things about it thanks for sharing.
I quit lactating and taking domperidone in July very abruptly and had insomnia, hot flashes and hyperventilating… The hyperventilating and hit flashes went away but the insomnia stayed… After 6 months I tried to relactating out if desperation took double domperidone but only made 10 Oz vs my old 30 Oz… Didn’t help me sleep so I quit.. A bit slower over a week.. Its been 6.5 weeks and no period yet… I’m dying to get biodentical testing done as my blood work appears normal. I’m crying and don’t feel like life is worth living… I’m just so exhausted.. Any advice?!!
I have a question. I’m forty one and the Dr. Put me on Progestrone to shed the lining every month since I might twice a year. He put me on progestrone since those levels were low and try to force my body. He said if the lining is not shed every two or three months it could make a bed for cancer cells to grow. Still no lining shed. Is this common knowledge?
I am 35yo with no kids. Was on the pill since age of 18. I went off the pill to conceive in Dec 2013 and got my period immediately after and then got nothing for 3 months. Went to the drs and got test which showed low progesterone. Everything else was fine. I was prescribed some progesterone tablets in March 2014 and got my period immediately afterwards. Now I am getting no period again but am not pregnant. Could this just be because I was on the pill for so long? Because I am 35, the dr wants me and hubby to have tests next week
Hi !! So glad to read this. I have been irregular in my periods since I was 16. I am now 34 and have two children. My first pregnancy was very tough as I bled often and had low progesterone. My doctor put me on progesterone until I was in the clear at about 13 weeks. Same with my second pregnancy. A few months ago I started getting terrible panic attacks and anxiety. I always have brain fogs and I am extremely forgetful. My doctor referred me to a psychiatrist and therapist and that was that. They put me on Lexapro. I am doing very well on it but I still have little mood swings and still no normal period. I am so frustrated because for many years, my fight to figure out what is wrong, has failed. No doctor has ever looked into why I have never had a normal period. I feel like this article gave me some insight. Thank you !
I’m 49 and my period is 5 weeks late. I had blood work done and I have NO progesterone or pregnenolone and low T3. Suggestions??? Stress? Yep! Lots and lots. Divorce, cheating husband, 14 year old son turning on me…influenced by father and bad friend. Not the best of times but lots of good stuff going on also. Worry of kids kind of trumps all though.
STRESS.
Hello,
I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism (2 months ago) and my TSH levels are now in the normal range. However, not all of my symptoms have been resolved. I still have digestive issues, so I went on a gluten-free and now a full-blown Paleo diet. I also experience depresion-like symptoms, sleep issues/insomnia, libido issues, headaches and PMS, irritability, and trouble losing weight.
A few months ago I had a very short cycle (23-24 days) which got better with accupuncture. But this month I was very stressed out and I had a 23 day cycle. My progesterone levels have been low consistently 3, 5, 7 on the three mid-luteal phase readings I’ve had over the last few months. My Estradiol seems to be low normal.
My husband and I want to have a baby and we’ve experienced an early loss. We want to start trying again in a couple months and I really want to be at optimal health prior to trying to conceive again. I feel pretty anxious that something else is also going on with my health and I’m not getting answers from my health issues.
To relieve stress I’d like to start meditating. But I currently do pilates/regular exercise and try to keep a fairly stress-reduced life… I’m sure I could do better.
While I’m sure this latest month is attributable to stress, I’m not sure if other issues are related – or if that is the root cause. Any advice and feedback is helpful. Recommendations for next steps?
H.
I took 100mg Microgest and slept for longer 🙂
Hi– I am 24 and I have very low cortisol, low estrogen & low progesterone. I have been battling 20lb weight gain as I had gotten off of birth control after being on it for 8 years. I got off it 11months ago & have yet to get a period as well. What do you suggest for getting back to my normal weight & gaining my energy back.
Hello, I am 46 years old. I have low progesterone and we thought I was hypo but after taking meds for it I quickly became hyper with scary symptoms so I am off them now. I currently have weight gain, joint pain, fatigue, hair loss. I realize there is the progesterone cream, but is it really possible to increase my progesterone through exercise, stress reduction and diet? Are there women who manage it this way for their entire lives without taking hrt? I would love this but it is not often heard of to manage it without taking hormones! I don’t want to take them, but want to be clear on whether there are solid, long term alternatives. Thank you!
My periods were 15/20 days since I was like 15 years old . nothing helped.I’m 27 and about two years ago my body told me I was stressing my doctor offered me anxiety pills bcp etc all theses test were ran my progesterone level was non existent anyways I stopped stressing over little things like someone not calling me back or thinking about what someone else was doing and I swear my periods changed that month they have been seven days ever since and the first regular period was 3 days now there all seven days this article is true I tell everyone with crazy periods try not to stress Iam the happiest person alive learn your stress listen to the little voice inside 🙂
i am 68 years old and after doing the saliva test my gyno told me that I have low progesterone and wants me to do natural progesterone cream daily. Is there a way to raise my progesterone level without using the cream? I am willing to try anything if I don’t have to use the cream. I have some concerns about the cream.
I really have yet to find solid recommendations for how to do that. Vitamin E has been rumored to be helpful?
Is there a dietary or supplemental way to aid the increase of progesterone without hormones? I have Factor V Leiden so hormone aren’t an option
there’s been some indirect evidence talking about vitamin E and progesterone, but not much else. Being sure to get plenty of fat and carbs in the diet is also key
Maybe you can help me shed some light on this. Unlike everyone else here, I am actually looking to decrease progesterone. My progesterone levels according to a recent salivary hormone test are 5 times higher than the highest normal. And I have not been supplementing. I am, however, under near constant stress. And my cortisol levels are high, too, though not as high as the progesterone. All other hormone levels show up as normal. I also have a history of candida and have been suffering from biliary dyskinesia. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi! Unfortunately I am not an expert in Candida nor in biliary dyskinesia. I do know however that high progesterone levels are associated with ovarian cysts. Have you spoken with a doctor about this, and maybe considered some more testing?
Hi stefani!
I love this info and the podcast! My estrogen levels are normal and progesterone tested at 2 during luteal phase so my doctor put me on a low dose of bioidentical progesterone, and it’s really helped with PMS and libido and I’ve even started losing a little weight BUT I started having panic attacks and super high anxiety, which is not at all normal for me. I have Hashimotos but have normal thyroid levels and eat AIP. Any thoughts or suggestions would be super appreciated!!!
Hey did we just answer a question of yours on the podcast? Sounds familiar! If not, check out episodes 108-110 (forthcoming) because we talk about this stuff a lot 🙂
Please help My daughter !
Age 19
Female
-Extreme Low progesterone
-Very high Androstenedione
-(DHT most potent androgen)
-high Cortisol levels
Extreme hair loss
Regular periods
Anxiety
Fatigue
Brain fog at times
B Gill
I was mistaken:
Actually cortisol levels are struggling to maintain balance during day and drop off to nothing at night