What is Progesterone?
Progesterone is a hormone that plays an important role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. It is produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary after ovulation, and by the placenta during pregnancy.
Some key facts about progesterone:
- It is a steroid hormone, meaning it is derived from cholesterol. Other steroid hormones include estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol.
- Along with estrogen, progesterone is one of the main female sex hormones.
- It helps prepare the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg. If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone levels drop, leading to menstruation.
- During pregnancy, progesterone helps maintain the placenta and prevent contractions of the uterus until the end of the pregnancy term. This is why some women at risk for preterm labor are given progesterone supplements.
- Progesterone levels rise after ovulation, peak during the luteal phase (the second half) of the menstrual cycle, and then drop sharply if pregnancy does not occur. This triggers menstruation.
- Abnormally high or low levels of progesterone can lead to problems with infertility, PCOS, and other issues.
- Progesterone-only birth control methods like the mini-pill, Depo-Provera, and hormonal IUDs work by thinning the endometrium, thickening cervical mucus, and suppressing ovulation.
- Progesterone plays a role in breast development and bone health. Declining progesterone after menopause is linked to risks of osteoporosis and bone loss.
- Natural progesterone levels decline with age. Some women take bioidentical progesterone supplements to help maintain hormone balance, sleep, mood, and bone health during perimenopause and menopause.
If you have concerns about your progesterone levels, the medical providers at Balance Wellness Clinic can assess your hormone status with laboratory testing and help determine if hormone supplementation could benefit your health. Our clinicians specialize in natural hormone replacement therapy using bioidentical hormones like progesterone to restore optimal hormonal balance.
Progesterone works closely with estrogen during the reproductive years. The balance between these two hormones is delicately orchestrated by the endocrine system. When progesterone is too high or low, women may experience issues like irregular periods, infertility, and other hormone-related problems.
What causes high progesterone?
Some potential causes of elevated progesterone levels include:
- Pregnancy - progesterone levels steadily rise during gestation
- Luteal phase of menstrual cycle - progesterone peaks after ovulation
- Hormone replacement therapy - some HRT regimens contain progesterone
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - may cause excess progesterone production
- Ovarian or adrenal tumors - can sometimes secrete excess progesterone
What causes low progesterone?
Some potential reasons for low progesterone levels:
- Menopause - progesterone drops as women age and ovaries produce less
- Premature ovarian failure - ovaries stop functioning properly before age 40
- Problems with ovulation - no corpus luteum formed to produce progesterone
- Problems with corpus luteum - inadequate progesterone secretion
- Removal of ovaries - surgical oophorectomy causes sharp progesterone decline