Low progesterone levels may cause abnormal uterine bleeding, headaches, or mood changes. Treatments typically include progesterone supplementation or hormone therapy.
Progesterone is a female sex hormone. It’s produced mainly in the ovaries following ovulation each month. It’s a crucial part of the menstrual cycle and maintenance of pregnancy.
Progesterone helps regulate your menstrual cycle, but its main job is to get the uterus ready for pregnancy.
After you ovulate each month, progesterone helps thicken the lining of the uterus to prepare for a fertilized egg. If there is no fertilized egg, progesterone levels drop and menstruation begins. If a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall, progesterone helps maintain the uterine lining throughout pregnancy.
Males also produce a small amount of progesterone to help with sperm development.
Progesterone is important during the childbearing years. If you don’t have enough progesterone, you may have trouble getting or staying pregnant.
Symptoms of low progesterone in people who aren’t pregnant include:
- headaches or migraine
- mood changes, including anxiety or depression
- an irregular menstrual cycle
- abnormal uterine bleeding
If you get pregnant, you still need progesterone to maintain your uterus until your baby is born. Your body will produce this increase in progesterone, which causes some of the symptoms of pregnancy, including breast tenderness and nausea.
If your progesterone levels are too low, your uterus may not be able to carry the baby to term. This may lead to:
There are several reasons why you may experience low progesterone levels, including:
- having a health condition, such as hypothyroidism or PCOS
- going through menopause
- side effects of certain medications, such as antiprogestins
- obesity
- chronic stress
If you think you may have low progesterone, consider speaking with a doctor. They can determine whether your symptoms suggest low progesterone and put together a treatment plan to help.
A progesterone test (PGSN) can help healthcare professionals determine whether your progesterone levels are too low. This is a simple blood test that requires no preparation.
The blood test can also:
- check to see if you have ovulated
- monitor hormone replacement therapy
- check your health if your pregnancy is considered high risk
Men, children, and postmenopausal women all have lower progesterone levels than women in their childbearing years.
What’s considered a healthy progesterone level depends on a person’s age and sex.
For women, whether you’re pregnant and where you are in your menstrual cycle are other factors that affect progesterone levels. These levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, peaking and then decreasing if pregnancy does not occur. Levels can vary during a single day.
You may not have any symptoms of low progesterone, and you may not need treatment. But if you’re trying to have a baby, hormone therapy could be useful.
Hormone therapy increases progesterone levels and may help thicken your uterine lining. This may improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and carrying to term.
Menstrual irregularities and abnormal bleeding can improve with hormone therapy. For severe symptoms of menopause, hormone therapy usually involves a combination of estrogen and progesterone.
Women who take estrogen without progesterone have an
Treatment options for progesterone supplementation include:
- creams and gels, which can be used topically or vaginally
- vaginal suppositories, which are commonly used to treat low progesterone that causes fertility problems
- oral medications, like Provera
Hormone therapy (either estrogen-only or a combination of estrogen and progesterone) may help ease symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
A doctor may advise against hormone therapy if you have a history of:
- breast cancer
- endometrial cancer
- liver disease
- blood clots
- stroke
Progesterone supplementation is generally not used in people experiencing menopausal symptoms. This is because these symptoms are mostly caused by low estrogen levels.
Hormone replacement does carry some risks, so it’s important to discuss them with a doctor.
There are prescription medications that are formulated to look the same to your body as your naturally occurring hormones. These are sometimes called “bioidentical hormones.” While these may sound more favorable, they have the same risks as other prescription formulations.
Does low progesterone make you tired?
Low progesterone levels can cause you to feel tired and have low energy.
What is the best treatment for low progesterone?
The best treatment for low progesterone can depend on your individual symptoms. Some of the most common treatment options include progesterone supplementation in the form of creams and gels.
What happens if your progesterone is low?
If your progesterone is low, you may be more likely to experience an irregular menstrual cycle, headaches, and mood changes. In some people, it can also affect fertility.
Low progesterone can cause different problems for males and females. However, there are treatments available that can help resolve low progesterone. Hormone therapy may be a long-term solution for some, particularly those who are postmenopausal.
Consider talking with a doctor about which treatment would be best. It may take a few weeks to see results from hormone therapy. You can also work with a doctor to reevaluate your treatment plan each year.