We’ve all been there: the monthly cycle that begins and ends with our period & Ovulation is generally somewhere right in the middle. The wash of hormones that crests and falls, wreaking havoc for some and is smooth sailing for others. A woman’s cycle is complicated, individual and unique – as are the hormones that drive it all!
As Dr. Stacy Sims, MD says: “Women are not small men” and the research is just now beginning to understand this. For everything from nutrition to exercise and the precautions we should take to age well, hormones play a starring role in it all! So, today, we are going to break down one of the major hormones in a woman’s cycle – and what it can mean for you.
Progesterone
Roughly speaking, there are three major phases of your menstrual cycle:
1) the follicular (or proliferative) phase- which occurs from the first day of your period to approximately day 14. You are generally bleeding or spotting from day 1 to day 7, and everyone has their own pattern. Some people seperate out the bleeding phase but it is technically included in the follicular phase!
2) Ovulation- the specific day is different for everyone! But this is where you actually release a egg from one of your ovaries. Somewhere between day 12 to day 17 generally.
3) The luteal phase- occurs from day 14 to day 28 (or some variation). This starts after ovulation and ends the day before the first day of the next period bleed.
Progesterone is an endogenous – meaning originating internally inside the body – steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and gonads (ovaries and testes). Progesterone is stimulated by a surge in luteinizing hormone (abbreviated LH and triggers ovulation) which should the cause a surge of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH). After LH and FSH surge, the luteal phase begins and progesterone prepares the lining of the woman’s uterus (endometrium) to receive and nourish a fertilized egg. This is called implantation.
If fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum keeps producing progesterone during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy for maintenance of uterine health & avoiding uterine contractions which could cause a miscarriage. Once the placenta forms, it takes over the production of progesterone, which should rise with every trimester of pregnancy. Progesterone keeps you from ovulating while pregnant and prevents uterine contractions from occurring too early, which helps avoid preterm labor. Progesterone helps prepare your body for breastfeeding, and also plays an important role in mood regulation and thyroid support.
Low Progesterone
But what if you have low progesterone? There are multiple reasons why this may occur – and a healthcare provider can help determine and diagnose the cause. Women with a history of anovulation, PCOS, chronic stress, hypothyroidism, low cholesterol, and over-exercising/extreme dieting may be more at risk for lower progesterone. Another common reason is that there is too much estrogen in your body – as progesterone and estrogen need to balance each other out during a functional menstrual cycle. If you are not pregnant, symptoms of lower progesterone include:
Weight gain
Depression, anxiety and mood swings
Heavy menstruation and/or irregular periods and decreased libido
Hot flashes
Difficulty sleeping
If you have low levels during conception & pregnancy, your risk of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or preterm labor rises. Depending on multiple factors, your progesterone levels may be assessed with a blood test. This can depend on your menstrual cycle, whether or not you are pregnant, or if you are in perimenopause or menopause. If you have low progesterone, your healthcare provider may recommend cream or gel suppositories, medication, or injections. It depends on what your symptoms and goals for care are.
Overall, progesterone is an important hormone that affects a woman throughout her life. It helps regulate the second phase of ovulation and is an important hormone for uterine health during pregnancy. Having low progesterone can affect other areas of the body, is important for more than just pregnancy, and symptoms may vary from person to person.
Having an imbalance of progesterone is not normal and may need to be addressed with your healthcare provider in order to help get you to feeling better. No matter the stage of life you are in, you deserve to be happy, healthy and whole. And, as women, hormones play a large role in that goal!
Comment below or send us a message if you have any other questions!
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Recharged Performance Therapy - Pelvic Health PT
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24613-low-progesterone
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24562-progesterone
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8538505/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558960/