The Predominant hormone in the last 2 weeks BEFORE our period. An entire menstrual cycle is around 30 days. The first 2 weeks- dominated by estrogen, check previous post.
Where is it made? Adrenal glands, ovaries and placenta
Its role? To balance the effects of estrogen. Estrogen thickens your uterus, while progesterone thins it . Estrogen boosts thyroid, progesterone reduces it. Estrogen- go hormone, Progesterone- slow hormone (calming) Nourish the uterus- prep it for pregnancy
Low progesterone symptoms: Low mood- anxiety, depression, irritable (not enough progesterone = reduced calming effect) Irregular periods- short cycle, mid-cycle bleeding Heavy bleeding Low libido Migraines & sleep disturbance PCOS
High progesterone symptoms: There are no known consequences of having high progesterone, until you suffer from congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Main causes of LOW progesterone:
1. Stress!! Our stress hormone is called cortisol. Cortisol actually shuts down the production of progesterone, because when stressed your body’s priority isnt to make a baby or regulate your period, its to deal with the stress at hand.
2. Low fats- the precursor molecule to making progesterone is cholesterol aka fat!
3. Hypothyroidism, PCOS, Estrogen Dominance 4. Age
So much can be done from a diet, lifestyle and supplementation stand point to boost low progesterone levels. Talk to your Holistic practitioner.
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