Progesterone Deficiency

Natural progesterone for fertility, pregnancy, and menopause symptom relief

Progesterone deficiency is a term most commonly used when progesterone levels in a menopausal woman are too low which causes hormone imbalances and physical symptoms of menopause.

Menopause and the decrease in progesterone

For most women, menopause usually begins in the late 40's. This is about the time the ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone.

Periods become irregular as the production of these hormones decline.

Ovulation becomes less likely, although periods can and still do take place because of high FSH and LH levels in the bloodstream.

One of the basic screening tests for menopause measures the level of FSH in the blood. FSH stands for follicle stimulating hormone.

FSH levels above 10 to 12 mlu/ml indicate that your ovaries are starting to fail and this likely means that you are in peri menopause.

This is the beginning stages of menopause when you start to notice physical symptoms, but before you have stopped having a period for a year.

Higher FSH levels of about 30 to 40 or above usually indicate menopause. You may even be getting periods with your FSH levels this high, but it still is a sign that your body isn't producing enough estrogen to maintain regular ovarian function.

Natural progesterone and pregnancy

If you're trying to get pregnant, the right amount of natural progesterone is crucial.

Natural progesterone prepares the uterine wall for implantation of the fertilized egg. The egg will be expelled without adequate progesterone.

Natural progesterone can also be used to treat fertility when there appears to be dysfunction of the ovaries.

Usually in conjunction with estrogen, progesterone is needed during pregnancy in the following ways...

Stopping the uterus from contracting and thus keeping the baby where it is

Strengthening the mucus plug covering the cervix to prevent infection

Stopping the uterus from making spontaneous movements

Maintaining the function of the placenta and fighting off unwanted cells near the womb that could cause damage to the placenta or fetus

Stimulating growth of breast tissue

Keeping the endometrium in a thickened condition

Making the endometrium develop and secreting fluids after being primed by estrogen

Along with estrogen, preventing lactation until after birth

Strengthening the pelvic walls in preparation for labor

Common symptoms for deficiency

The following are symptoms of progesterone deficiency...

Water retention

Puffiness/bloating

Carbohydrate cravings

Menstrual cramps

Breast tenderness

Early miscarriage

Infertility/not ovulating

Ovarian cysts

Lower body temperature

Irregular periods

Taking progesterone with estrogen

Along with correcting progesterone deficiency, the hormone progesterone is important for nervous system maintenance and helping balance estrogen levels.

Taking progesterone with estrogen reduces estrogen dominance. Progesterone also reduces the chances of estrogen-related endometrial cancer and other cancers caused by estrogen.

Progesterone is also fundamentally important because it's used as a building block molecule for many other steroid hormones in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Progesterone converts into testosterone, cortisol, and even some estrogen.

How you can get natural progesterone

Finding someone to prescribe natural progesterone is becoming easier because health-care professionals are becoming more aware of the importance of bioidentical hormones.

Hormones such as progesterone and DHEA are available in over-the-counter formulations, but they are best obtained by prescription.

Another factor that affects your ability to obtain bioidentical hormones is the availability of a compounding pharmacy in your area.

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