Estrogen, Estrogen, Estrogen. Everyone loves to talk about estrogen. Well, today we are not talking about Estrogen for once. We talk about all things progesterone, including progesterone dominance, what happens when your levels are too low, and what to look out for. So let’s dive in.
Why have I never heard of progesterone dominance?
In general, there is no widely recommended medical treatment for high Progesterone levels. This is because progesterone dominance – as far as we know – does not cause health problems. That may be why you haven’t heard of it before.
It may, however, indicate other health problems. So your doctor may order additional tests to get to the root of the problem.
Why should I care about progesterone?
We know that learning about hormones can be overwhelming. There are just so many! But progesterone is a big deal, especially for women. So you really need to know about it.
In short, progesterone levels affect:
- Breast tissue development in adolescence
- Regulation of menstrual cycles
- Pregnancy maintenance
- Lactation
- Your metabolism
- Your moods
Like we said, progesterone is a big deal!
Understanding progesterone is about more than impressing people with your knowledge — although we highly encourage you to spread the word. It’s about understanding how your body works and why it does what it does. If that’s not empowerment, we don’t know what is.
So what is progesterone?
Progesterone is a natural sex hormone in both men and women. Small amounts are produced in the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys. In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, progesterone is also produced by the placenta. But in general, most of your Progesterone is produced in your gonads.
And for women, that means your ovaries, or more specifically, your eggs. Now, this might sound a bit strange, so allow us to explain. The eggs themselves do not produce progesterone, but the small sac that once housed them does. Here’s how it breaks down:
During the first half of your cycle, many eggs develop quietly in their little sacs, spurred on by the ever-increasing levels of Estrogen your ovaries produce. And they do this to ensure that an egg gets the right size, just before ovulation. At this point, that egg pops free. But the sack’s work isn’t done yet.
Having grown its egg, the remaining sac, now officially called the Corpus luteum, begins to produce progesterone. And it does so for some very good – well, important – reasons…
Progesterone, period and pregnancy
In menstruating and pregnant women, progesterone is incredibly important. Each month, progesterone prepares your uterus for a possible pregnancy. It tells your body to thicken the lining of your uterus to make it a more nutritious environment if a fertilized egg falls.
But if conception does not occur, progesterone levels then drop. In fact, many of your premenstrual symptoms are caused by this sudden change. And after a few days, the uterus starts to shed its lining and you get your period.
Progesterone is so vital in pregnancy that it is often called the pregnancy hormone. When a fertilized egg is present, progesterone levels rise. This helps prevent your period and maintain pregnancy. After the first two to three months, the placenta takes over, creating most of the progesterone needed to support the pregnancy.
All of this means that low Progesterone levels can be problematic in many ways for menstruators. Some of the symptoms of low progesterone include:
- Difficulty conceiving and maintaining pregnancy
- Mood swings
- Anxiety and depression
- Headaches
- Inflation
- Difficulty sleeping
But is there such a thing as too much progesterone?
Progesterone dominance
In a word, yes. And while we call it progesterone dominance, what it really means is that your body has higher levels of Progesterone than it should. Although, it’s not that simple. Progesterone levels vary widely depending on where you are in your cycle, whether you are pregnant or not, and even your age.
For example, during the follicular phase—the first part of your cycle— levels are usually less than 0.7 micrograms per milliliter (μg/mL) for the chemists out there. During the luteal phase, when levels peak, it can be 5.3 – 59 µg/mL. Yes, that’s a peak level of 59µg.
In pre-pubescent girls, progesterone levels are very low. And in women who are going through menopause or who may be postmenopausal, levels can be all over the place. So you really need to know your body and monitor your cycle diligently.
Progesterone dominance is rare. Or at least, it’s not very well documented. This is because the symptoms of elevated progesterone are very similar to premenstrual and pregnancy symptoms. Common symptoms of progesterone dominance include:
- Breast swelling and tenderness
- Mood swings
- Depression and anxiety
- Fatigue
- Inflation
- Low libido
- Weight gain
See what we mean? Doesn’t she just sound pregnant? Or to someone about to have their period?
So, how can you tell the difference?
How do you know you are progesterone dominant?
Progesterone dominance can be arrested through a simple blood test, but a discussion of your symptoms is more likely to suffice. However, a single high progesterone result is not enough to say for sure that your levels are chronically high. Remember, progesterone levels fluctuate throughout the day, the month, and—especially—as you age.
And that’s why daily monitoring can be so important when it comes to eliminating those recurring symptoms that may be trying to tell you something. Yes, it’s time for a shameless plug, but that’s the situation the Hormona app was invented for. You can monitor, track and see any progress or change in your cycle or symptoms, get daily information and advice about your hormones and even tailor your diet to the specific stage of your cycle. It is amazing and you will love it!
If you suspect your progesterone levels may be off, monitoring is just the first step. Once you can see the patterns and problems, it’s time to see your doctor. But since progesterone dominance is rare, you may need to be open to looking at your health—and your hormonal health—overall.
What problems does progesterone dominance cause?
Unlike Estrogen Dominance, Progesterone Dominance itself does not appear to cause major health problems… That we know. It’s more of a squeaky wheel, saying there may be a problem elsewhere in your body.
Progesterone dominance can be caused by ovarian cysts or an adrenal gland disorder. Sometimes, it can indicate molecular pregnancy or ovarian cancer. Let’s tackle each of them.
Ovarian cysts
An ovarian cyst is a sac of fluid that forms on or inside an ovary. They can produce hormones, including Progesterone, and lead to hormonal imbalance. Ovarian cysts can come in all different sizes and are actually quite common. Most of the time, they go away on their own without treatment and without any symptoms. But sometimes, they can grow quite large and can break or twist. In this case, you may experience:
- A sharp pain or dull ache in your pelvis that may come and go and may be worse with movement
- Bloating or heaviness in your abdomen.
If this happens, you should seek medical help, particularly if you have a fever, are vomiting or have difficulty breathing.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or CAH, is a rare disease that affects the adrenal glands. It can cause the adrenal glands to under- or over-produce hormones, including progesterone. In severe cases, abnormal levels of Progesterone may appear as ambiguous genitalia at birth. In milder cases, CAH can cause irregular menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding during your period, or fertility problems. Many babies are screened for CAH, but if you experience any of these symptoms, let your doctor know. They can help monitor and track your symptoms and may order additional tests.
Molecular Pregnancy
No, this has nothing to do with your teeth.
Essentially, a mole pregnancy means that there are cells growing in the placenta that shouldn’t. This can cause the placenta to become enlarged. Again, this is quite rare but, unfortunately, usually results in miscarriage. In addition to high progesterone levels, other symptoms include:
- Passage of tissue or cysts through the vagina
- Brown watery discharge
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pelvic pain
As always, gang, if you see any of the above, see a doctor ASAP.
How can I balance my progesterone levels?
If you suspect your progesterone levels are low, see your doctor. They will likely recommend some type of hormone therapy. This could include oral pills, injections, or vaginal suppositories in the form of a cream or gel.
Anyone who has ever considered hormone balancing knows that a holistic approach is usually more effective than a narrow one. And a well-balanced diet is always part of a holistic approach to hormone health. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy sources of fats.
Technically, foods do not contain progesterone. However, some anecdotal evidence suggests that certain vitamins and minerals may stimulate your body to produce more Progesterone. These vitamins and minerals include:
- Zinc: Found in oysters, crab, lobster, pork, beef, chickpeas, tofu, oats, nuts and seeds
- Magnesium: Found in whole grains, dark chocolate, tofu, nuts, avocados
- Vitamin B: Found in broccoli, leafy greens, chickpeas, beans
- Vitamin C: Found in apples, citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers
Progesterone Dominance: Now What?
There is no doubt that progesterone is a vital part of women’s health. But when you understand how it works and know what to look out for, you can better control your health. And that means you can support yourself and take better care of your body so it can take better care of you.
