Progesterone Imbalance Symptoms

Progesterone is a key sex hormone that helps balance the effects of estrogen and testosterone and plays a vital role in healthy pregnancies in women. When progesterone levels become too low or high, you may show signs of estrogen dominance or estrogen deficiency along with testosterone deficiency. Read on to learn more about the symptoms of progesterone imbalance and the options you have to treat your symptoms.

Balanced levels of progesterone play an important role in the production of neurotransmitters, especially GABA, which helps decrease neuronal activity. Low levels of progesterone can cause irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. 

In perimenopausal and menopausal women, low levels of progesterone can cause estrogen to go unchecked. Estrogen plays an important role in many bodily functions such as temperature regulation. If estrogen levels become too high, then our bodies become overly reactive to temperature changes and create a hot flash to help cool us down.

Progesterone supports healthy thyroid functioning, which regulates our metabolism. If progesterone is too low, then the thyroid will not produce sufficient levels of hormones that stimulate metabolism, which can lead to weight gain.

Endometriosis is a condition in which cells like the ones found inside the uterus grow outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes, ovaries or intestines. It can result in abdominal pain and irregular menstrual cycles. Low progesterone is associated with endometriosis as there is not enough progesterone to balance estrogen, which can worsen uterine cell growth. Hormone therapy has been found to be effective in treating endometriosis. 

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths within the uterus. Symptoms may include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, and pelvic pain or they can be asymptomatic. The cause of fibroids is not fully understood, however low progesterone and resulting high estrogen have been found in many women who experience fibroids. Taking progesterone hormone therapy has been found to reduce the growth of fibroids. 

Progesterone is produced by a gland in the ovaries in women. It is responsible for healthy sexual functioning and when levels become too low, women may experience irregular menstrual cycles. They may be shorter than an average period, longer than average or unpredictable.

Progesterone is the hormone that is responsible for helping women carry healthy pregnancies by thickening the endometrial lining of the uterus. If progesterone levels are too low, then women may experience infertility in the form of not being able to get or stay pregnant. There are many root causes of infertility, but if you are having trouble conceiving talk to your doctor about testing your progesterone levels. 

Progesterone stimulates bone-building cells called osteoblasts. If levels become too low, then men become at risk for osteoporosis. Low progesterone can result in testosterone deficiency as it is a precursor to testosterone production. Testosterone helps maintain muscle mass and can lead to muscle atrophy if levels become too low. 

Too much progesterone can lead to increased levels of estrogen as they attempt to balance one another. This can lead to fatigue and depression. Low progesterone can also lead to depression and fatigue as it is responsible for balancing neurotransmitters that regulate mood.

Progesterone in men is produced in the testes and the adrenal glands and it assists in many bodily functions, including the production of testosterone. Progesterone also helps balance the effects of estrogen in men, just as it does in women. When a man experiences estrogen dominance or testosterone deficiency, one of the major side effects is sexual dysfunction that may present itself in the form of low libido and/or erectile dysfunction.

Progesterone is a natural inhibitor of an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase, or DHT) that causes male pattern hair loss. This sex hormone contributes to the synthesis of testosterone, which at low or high levels can contribute to hair loss in men as well.

Too little progesterone in the body can lead to a dysregulated thyroid, which is responsible for maintaining your metabolism. This can lead to a slowdown in energy used and result in weight gain.

Too much progesterone can lead to increased levels of estrogen as they attempt to balance one another. This can lead to fatigue and depression. Low progesterone can also lead to depression and fatigue as it is responsible for balancing neurotransmitters that regulate mood.

If progesterone levels are too low, then estrogen dominance may occur. Too much estrogen in men can lead to increased breast tissue, or a condition called gynecomastia.

Progesterone stimulates bone-building cells called osteoblasts. If levels become too low, then men become at risk for osteoporosis. Low progesterone can result in testosterone deficiency as it is a precursor to testosterone production. Testosterone helps maintain muscle mass and can lead to muscle atrophy if levels become too low.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of low progesterone, estrogen dominance, or low testosterone that are affecting the quality of your life, then bioidentical hormone therapy may be a good choice for you.

To find out which hormones may be the culprit of your symptoms, we encourage you to take a hormone test to measure your levels. Cornerstone Pharmacy and Compounding offers two types of tests, a saliva, and a dried urine test kit, that can be completed at home and sent to a lab.

When your results come in, our specialized pharmacists will meet with you during a consultation to discuss your results and make a plan to obtain a hormone therapy script from a licensed

provider in our local community. Using this triad of care, we will work together with you to form a personalized plan and monitor your progress over time.

We encourage you to take the first step to balanced hormones! Relief from your adverse symptoms is within reach and we’re excited to partner with you to reach your health goals. Learn more about Hormone Therapy at Cornerstone Pharmacy and Compounding below!