Low progesterone levels in women can bring about a plethora of symptoms, but what causes this dip in the female sex hormone?
We’re going to take you through what you need to know about what causes low progesterone in women and how you can check your progesterone levels from home.
What Causes Low Progesterone?
Progesterone is a key player in women’s menstrual cycles, fertility, and emotional wellbeing. That said, a small change in your progesterone levels can understandably trigger significant responses in your body so it’s important to know the possible reasons behind it.
Here are four of the primary causes of low progesterone:
Age
As we get older, it’s normal for the volume of certain hormones in our blood to decline. When women reach their 30’s, their ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone - making age one of the primary causes of low progesterone in women [1].
Stress
Chronic stress refers to an extended period of time where the mind or body is overwhelmed. When you experience chronic stress, your body works hard to cope with it and as a result, the production of cortisol - a stress hormone, increases. As progesterone is the precursor to cortisol when cortisol levels increase, progesterone levels decrease [2].
Ovary/Ovulation issues
If you’re experiencing issues with ovulation or have a condition that affects the function of your ovaries such as polycystic ovary syndrome, you’re more likely to experience low progesterone. Low progesterone may also interchangeably lead to issues with ovulation which is why a progesterone test is often used to measure ovulation function.
Menopause
As menopause begins, it’s common for a number of hormones to be thrown off balance, including progesterone. This drop in hormones can often translate into physical symptoms which include mood changes, breast tenderness, weight gain, insomnia and thyroid issues [3].
Should I Check My Progesterone Levels?
A progesterone test may be recommended to you during pregnancy in order to monitor the growth of the placenta, during menopause to explain certain symptoms or as part of an overall health screen.
Can I check progesterone at home?
With LetsGetChecked, you can test your progesterone levels from home with a simple blood test.
Our at-home Progesterone test monitors progesterone levels on Day 21 of your menstrual cycle. By examining progesterone in the blood, the test can decipher whether you’re ovulating normally.
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