Progesterone is a hormone in your body that helps regulate multiple systems in your body, ie. reproductive system, skin, cardiovascular system, central nervous system, skeletal system, and other glands in the body. Progesterone is a precursor to estrogen, androgens and adrenal hormones.
There are multiple factors that play into progesterone imbalance.
Age: Normal age-related decline of progesterone is the most common factor of imbalance.
Stress: Due to imbalance of DHEA and cortisol with increased stress this can lead to deficient progesterone levels.
Weight Gain: Can affect hormone levels which in turn affect metabolism.
Ovarian dysfunction: May happen if ovaries don’t produce enough or too much progesterone.
Various: such as inflammation, infections, toxins, allergies, digestive problems, mitochondrial dysfunction or genetics.
Symptoms of progesterone deficiency:
- Weight gain
- Headaches
- Low body temperature
- Hair loss
- Fluid retention
- Bone loss
- Acne
- Facial hair
- Sleep disturbances
- Irregular cycles
- Foggy thinking
- Mood swings
- anxiety/depression
- Heart palpitations
- Fluid retention
- Breast pain/cysts