Progesterone and six substances that stimulate it

What is progesterone?

Progesterone is a female sex hormone that belongs to a group of steroid hormones called progestogens. Progesterone is mainly secreted by the corpus luteum in the ovary during the second half of the menstrual cycle. It plays an important role in the menstrual cycle and in supporting the early stages of pregnancy.

During the menstrual cycle, when an egg is released from the ovary during ovulation (around day 14), the remnants of the ovarian follicle envelop the developing egg in a structure called the "corpus luteum," which literally translates as "corpus luteum" because of its appearance. It releases progesterone and, to a lesser extent, estradiol. Progesterone prepares the body for pregnancy, in case the released egg is fertilized. If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum breaks down, progesterone production decreases and a new menstrual cycle begins.

If the egg is fertilized, progesterone stimulates the growth of blood vessels that supply the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and stimulates the endometrial glands to secrete nutrients that nourish the early embryo. Progesterone prepares the lining of the uterus for the fertilized egg to implant and helps maintain the endometrium throughout pregnancy.

In early pregnancy, progesterone is still produced by the corpus luteum and is very important for the maintenance of the pregnancy and the establishment of the placenta. When the placenta is established, it takes over the production of progesterone at about 8-12 weeks of pregnancy, i.e. the "luteo-placental transition". During pregnancy, progesterone plays an important role in the development of the fetus (it stimulates the growth of the mother's breast tissue, prevents lactation and strengthens the pelvic wall muscles in preparation for childbirth). Progesterone levels in the body increase continuously throughout pregnancy until labor occurs and the baby is born.

Although the main place of progesterone production is the corpus luteum in the ovaries, smaller amounts of progesterone are also produced by the ovaries themselves, the adrenal glands, and during pregnancy, the placenta.

What happens if there is too little progesterone?

If there is no or too little progesterone, irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding may occur. A decrease in progesterone during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage and premature birth. Mothers at risk of premature labor may be given a synthetic form of progesterone to delay the onset of labor.

A lack of progesterone in the blood can mean that the ovary has failed to release eggs during ovulation, as can happen in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Symptoms of low progesterone. Low progesterone levels can have a variety of effects, including:

Fertility problems

Progesterone plays a very important role in a woman's cycle, ensuring that the lining of the uterus remains intact for the 14 days of the cycle. In this way, the fertilized egg can become embedded in the uterine wall and the pregnancy can progress. If a woman becomes pregnant, the amount of progesterone increases and supports the lining of the uterus, but if pregnancy does not occur, its amount decreases, so this lining is shed and menstruation begins. However, if your progesterone levels are very low, you may have problems conceiving, irregular and very heavy periods, and more severe PMS symptoms.

Estrogen dominance

Estrogen dominance is one of the main causes of low progesterone levels.

The relationship between progesterone and estrogen is symbiotic, where one is needed to help control the other. Too much estrogen and too little progesterone means the balance gets out of control and symptoms like ovarian fibroids, cellulite, weight gain, painful periods, mood swings and bloating can occur.

Thyroid problems

Low progesterone levels affect estrogen levels, which in turn can affect thyroid levels.

Anxiety, depression and low mood

Progesterone has a huge effect on your mood and acts as an anti-depressant. Therefore, when it is lacking, problems with low mood, anxiety and depression can occur, and insomnia can also develop.

Weight gain

Low progesterone can cause your body to stop burning fat stores for energy and allow glucose to enter your bloodstream. This can lead to the breakdown of muscle tissue and the appearance of cellulite.

Fluid retention

As a natural diuretic, progesterone prevents your cells from retaining water, but the reverse is also true. If your progesterone levels are low, fluid retention can increase, which can cause symptoms like swollen fingers and sore breasts.

Sagging or loose skin

Progesterone stimulates the production of collagen, which is very important for skin health.

Hot flashes and night sweats

These are two of the most common symptoms of perimenopause, and recent research suggests that progesterone may be one of the most effective ways to treat them.

Six Progesterone-Boosting Nutrients That Increase Progesterone Levels.

Fibers

As we mentioned, estrogen and progesterone interact, and fiber can help lower estrogen levels, which in turn can help progesterone work more effectively. Your body absorbs estrogen from certain foods, so the longer these foods travel through your digestive system, the more estrogen is absorbed. Fiber helps improve bowel movements and ensures that estrogen takes less time to be absorbed into your body.

Zinc

Zinc affects many different areas of the body that are critical to progesterone production, including the ovaries and pituitary gland. Zinc increases the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn triggers ovulation and stimulates the production of progesterone.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 has been shown to help improve progesterone levels, which is why it is one of the vitamins that is often taken by women trying to conceive. Studies have shown that women with higher levels of vitamin B6 in their blood have a 50% reduction in miscarriages.

Magnesium

Magnesium plays a very important role in hormone regulation and is therefore one of the nutrients that increase progesterone levels. This is because it helps regulate the pituitary gland, which produces FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which lead to estrogen production and also help increase progesterone levels.

Vitamin C

Studies have shown that women taking vitamin C significantly increase their progesterone levels, in fact women taking 750mg of vitamin C per day increased it by 77%.

L-Arginine

If you haven't heard of L-arginine, you're probably not alone, but it can be very helpful for increasing progesterone. This amino acid is found in foods high in protein and is important in the production of nitric acid, which helps with blood circulation. The increased blood flow ensures that your corpus luteum (which produces progesterone after ovulation) and ovaries can function effectively.

What happens if there is too much progesterone?

There are no known serious medical consequences of having too much progesterone in the body. Progesterone levels naturally increase during pregnancy, as mentioned earlier. High levels of progesterone are associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. However, high progesterone levels are a consequence of this condition, not a cause.

Taking high levels of progesterone medication may be associated with a non-significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Progesterone, alone or in combination with estrogen, is taken by women as an oral contraceptive ("the pill"). The pills work by preventing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus, thus effectively preventing pregnancy.

Progesterone is used in hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms of menopause in women. Hormone replacement therapy has many recognized advantages and disadvantages.