
What causes low progesterone?
When discussing hormones in women, the most important factor is the ratio of estrogen and progesterone that keeps each other balanced. In some cases - a deficiency in progesterone causes estrogen levels to be in excess leading to estrogen dominance symptoms.
Common signs of low progesterone:
Irregular menstruation
Depression, anxiety, mood swings
Low libido
Infertility
Foggy brain
Slow metabolism, weight gain around the midline
Sugar cravings
Migraines, headaches
Joint pain
Allergy
The main causes of low progesterone include:
Stress
Excess in working out
Environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens)
Aging
Menopause
Diet
Weight gain
When our bodies are under extreme stress, we overproduce cortisol (a stress hormone) and that decreases progesterone, as progesterone is used to help make the cortisol required for the continual stress response.
If you want to find out whether your hormone imbalance is due to progesterone deficiency. Schedule an appointment with our acupuncturist and functional medicine experts at Meta Health to discuss your health, as well as using diagnostic hormone panels so we can address the root cause of your hormone imbalance with acupuncture, herbs, dietary and lifestyle recommendations.