Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is produced naturally from the cholesterol in the food you eat. Normal progesterone levels help maintain a healthy hormonal balance. Progesterone plays a key role in the production of other important chemicals the body needs, such as cortisol and male hormones such as testosterone. Lower than normal progesterone levels contribute to menstrual cycle problems, maintaining pregnancy, and the common symptoms associated with menopause. Low progesterone levels can be effectively treated using doctor-prescribed products and lifestyle changes.
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Part 1 of 4: Using Progesterone to Support Pregnancy
Step 1. Talk about how to increase progesterone with a gynecologist
Women who have had recurrent or unexplained miscarriages usually respond to treatment with progesterone, and can maintain their next pregnancy.
- Prevent miscarriage in early pregnancy. Progesterone deficiency is not a cause of miscarriage, but scientific research indicates that adequate amounts of progesterone are needed to support the early stages of pregnancy.
- Progesterone levels naturally increase during the menstrual cycle and once ovulation occurs. Progesterone makes the uterine wall thicken to provide support during pregnancy. This is called the luteal phase.
- Once the released egg has been fertilized, the uterine lining provides protection for the developing egg. After the first few weeks, this role is taken over by the placenta, to produce the additional hormones and nutrients needed.
- Some women have naturally low progesterone levels. Studies show that low levels of progesterone during the first weeks of pregnancy can lead to the inability of the uterine lining to support pregnancy, leading to miscarriage. However, the evidence for this statement is still limited.
- The lack of progesterone levels needed to support the early stages of pregnancy is sometimes referred to as a luteal phase defect.
Step 2. Use a vaginal insert of progesterone
Vaginal insertion of progesterone can help prevent miscarriage in early pregnancy, depending on the cause of the miscarriage.
- The scientific literature supports the use of vaginally inserted progesterone to help maintain the uterine lining that supports pregnancy, either by insertion or suppository.
- While there are other ways to administer progesterone, such as injections, oral, and topical creams, for women with luteal phase defects and recurrent or unexplained miscarriages, this is the recommended method.
Step 3. Add progesterone during assisted reproductive technology, or ART
ART promotes pregnancy by a procedure that takes eggs from a woman, combines them with sperm in a laboratory, and then returns them to the woman's body, or into another woman's body.
There are many methods that can help a couple to get pregnant. ART is only one way. Women on ART need additional hormones, such as progesterone, so their bodies can create a healthy environment to maintain a pregnancy
Step 4. Use progesterone given by injection or vaginally
Progesterone given by intramuscular injection or vaginal product has been shown to be effective at increasing the initial progesterone levels required during ART.
- Injectable progesterone is sometimes used but carries the added risk of complications because progesterone is absorbed very quickly and is quickly converted to another chemical.
- By changing the injection system, active progesterone can remain in the desired chemical form for as long as possible. This means replacing the liquid or the means for mixing the active drug with an oil, such as peanut oil. Do not use this form of progesterone if you are allergic to peanuts.
- Possible complications of injectable progesterone include developing an allergy to the inactive ingredients, swelling and pain at the injected area, and unwanted bleeding in muscle tissue.
Step 5. Get a boost of progesterone by using a vaginal gel
Products administered vaginally produce lower systemic levels of progesterone, but higher endometrial levels, and this is the goal.
- Products designed to provide progesterone in this way, and specifically to groups of women taking ART, are progesterone gel products currently marketed under the brand name Crinone®.
- Crinone® is available in 4% or 8% progesterone levels. A rate of 8% is recommended for use by women on ART.
- Avoid using Crinone® in some situations. This product should not be used if you are allergic to any progesterone products, have vaginal bleeding, have had liver problems, cancer of the breast or female organs, or blood clots. If you have had a recent miscarriage, see your doctor first.
Step 6. Seek immediate medical attention if severe side effects occur
Seek emergency medical help if you experience signs of an allergic reaction. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, mouth, or throat.
Emergency medical attention is urgently needed if you have pain in your calf or chest, a sudden headache, numbness or weakness, especially if you notice that these symptoms only occur on one side of your body, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or coughing up blood. Emergency attention is also needed for problems with vision or speech, dizziness, fainting, or problems with balance, changes in vision or speech, chest pain, pain that radiates to the arm or shoulder, weakness or numbness in the arm. or legs, pain or swelling in the legs, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, low fever, or changes in urine
Part 2 of 4: Troubleshooting Menstrual Cycle
Step 1. Treat the amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the medical term used when a woman does not have her period, when she should.
- Amenorrhea can be classified as primary or secondary amenorrhea. Signs of primary amenorrhea include the absence of menstruation in girls aged 15 to 16 years who should be experiencing normal growth.
- Secondary amenorrhea is diagnosed when a woman who used to have regular menstrual cycles stops menstruating.
- In some cases, causes of secondary amenorrhea are changes in routine, extreme weight loss, eating disorders, excessive exercise, stress, and pregnancy.
- Other causes of secondary amenorrhea are medications taken for other medical conditions such as schizophrenia or due to the introduction of chemotherapy used in cancer treatment. Medical conditions that can cause secondary amenorrhea include polycystic ovary syndrome, abnormal thyroid function, and tumors located near the pituitary gland in the brain.
Step 2. Consult with your doctor to determine the cause of your amenorrhea
The doctor will conduct a lab examination and run tests to determine the medical cause that is causing you to have amenorrhea.
In some cases, doctors may prescribe progesterone supplements to treat this problem. Progesterone helps to expel blood similar to menstruation. However, progesterone deficiency is not the only cause of amenorrhoea
Step 3. Use progesterone supplements as directed
Your doctor may prescribe an oral, injectable, or vaginal gel for short-term use to help balance your hormones and restore regularity to your menstrual cycle.
If you continue to have problems with an abnormal cycle, your doctor may prescribe oral contraceptives that contain progesterone to help establish a regular cycle. Your doctor will monitor your progress to determine the best time to stop the treatment
Step 4. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction
Seek emergency medical help if you experience signs of an allergy. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, mouth, or throat.
Part 3 of 4: Coping With Hormonal Changes
Step 1. Ask your doctor about menopausal hormone therapy
Use of low-dose hormone replacement therapy, now called menopausal hormone therapy, uses products that contain small amounts of estrogen and progesterone, or their derivatives.
- Use progesterone for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. Some women begin to see changes consistent with menopause, even before their menstrual cycle stops. This period is called perimenopause.
- In some women, progesterone products can be used to help with perimenopausal symptoms.
- Research supports increasing progesterone during this period, as a woman's natural progesterone levels begin to change.
Step 2. Use a progesterone product as directed
Progesterone products are available in many forms, including oral tablets, vaginal gels and inserts, injections, and topical creams. Creams by specifically are more often prescribed to help with perimenopausal symptoms.
To use the cream, rub a small amount into the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or other areas of the body with soft skin, once or twice a day
Step 3. Use a combination product that contains estrogen and progesterone
The symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause can interfere with your normal routine, and these conditions are severe enough to be treated.
- Talk to your doctor to determine if a combination product containing estrogen and progesterone can help provide the increased levels of progesterone your body needs, as well as maintain a balance between the two hormones.
- Women who have a uterus need estrogen and progesterone to treat menopausal symptoms with hormones. Women without a uterus do not need progesterone for menopausal symptoms and only need to take estrogen. The use of the combination product in women who do not have a uterus can increase the risk of breast cancer, heart attack, or stroke.
Step 4. Recognize the symptoms of low progesterone levels in men
Over time, men also experience changes in the levels of naturally produced hormones.
- In men, progesterone plays an important role in the production of testosterone.
- As men age, progesterone and testosterone levels drop, and the balance in hormones moves to make estrogen the dominant hormone.
- Some of the symptoms that men experience when their progesterone levels drop include low libido, hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, and depression.
- If you are male, talk to your doctor if you notice any of these changes. Your doctor will run tests that determine the levels of many different hormones to decide on the best treatment.
Step 5. Get medical attention immediately if severe side effects occur
If your doctor prescribes a medication that contains progesterone or a combination of estrogen and progesterone and then you develop signs of an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical help. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, mouth, or throat.
Emergency medical care is necessary if you have pain in your calf or chest, a sudden headache, numbness or weakness, especially if you have symptoms on only one side of your body, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or coughing up blood. Medical attention is also needed for problems with vision or speech, dizziness, fainting, or problems with balance, changes in the ability to see and speak, chest pain, pain that radiates to the arm or shoulder, weakness or numbness in the arm or leg, pain or swelling in the legs, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, low fever, or changes in urine
Part 4 of 4: Changing Your Lifestyle and Using Supplements
Step 1. Talk to a doctor before changing anything
Your doctor can provide specific directions for your body and situation, so you can choose the best way to increase your progesterone levels.
Your doctor is the best resource for understanding any changes or problems you are experiencing. Discuss supplements and lifestyle adjustments with your doctor to determine which option is best for you
Step 2. Take vitamins and supplements
Vitamin C, vitamin E, l-arginine, vitamin B6, selenium, and beta-carotene have been shown to increase progesterone levels.
Although natural sources of supplements can be obtained from a healthy diet, the vitamin content or supplements contained in natural sources is not enough to make a significant difference in increasing progesterone levels. Consider products that contain higher concentrations of vitamins and supplements
Step 3. Consult a doctor or pharmacist to choose a trusted product
Studies show that to reap the benefits of increasing progesterone levels, you need the following amounts of vitamins and supplements:
- Take 750 mg of vitamin C per day (up to 77 percent increase in progesterone levels).
- Take 600 mg of vitamin E per day (progesterone increase in 67% of studied patients).
- Take 6 g of L-arginine per day (improvement of serum progesterone in 71% of patients).
- Take 200 mg to 800 mg of vitamin B6 per day (lowers blood estrogen levels and increases progesterone concentrations).
- Add selenium to your daily dose of the vitamin (taking any dose of selenium has been shown to improve progesterone levels).
- Consume more beta-carotene (animal studies show improvements in progesterone levels and fertility).
Step 4. Adopt a healthy diet
Diets recommended to increase progesterone levels include losing weight, avoiding large meals, eating foods high in protein and low in carbohydrates, reducing saturated fat intake, and increasing consumption of unsaturated fats.
- Studies in several overweight women have shown that losing as little as 5% of body weight can increase progesterone levels.
- In studies conducted on animals, the amount of food provided to them was controlled during early pregnancy, the group of animals that were not allowed to overeat had higher levels of hormones needed to support pregnancy.
- Changes in diet with higher protein and lower carbohydrates were positively associated with increased progesterone levels in the women studied.
- One animal study showed a significant increase in progesterone with a diet high in the omega 3 and omega 6 products found in flaxseed, combined with a lower intake of saturated fat.
Step 5. Consume more dairy products
Although dairy products contain only small amounts of progesterone, studies have shown a significant increase in progesterone levels in men when they consume three servings of high-fat dairy products per day.
Step 6. Quit smoking
Nicotine contained in cigarettes can interfere with the activity of the ovaries in producing hormones naturally, thereby disrupting processes that are part of normal cyclical function.
When combined with products containing estrogen or progesterone, smoking can increase the risk of serious side effects, and possibly life-threatening consequences
Step 7. Reduce stress
Stress only adds to the complications when you are trying to achieve a healthy hormonal balance.
- Use relaxation techniques that help you breathe deeper and stretch your muscles to reduce tension.
- Make time for massages, and regularly take part in activities you enjoy.
- Pay attention to your body by getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and participating in regular physical activity.
