In episode 4 of The Ali Damron Show, I discussed progesterone thoroughly.  We talked about what it’s functions are, what if it’s low, symptoms of low progesterone and how to bring it back up.

Progesterone is a hormone that maintains pregnancy, helps prepare a woman’s body for conception and implantation and regulates a menstrual cycle.  It is produced in the ovaries, placenta when pregnant and the adrenal glands.

Progesterone levels rise the second half of the cycle after ovulation until your menstrual cycle begins.  If you’re not pregnant at this time, both your progesterone and estrogen levels drop to start the cycle over again.

Causes of Low Progesterone

• Possible miscarriage
• Ovulation or ovulatory problems
• Menopause
• Adrenal fatigue
• High levels of prolactin in breastfeeding women or otherwise

Symptoms of Low Progesterone

• Low libido
• Hot flashes
• Migraines/headaches
• Depression/anxiety
• Irregular menstrual cycles including spotting before they start
• Insomnia especially before menstrual cycle

How to Solve the Problem

I am a huge advocate for getting to the root cause of why your progesterone is low.  In the podcast episode, I talked in depth about how adrenal fatigue, high prolactin levels, increased estrogen levels and stress and high or low cortisol levels can negatively impact your progesterone levels.  I suggest getting the correct diagnostic testing from a licensed healthcare provider that specializes in women’s health including acupuncturists, naturopathic doctors and functional medicine doctors to figure out the best course of action to take to solve this issue for you.

Acupuncture, herbs and lifestyle modifications are all extremely helpful in solving hormonal issues for both men and women.  I suggest taking an adrenal support formula for most of my patients, but a correct diagnosis is important.  One final caveat, vitex/chastetree berry is an extremely popular supplement found commonly in women’s heath and fertility forums.  This supplement is fantastic for women that have low progesterone due to high prolactin levels, but for other root causes, it is not appropriate.

Here are a few suggestions I have to help you heal:

• Sublingual B complex
• Whole food nutrition with healthy fats, protein and carbohydrates
• Support the liver with milk thistle and dandelion tea
• Herbs and supplements for the root cause

Here are a list of resources I mentioned in this episode:

Vitex/Chastetree Berry

Milk Thistle

Dandelion Tea

Adrenal Support Formula

 

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