Progesterone, or "the pregnancy hormone," plays a key role in a woman's reproductive cycle. It causes ovulation, maintains pregnancy and keeps you from ovulating while you are pregnant. Progesterone levels rise and fall throughout the monthly cycle, but if levels are consistently below the norm, women could face serious reproductive health issues. Symptoms of low progesterone vary from very mild to constant abdominal pain or infertility.
Menstrual Irregularities and Pregnancy
If you have low progesterone, the timing of your period may be erratic and you may sometimes skip a period or have spotting in between periods. Menstrual bleeding may be heavy, and you may notice large clots. Low progesterone levels also can make it difficult for you to become pregnant.
Pregnancy Complications
If you are pregnant and have low progesterone levels, you are at greater risk of miscarriage. You also may experience toxemia, abdominal pain and spotting during your pregnancy.
Menopause-Like Symptoms
Regardless of your age, if you have low progesterone levels, you may experience symptoms usually associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, unexplained weight gain, memory issues and mood swings.
Irritability and Sleeping Difficulties
Progesterone decreases anxiety and helps you to sleep, so low progesterone levels can make you feel stressed, irritable and perhaps even depressed. You may find yourself worrying about things with no real basis, and you may have difficulty sleeping.
Endometriosis
A drop in progesterone without a corresponding drop in estrogen creates an imbalance between these hormones that puts you at risk for endometriosis, a condition where the lining of your uterus is not shed during your period. The tissue migrates from the uterus and attaches to other parts of your body, which may include your ovaries, fallopian tubes, lymph nodes and rectum. It also may invade your bladder, lungs and kidneys. This condition causes heavy, painful periods and may lead to pain throughout your entire monthly cycle. It is responsible for up to 50 percent of infertility cases among American women, according to HealthyHealing.com.
Uterine Fibroids
Low progesterone combined with higher estrogen levels also may cause you to develop uterine fibroids. These growths usually are benign and vary from the size of a walnut to that of an orange. They may cause heavy bleeding during your period, infertility, painful intercourse, abdominal pain and bladder infections.
