Progesterone is a hormone produced in both sexes, although it is essential to women for fertility and conception. Progesterone is primarily produced in the ovaries during ovulation and prevents the endometrium layer within the uterus from shedding so that pregnancy can occur. Progesterone also helps regulate other hormones, such as estrogen. Lack of progesterone production has many causes, such as liver disease, high estrogen intake, diabetes, severe stress and malnutrition. Lack of progesterone can cause serious health effects for women, especially during pregnancy.
Initial Symptoms
According to "Human Biochemistry and Disease," most early side effects of low progesterone levels, such as water retention, bloating, weight gain, vaginal dryness, change in moods, irritability, restless sleep, breast tenderness and reduced libido, are often dismissed as being minor health effects related to stress. Women rarely seek treatment for these initial symptoms.
Progressive Symptoms
If lack of progesterone is not suspected as the culprit, the side effects progress slowly. Progressive symptoms of low progesterone include migraine headaches, depression, anxiety attacks, irregular menstrual cycles, muscle aches, dry skin, thyroid dysfunction, blood sugar problems, hot flashes and night sweats. These progressive symptoms may be misdiagnosed as early onset menopausal symptoms or confused with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, as noted by "Professional Guide to Diseases."
Infertility
If progesterone levels are significantly lower than normal, fertilization might be possible, but conception will be impossible because the uterus is not able to support a fetus due to lack of an endometrial layer and supporting blood vessels. Thus, lack of progesterone can cause infertility that can often be reversed with appropriate hormone replacement therapy or addressing the cause of low progesterone production.
Miscarriage
Sometimes a woman produces enough progesterone to conceive, but if the progesterone levels drop significantly during the first few weeks of pregnancy, miscarriage can result. Depending on the timing of the miscarriage, the woman might not suspect she was ever pregnant.
Long-Term Health Effects
If low progesterone levels are left undiagnosed and untreated, a variety of serious side effects can develop. Perhaps the most serious effect of low progesterone is unchecked increases of estrogen levels. Long-term effects of increased estrogen levels include higher risks of osteoporosis, fibroid tumors, high blood pressure, and according to Columbia University Health Sciences, breast cancer. Other serious side effects of low progesterone include uterine cancer, endometriosis, accelerated aging due to thyroid imbalance, and loss of memory. Women with untreated low progesterone levels also have a higher incidence of heart disease and stroke associated with elevated blood pressure.
References
- "Human Biochemistry and Disease"; Gerald Litwack; 2008
- "Professional Guide to Diseases: Ninth Edition"; Springhouse Publishing; 2009
- Columbia University Health Sciences: In Vivo: "Estrogen's Role in Cancer"; May 26, 2003
