Progesterone is an essential hormone for embryo implantation. Even if you produce a good egg, achieve fertilization and have the egg float down the fallopian tube to arrive at the uterus ready to implant and grow, pregnancy will fail without adequate progesterone levels. Progesterone prepares the uterine lining by increasing the blood flow and changing the composition of the tissue so the embryo receives enough nutrients to grow. Certain signs are signals that your progesterone levels may be lower than normal; a level of 14 ng/mL or higher is considered normal after ovulation. Progesterone supplements can treat low progesterone levels.
No Temperature Rise After Ovulation
One sign of impending ovulation in women is a small dip in temperature. Right after ovulation, your temperature first thing in the morning rises as much as 1 degree F and remains at that level until right before the next period. The rise in basal temperature is caused by the rise in progesterone after ovulation. If you don't experience a rise in temperature, you may not be producing enough progesterone, according to WebWomb.
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
Spotting after ovulation and before the start of a next menstrual period can indicate implantation of an embryo, or it can mean that the uterine lining isn't getting enough progesterone and is starting to break down. Low levels of progesterone can also cause abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding due to the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone, according to E.J. Mayeaux, M.D., of the Louisiana State University Health Science Center.
Short Luteal Phase
The luteal phase is the time period between ovulation, release of an egg from the ovary and the start of the next menstrual period. The luteal phase normally lasts between 12 and 14 days. A luteal phase shorter than 12 to 14 days indicates a lack of progesterone, according to INCIID. Progesterone sustains the uterine lining and keeps it from breaking down. In a normal menstrual cycle, the corpus luteum, the remainder of the follicle that once contained the egg, produces progesterone. If no pregnancy occurs, the corpus luteum disintegrates and stops producing progesterone. If the corpus luteum doesn't produce enough progesterone, progesterone production stops prematurely. Your next menstrual cycle will start sooner than it should.
Repeated Early Miscarriage
Having three or more miscarriages very early in pregnancy can indicate low progesterone levels. Since progesterone maintains the uterine lining, low progesterone levels can result in poor nutritional support for the growing embryo and pregnancy loss, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports.
