Progesterone and estrogen are hormones that play an important role in female reproductive health. When your ovaries stop producing these hormones, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center, menopausal symptoms can arise, such as hot flashes and mood swings. Low progesterone levels can also contribute to hypothyroidism -- a condition in which your thyroid gland produces too few hormones. To learn more regarding your personal hormone levels and thyroid health, seek guidance from your doctor.
Relationship
Normal progesterone levels help facilitate thyroid gland function, according to "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone." An imbalance in estrogen and progesterone levels can block thyroid hormone production and trigger symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, a slowed pulse, weight gain, headaches and constipation.
Challenges
Thyroid problems associated with low progesterone levels can easily be misdiagnosed, according to women's health expert Dr. Christiane Northrup. Classic hypothyroidism stems from an impaired thyroid gland, but if you have low levels of progesterone, tests can reveal that you have a properly functioning thyroid gland. In other words, when a progesterone imbalance blocks thyroid production, it is the imbalance of that hormone and of estrogen that is the problem, not your thyroid gland. If your doctor prescribes supplemental estrogen to treat menopause or other conditions, your condition can worsen due to a greater estrogen/progesterone imbalance. The root problem in this case is known as estrogen dominance, or too much estrogen and too little progesterone. High estrogen levels can also cause symptoms similar to hypothyroidism, such as increased body fat, weight gain, sleep problems, depression and headaches.
Treatment
Once you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will prescribe levothyroxine, which is a synthetic thyroid hormone. Natural versions made from pig thyroid glands are also available through prescription. Synthetic and natural progesterone creams provide useful options for thyroid symptoms related to progesterone deficiencies. The standard useful dose for most women, according to Dr. Northrup, is 1/4 tsp. of 2 percent progesterone skin cream used twice daily, or 20 to 40 mg per day during the second two weeks of your menstrual cycle. After menopause, use natural progesterone cream daily for three weeks of every month.
Dietary Suggestions
Appropriate dietary changes can also help minimize symptoms related to progesterone and thyroid conditions. If you have too little fiber in your diet, estrogen will be recycled back into your body, increasing your risk for low progesterone levels and impaired thyroid function, according to "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause." Valuable sources of fiber include beans, lentils, oats, barley, popcorn, raspberries, artichokes and peas. Foods rich in iron and B vitamins, such as whole grains and seaweed, and antioxidants, such as blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, bell peppers and squash, can help reduce hypothyroidism symptoms. Limit foods that can interfere with thyroid function, such as soybeans, peanuts, pine nuts, mustard greens, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach and cauliflower.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Menopause
- "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone"; John R. Lee, M.D., and Virginia Hopkins; 1996
- Christiane Northrup, M.D.: Thyroid Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypothyroidism
