The menstrual cycle in women is controlled by a variety of hormones, and changes in these hormone levels can lead to a cluster of symptoms known as premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Low levels of progesterone may trigger PMS, but there is no conclusive research showing that a decrease in progesterone causes PMS.
Progesterone
Progesterone is a hormone that, along with estrogen, is secreted by the ovaries as part of the chemical signaling that controls the menstrual cycle. Progesterone levels typically rise in the second half of the menstrual cycle and help build up the lining of the uterus, also known as the endometrium. If fertilization of the egg does not occur, progesterone levels drop at the end of the menstrual cycle.
Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome affects approximately 75 percent of all menstruating women, MayoClinic.com notes, and tends to be worse in women in their late 20s and early 30s. There are a variety of symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome, including abdominal cramps, breast pain, depression, crying spells, appetite changes, anxiety, fluid retention, headache and fatigue. These symptoms typically appear towards the end of the menstrual cycle and go away with menses.
Progesterone and PMS
Progesterone levels may be partly responsible for premenstrual symptoms. Although premenstrual syndrome typically begins during the latter half of the menstrual cycle when progesterone levels are high, some women have lower peak progesterone levels. This could cause an imbalance between the levels of progesterone and other hormones, such as estrogen, which could serve as the genesis of premenstrual syndrome. Abnormally low levels of progesterone may serve as a trigger for premenstrual syndrome in some women, a 2001 article in "The British Medical Journal" notes, though not all cases of premenstrual syndrome can be linked to low progesterone levels.
Considerations
Although low levels of progesterone may play a role in the development of premenstrual syndrome, the exact cause of premenstrual syndrome is not known. A 2002 article in "Cochrane Reviews" found that progesterone replacement may be of some benefit for treating premenstrual syndrome, but that more research needs to be done before any definitive conclusion can be reached. Talk to your doctor before using progesterone cream or any other treatment for PMS.
References
- University of California-Clermont; Reproductive Physiology, Conception, Prenatal Development; J Stein Carter; 2004
- MayoClinic.com; Premenstrual syndrome; December 2009
- "The British Medical Journal"; Efficacy of progesterone and progestogens in management of premenstrual syndrome: systematic review; Wyatt et al.; 2001
- "Cochrane Reviews"; Progesterone For Premenstrual Syndrome; Ford et al.; 2002
