Causes of Low Progesterone: Untangling the Contributors
Low Progesterone is a troublesome incidence among men and women at different stages of life.
Some factors can lower the levels of Progesterone, which can make pregnancy difficult and have effects like headaches, weight fluctuations, or hot flashes.
These causes need to be explored to avoid the consequences and improve the health of both men and women.
This article explores the causes of low Progesterone, from aging to health conditions, and their impact on the body to help decide the trajectory of treatment and recovery.
What causes low Progesterone
The causes of low Progesterone are extensive and can depend on age, medications, and more.
Some of the low Progesterone causes are:
Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance and sex hormones are related.
In 2017, a study found low Progesterone levels in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Glucose Tolerance patients.
This demands further studies to understand how insulin resistance impacts and suppresses Progesterone.
Low cholesterol
Molecular Progesterone is derived from cholesterol, which means the body needs cholesterol to make Progesterone.
So, low levels of cholesterol can also cause low Progesterone.
Aging
Aging is a factor that affects hormonal levels in both men and women.
Low levels of Progesterone are also observed with aging, especially in women.
The time before menopause, also called Perimenopause, marks the decline of hormonal levels.
Progesterone also starts decreasing in this phase, which falls further during menopause.
Over-exercising
Exercise is a great way to stay healthy, but over-exercising has unwanted effects.
It can cause exhaustion, increase cortisol levels and stress on your body.
It also utilizes key nutrients needed to sustain healthy hormone levels.
According to a study conducted on perimenopausal women with Breast Cancer, it was found that exercises reduced Progesterone exposure by 23.7 percent.
It might be an efficient option concerning Breast Cancer treatment, but low Progesterone is not what every person seeks from exercises.
Medications
Some medications used to treat health problems can also lower Progesterone.
One of them is Trilostane, which is used to treat Cushing’s syndrome and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer.
It is a 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor that lowers Progesterone production.
Mifepristone is another medicine used for treating Cushing syndrome, which can lower Progesterone levels by binding to the intracellular receptor of the hormone.
Stress
Cortisol is your stress hormone that interferes with the body’s ability to make sex hormones which includes Progesterone.
Findings suggest that stress was also linked with low luteal Progesterone in women.
Read Steering Clear: Foods to Avoid While Taking Progesterone to know the foods to avoid for best results.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism means an underactive Thyroid where the Thyroid gland is not producing enough T3 and T4 hormones.
Thyroid hormones stimulate the release of Progesterone from human luteal cells.
So, this condition makes it harder for your body to make Progesterone due to a lack of Thyroid hormone.
One of the studies conducted during the luteal phase (the phase after ovulation) of women found that Progesterone decreased with a deficiency of Thyroid hormone.
Hyperprolactinemia
It is a condition in which the body makes excessive Prolactin, the hormone responsible for lactation.
It disrupts the levels of other sex hormones like Progesterone which can stop ovulation or affect menstruation.
Studies have shown that Prolactin secretions decrease the levels of Progesterone.
Environmental toxins
Environmental toxins can affect humans by disrupting biological processes and leading to issues like cancer, reduced fertility, and suppressed hormones.
One such toxin is Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP), which affects Progesterone.
In 2014, a study on rats concluded that DEHP decreases Progesterone levels.
Anovulation
Anovulation is a phase where ovulation doesn’t occur as the ovary doesn’t release an egg.
It can result in significantly low Progesterone and other sex hormones in women with one Anovulatory cycle.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
It is a condition in which ovaries produce abnormal levels of Androgen, causing hormonal imbalance.
Women suffering from PCOS do not ovulate and do not even produce Progesterone.
Additionally, Insulin resistance in women with PCOS can also cause low Progesterone in the luteal phase.
Conclusion
The causes of low Progesterone can depend on age, gender, or medical history.
Women experience low Progesterone significantly due to hormonal changes, PCOS, Anovulation, and menopause.
Men and women can have low Progesterone from medications like Trilostane and Mifepristone.
Medical conditions like Hyperprolactinemia, Hypothyroidism, and Insulin resistance can also lower Progesterone.
Neglected factors such as over-exercising or stress can also add to the problem.
One must try to eliminate such self-induced factors and consult a doctor to treat medical aspects to balance Progesterone levels and restore healthy body function.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PCOS cause low Progesterone?
Polycystic ovary syndrome occurs due to hormonal imbalance. So, it can result in low Progesterone. When a woman does not ovulate due to PCOS, no Progesterone is produced. Moreover, factors like insulin resistance along with PCOS can also reduce levels of Progesterone.
What are the causes of low Progesterone in 30s?
Progesterone can decline with aging, especially in women. During Perimenopause, the ovary function and hormone production are reduced. It declines further during menopause and the following phase. So, the Progesterone levels continue to lower with time.
What is the root cause of low Progesterone?
There are numerous causes of low Progesterone. Some main ones include hormonal imbalance due to aging, medical conditions like Hypothyroidism, stress, and medications. Sometimes, environmental toxins like DEHP can affect Progesterone production, leading to a decline.
What happens when Progesterone is very low?
When Progesterone is low, some noticeable signs can be loss of sex drive, headache, and hot flashes. It can even affect the fertility of a woman, making pregnancy difficult. If the Progesterone levels are low during pregnancy, it can even cause miscarriage.
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