Progesterone deficiency? Watch out for these symptoms
What makes progesterone so important?
Men also have progesterone, although it does not play as important a role for them as it does for women. It is a sex hormone that is crucial for reproductive function. Progesterone (the luteal hormone) supports the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterine lining and bridges the time until the placenta takes over the production of the hormones.
If there is a luteal deficiency, pregnancy may become impossible or miscarriages may occur.
The following symptoms may indicate a lack of progesterone
Anyone who can identify risk factors such as lack of light, little sleep, lack of exercise, stress, thyroid disease or menopause should stop Pay attention to possible symptoms of a progesterone deficiency:
- Irregular cycle or a significantly shortened cycle (typical of the start of menopause)
- Severe menstrual problems, PMS and cramps
- Intermenstrual bleeding
- Sleep disorders and cardiac arrhythmias, which are particularly noticeable in the evening and at night
- Profuse sweating and hot flashes
- Mood swings, anxiety disorders and depression
- Nervousness and lack of concentration, dizziness, nausea and constant tiredness
- Ovarian cysts
- Weight gain even though you don't change your living conditions. It can be extra fat, but also water retention.
- Dry skin, burning skin, hair loss, but “lady’s beard” and dry mucous membranes
- Feeling of chest tension and leg cramps
The love between women is just as precious and worth protecting as any other love. So...
What can you do about it?
First of all, many of the symptoms mentioned above are not clear-cut because they can occur in many other illnesses. It is therefore important to consult a doctor - for women the best contact is the treating gynecologist - and ask for clarification.
To do this, you can do a saliva test, which is carried out once on the 20th. Day of the cycle Most of the time, progesterone deficiency is due to menopause and the onset of menopause. However, interactions with medications or ovarian disease are also conceivable.
The lack of progesterone can subsequently be compensated for with medication; there are various treatment options.
In most cases, your doctor will prescribe oral creams or capsules. Creams are often the better choice because they are absorbed directly through the skin and are therefore better tolerated. However, they usually contain a low concentration of the active ingredient. Here the doctor will decide to what extent the deficiency should be compensated for.
Ultimately, especially during menopause, there are always phases in which the progesterone level is low or too low. It takes a while for the body to adjust to the new hormonal status after the change. This is usually nothing to worry about. However, you should still seek medical support.
