Progesterone is a hormone the body produces naturally. No single treatment can increase natural progesterone. However, lifestyle factors can help with hormone function and indirectly increase progesterone production.
Many people take a combination of synthetic progesterone and estrogen around the time of menopause to reduce symptoms such as hot flashes. Others may take progesterone while trying to conceive or in early pregnancy.
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When progesterone levels are too low, the body may be unable to support the complex processes involved in menstruation and pregnancy.
Low progesterone levels
- irregular menstrual periods
- spotting or cramping during pregnancy
- pregnancy loss
- infertility
Aging causes levels of hormones, including progesterone, to decline. This can lead to irregular ovulation and periods.
Doctors can prescribe progesterone supplements, such as Crinone or Prometrium, for people with low progesterone levels. A person can take these supplements in the following forms:
- capsule
- gel
- suppository
- injectable
Many products on the market claim to be natural progesterone sources. Manufacturers make many of these products from soybeans or a wild Mexican yam called Diascorea villosa.
Wild yam products are available over the counter as vaginal creams or capsules. Although some people believe these products represent a natural form of progesterone, wild yam products contain diosgenin, not progesterone.
The body cannot convert the diosgenin in wild yams into hormones. This conversion is only possible via synthetic chemical reactions in a laboratory.
By contrast, some products that do contain progesterone, such as Crinone and Prometrium, can help boost progesterone levels in the body. Doctors
Many synthetic progesterone products, including creams, supplements, and suppositories, are available. A healthcare professional prescribes these products.
It is best for anyone who believes they may benefit from progesterone supplementation to contact a doctor.
Creams
Progesterone creams are widely available. A person may apply them to their arms, wrists, chest, thighs, or stomach once or twice per day.
However, some research suggests the body may not absorb progesterone from creams or prescription treatments. It is also worth noting that these products are not subject to the same federal regulations regarding safety testing as medications.
Supplements
A person can take progesterone supplements in liquid or capsule form two or three times a day or as the manufacturer recommends. Like progesterone creams, these products aim to relieve symptoms of menopause or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Suppositories
A person inserts a suppository vaginally. The aim of suppository use may be to boost fertility, as an accompaniment to fertility treatments, or to maintain a pregnancy by increasing progesterone levels.
A prescription for progesterone suppositories is necessary, and it is important to follow a doctor’s recommendations regarding timing and dosage.
Food products do not contain progesterone. However, some people believe certain foods may help the body produce more progesterone or better balance estrogen levels.
Although dietary choices can affect ovulation, influencing progesterone levels, little research supports the use of specific foods to affect progesterone production. Scientists conducted many existing studies in animals or cells in a laboratory setting.
Below, we describe some foods and food components that people say may address low progesterone levels. However, more research is necessary to support any claims about the effects of different foods on this hormone.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 plays a role in liver function, which
Foods
Zinc
Zinc
The following foods contain
A person may find that having a diet rich in these foods could help reduce symptoms of low progesterone and regulate the menstrual cycle. However, few studies support this.
No single remedy can boost progesterone levels. However, certain lifestyle factors can affect hormone levels and indirectly help improve menstrual function and progesterone production.
Low progesterone levels do not always affect health and do not always require treatment. Anyone interested in making helpful changes to supplement fertility treatments or reduce menopause symptoms can try:
Limiting exposure to stress
Excessive stress can elevate levels of stress hormones, which can affect the ovaries and sex hormones. This is why a person may miss a period when they have high levels of stress.
Finding healthy ways to manage stress can help. What works best for each person can vary, but potential techniques include:
Getting regular sleep
Not getting enough high quality sleep may raise stress hormone levels and cause other hormonal imbalances.
Adults typically need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Prioritizing sleep and practicing good sleep hygiene is beneficial for everyone. However, it is especially important for people with hormonal imbalances.
Maintaining a moderate weight
People with overweight or obesity may have hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance, which can affect ovulation, fertility, and the production of progesterone.
Maintaining a moderate weight does not necessarily raise progesterone levels. However, it can help keep hormone levels balanced within a healthy range.
Exercising and being active
Regular physical activity
Some types of physical activity that may be beneficial include:
- walking
- jogging
- yoga
- biking
- swimming
Keep in mind that strenuous or excessive exercise can increase cortisol levels and may link with changes to ovulation that can make conceiving difficult. For this reason, it is best for people who are trying to become pregnant to focus on moderate intensity activity and limit vigorous exercise.
Progesterone has many vital functions,
- triggering the endometrial lining to be receptive and ready for implantation and pregnancy
- preventing the smooth muscles in the uterus from contracting
- helping support early pregnancy
- preventing ovulation of another egg
If pregnancy occurs, the progesterone produced by the empty egg follicle helps sustain the pregnancy until the placenta takes over progesterone production. Later, progesterone helps the breasts prepare to secrete milk.
If pregnancy does not occur, the empty egg follicle breaks down, reducing the progesterone level. When the progesterone level is below a certain point, the next menstrual period begins.
Doctors often prescribe synthetic progesterone as a form of contraception. The synthetic version is progestin. Birth control pills containing only progestin thicken the cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to get through. They also thin the endometrial lining to prevent implantation from occurring.
Progesterone products available by prescription have some benefits. These may include:
- supporting fertility and pregnancy
- providing contraception
- reducing symptoms of perimenopause and menopause
Research has shown that hormone therapy can carry risks. This type of treatment can increase the risk of dangerous medical conditions, such as:
Older people who have used some types of natural hormones for extended periods may have a higher risk of heart disease and breast cancer.
Side effects
Progesterone products can cause these side effects:
- weight gain
- blurry vision
- fatigue
- headaches
- breast tenderness
- bloating
- changes in mood
- irritation at the application site
Anyone with severe or lasting side effects should contact a doctor.
Ways to raise progesterone levels including exercising, limiting stress, eating a nutritious diet, and taking synthetic progesterone.
Vitamin B6 can help keep hormones level. Foods high in vitamin B6 include spinach, bananas, and potatoes.
Some people use progesterone products to reduce menopause symptoms or promote fertility. However, very little research shows that these products are effective and safe.
A doctor can prescribe synthetic progesterone, and it is important to speak with them about the risks and possible benefits first.