Progesterone Role and Effects

Progesterone is a naturally occurring steroidal hormone belonging to the progestogen hormone group. Progesterone controls a number of important functions in the female body; thus it is vital that progesterone levels remain stable.

Progesterone levels vary depending on menstrual cycle phase and menopausal stage. Levels are high during pregnancy and low in female children and postmenopausal women.

Role of Progesterone in the Female Body

Progesterone plays a key role in many bodily functions, not the least of which are blood clotting, gum health, and menstruation among other things. However, progesterone’s biggest responsibility is preparing the female body for pregnancy, ensuring that the womb is protected and ready to receive a fertilized egg.

Sexual health
• High progesterone levels cause a spike in libido just before menstruation. Consequently, the absence of menstruation after menopause can have a dampening effect on libido.
• Progesterone produces a vaginal mucus that protects the area from infections.

Menstruation
• Immediately before menstruation, high levels of progesterone prompt the endometrium to prepare the uterus for a fertilized egg.
• Prior to menstruation, progesterone produces a vaginal mucus that is impenetrable to sperm and protects the cervix from infection.
• If the uterus does not receive a fertilized egg, progesterone levels fall, causing the uterine lining to be expelled from the body (resulting in normal menstrual bleeding).

Pregnancy
• Progesterone lowers the uterus's immunity to allow for the entrance of a foreign body (the fertilized egg).

• Low progesterone levels control the elasticity of the uterus to prevent the fetus from prematurely exiting the uterus. Conversely, during birth, progesterone levels drop to allow the fetus to exit.

• High levels of progesterone prevent lactation during pregnancy, while low post-pregnancy levels help to promote lactation.

Mood and emotions
• When there is an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone levels, the production of serotonin is interrupted. Serotonin is a mood-regulating neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger that sends signals relating to emotional mood, appetite, and memory around the body. Consequently, a loss of progesterone can result in unexpected mood swings.

Menopause
• Progesterone helps control the body temperature; in women, for example, body temperature is raised during menstruation. During menopause, low progesterone levels can cause the body temperature to drop and result in hot flashes and night sweats.

• Low levels of progesterone also halt menstruation: when progesterone fails to prepare the uterus for a pregnancy, normal menstrual bleeding cannot occur.

Osteal health
• Progesterone stimulates the formulation of new bones and promotes bone density.

Other roles
• Progesterone reduces gallbladder activity, preventing gallbladder disease and promoting a healthy digestive tract.

• Progesterone increase levels of anti-inflammatory agents, which contribute to a healthy immune system.

• Progesterone aids in blood clotting and cell oxidation.
• Progesterone helps convert stored fat into energy.

Effects of Progesterone in the Female Body

The effects of progesterone in women are myriad. The most important ones are:

Brain
• Progesterone hormones are neurosteroids that influence synoptic functioning (synapses are the structures in the brains by which neurons travel). Consequently, progesterone helps to improve brain functioning, especially memory and thought development processes.

• Progesterone has helps protect neurons. A drop in progesterone levels has the potential to cause brain damage.

Breasts
• An increase or decrease in progesterone often results in breast pain and tenderness.

Heart and liver
• Progesterone regulates blood clotting, which helps to maintain vascular and cardiovascular health.

• Progesterone helps stabilize levels of copper and zinc in the body and promotes liver health.

Ovaries
• Progesterone controls the production of estrogen, an excess of which can result in endometrial cancer (cancer of the endometriosis). A balance of progesterone and estrogen is vitally important.

Uterus
• Low levels of progesterone can cause infertility and increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Bones
• High levels of progesterone help to keep bones strong and resilient.

• Decreasing jaw bone density can lead to receding gums and the loss of teeth.

• A loss of bone density can lead to osteoporosis (brittle, fragile bones).

Vagina
• Progesterone deficiency leaves the cervix prone to infection because the protective vaginal mucus dries up.

Other Effects
• Low levels of progesterone can cause a loss of saliva, which can lead to plaque buildup and gingivitis.

• Decreased progesterone levels mean decreased collagen levels, making the body less able to repair itself following an injury.

Being able to identify progesterone fluctuations is essential to alleviate symptoms. Please, read on  to identify progesterone fluctuations by using progesterone tests.

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