Most women are aware of the typical symptoms of PMS. Many women respond to progesterone supplementation, while others need a more varied approach-similar to women suffering from the more severe variant- PMDD. The reason PMS is thought to occur is due to the difference in hormone levels between estrogen and progesterone. When menses begins, symptoms will generally disappear. Symptoms include headaches, cramps, fatigue, bloating, nausea and mood swings. Premenstrual syndrome is defined as life-disrupting physiological and/or psychological signs or symptoms which occur in the luteal phase of the cycle. PMSĪnother one of the signs of progesterone deficiency is premenstrual syndrome- PMS. If you are experiencing heavy periods, you will need a full work-up to exclude other causes of heavy menstrual flow such as polyps, endometriosis or adenomyosis (endometrium growing in the uterine wall), as well as other (less common) issues including bleeding or clotting disorders. Heavy bleeding is thought to result from imbalances in estrogen and progesterone, and is generally successfully treated with supplemental progesterone. Heavy menstrual blood loss usually includes clotting and having to change pads or tampons every two hours or more. Heavy PeriodsĪpproximately 50% of females who report heavy menstrual bleeding, do not meet the requirements of 80 mls (about 1/3 cup) or more of blood “release” per menstrual cycle. However, remember that an early “pre-menopause” can mean that you have a lower-than-normal progesterone levels, with or without significant symptoms. Other reasons for irregular periods can be PCOS, stress (high cortisol), or simply coming off of oral contraceptives. Lack of normal ovulation, where the egg is not released from the ovary- causes low progesterone because your body is not preparing for pregnancy by building up the endometrium. The principal cause of irregular periods is the lack of normal ovulation. You might have some spotting right before your period and then some clots during your period. Your periods might then be irregular due to progesterone deficiency. This phase becomes shortened when you are progesterone deficient. Menstrual Irregularitiesĭuring the luteal (second) phase of your menstrual cycle, your uterine lining (endometrium) is building up to receive a fertilized egg. Let’s get started with the major gynecologic issues. I won’t go into these other little “nuggets of information” on this article, as they are off-topic. Lastly, mold and mycotoxin exposure can also cause hot flushes. Progesterone deficiency or cortisol excess (early adrenal fatigue) can also cause hot flushes. Estrogen deficiency isn’t the only hormone that can cause hot flushes. Your libido is (mostly) controlled by your free testosterone level but progesterone also plays a role. Similarly, fibrocystic breast disorder can be caused by low progesterone. It’s the ratio of estrogen to progesterone that is important, so low progesterone can cause these issues too. Most women and even most doctors believe that fibroids and endometriosis are estrogen-dependent. There are a host of symptoms, with low progesterone as the root cause, but they are not all categorized together. Women often attribute all of their premenstrual symptoms to what they call PMS. And yes, a Functional Internist who is an expert in female hormones is your best bet. Many of the patients I personally see, have been to an array of doctors who haven’t picked up on the fact that they are dealing with simple cases of low progesterone symptoms which, in turn, cause a host of problems. In fact, many symptoms (complaints) and signs (physical findings) related to low progesterone levels are simply not widely known even amongst even the most knowledgeable Ob-Gyn’s or Endocrinologists. However, this article will review the common symptoms and then the signs of progesterone deficiency that are not often discussed. You might have read that one of the common signs of progesterone deficiency is premenstrual bloating. You may have “heard” that premenstrual syndrome PMS, or even the worse premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is due to low progesterone.
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