Bloating To Fatigue, Know The Effects Of High Levels Of Progesterone On A Woman's Body

Hormones play a huge role in our bodies, irrespective of our genders. However, among women or menstruators, hormonal changes directly impact the menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that high levels of certain hormones can lead to complications or could be an underlying cause of an existing illness.

Women have two hormones - progesterone and oestrogen - that essentially change during the menstrual cycle or we can say that they are the drivers of periods. For the healthy functioning of our bodies, doctors suggest that these sex hormones remain balanced.

We have already understood how high levels of oestrogen impact women. Hence, we reached out to Dr Meghana D Sarvaiya, consultant obstetrics and gynaecology at Cloudnine Group of hospitals, Malad, Mumbai, to know what effect a high level of progesterone has on a female body.

What Is The Use Of Progesterone?

Progesterone is responsible for preparing the endometrial membrane, the lining of the uterus which shows the stage you are at in your menstrual cycle.

It also helps to prevent any changes in the uterus among women who take oestrogen supplements after menopause. Progesterone is also responsible for your mood and sleep patterns.

When Do Levels Of Progesterone Rise?

Dr Sarvaiya said the levels of progesterone rise after ovulation, the time when one of the ovaries releases an egg. After that amount of hormone remains high until the day before you start bleeding.

If a woman does not conceive, the levels of progesterone fall. Thus, it marks the beginning of the next menstrual cycle. However, if a woman gets pregnant, the levels of progesterone continue to rise. It is crucial to the growth and development of the foetus.

Our experts suggested that levels of the hormone can shoot up even further if a woman is carrying more than one baby.

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What Do High Levels Of Progesterone Indicate?

High levels of progesterone usually are not the leading cause of any illness but a by-product of an underlying issue. If you have increased levels of this sex hormone, it could be because of

• Ovarian cyst
• Ovarian malignancy
• A disorder of the adrenaline gland called adrenal hyperplasia
• Symptoms Of High Levels Of Progesterone
• In most cases, a woman with high levels of progesterone would experience symptoms akin to premenstrual syndrome. This includes,
• Breast tenderness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bloating (bloating during periods)
• Weight gain
• Agitation
• Low sex drive
• Severe fatigue

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Natural Ways To Reduce Levels Of Progesterones In The Body

Dr Sarvaiya shared with us that there are natural ways in which women can balance their levels of progesterone in the body. It includes,

• Exercising every day
• Reducing intake of caffeine-containing beverages like coffee and tea
• Reduce stress by incorporating changes in lifestyle
• Soaking some vitamin D in the sun or taking supplements for it
• Increasing fibre intake in the diet
• Quitting smoking

Dr Sarvaiya suggested you cannot possibly know if levels of progesterone have risen in your body. Only a specialist can tell that after seeing some blood test reports. The doctor also told us that only an expert can tell at what point in your menstrual cycle, the tests will be conducted to ensure accurate results.