Stress Can Cause Progesterone Deficiency In Women

Progesterone deficiency is incredibly common among menstruating women. Estrogen dominance with progesterone deficiency can lead to pre-menstrual mood problems, excessively heavy or painful menstruation and sore breasts leading up to menstruation.

Progesterone deficiency is also a feature of polycystic ovarian syndrome, which can cause irregular menstruation or a loss of the menstrual cycle altogether. Progesterone deficiency is a common cause of infertility.

You may not realize that your body produces progesterone from cholesterol. This is just one of the important benefits of cholesterol in your body.

You may also not realize that you can convert progesterone into the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is known as a stress hormone – particularly a chronic stress hormone. Your adrenal glands increase their production of cortisol when you have been feeling stressed or anxious for a prolonged period of time. It is not surprising then that chronic stress can disrupt the menstrual cycle and worsen already problematic menstruation.

You can start feeling the beneficial health effects of progesterone quite quickly by using a bio-identical progesterone cream. Ideally you would also try to manage stress and anxiety in a healthy way. Magnesium is a wonderfully calming mineral for the nervous system. It reduces stress and tension and improves sleep quality.