How does progesterone make you feel?

Understanding progesterone and its impact on your mood and body

As we mentioned above, progesterone is one of the main female sex hormones. This hormone is responsible for thickening the lining of the uterus to support a fertilized egg. During the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle, following ovulation, progesterone levels rise along with estrogen. Because these hormones rise simultaneously, it’s challenging to isolate the specific effects of progesterone.

For many women, these higher levels bring a feeling of calm, relaxation, sleepiness, and an overall sense of wellbeing. However, it is possible to experience more negative side effects like breast tenderness, constipation, and mood swings.

The science behind progesterone’s mood effects

To understand the science behind progesterone effects on mood, we have to look at how it interacts with your brain chemistry. When progesterone rises, it causes increased activity in the neurotransmitter GABA while decreasing activity in glutamate. GABA has a calming effect, while glutamate is excitatory, which is why it’s common to feel more relaxed with higher progesterone levels. It also impacts dopamine and serotonin, which are known as feel-good hormones.

With progesterone’s positive effects on your brain, it begs the question, “Why does progesterone cause mood swings sometimes? The answer has to do with how rapidly and significantly hormone levels change, along with how your brain responds to normal fluctuations. With decreasing progesterone, you may notice more negative symptoms. Progesterone mood swings generally occur when levels drop due to an absence of fertilised egg at the end of your cycle. Because of its impact on the brain’s neurotransmitters, progesterone has a major role in emotional regulation.

Common symptoms related to high progesterone

The effects of progesterone on your physical and mental health vary between women and your sensitivity to the hormone fluctuation. You may experience some of these effects in the second half of your cycle and during pregnancy when progesterone levels are high:

• Breast tenderness – As progesterone levels fluctuate, it can cause increased blood flow to your breast tissue, glandular changes, and fluid retention, resulting in breast tenderness.
• Constipation – Higher progesterone levels can slow your digestive tract, which may lead to constipation and, as a result, a bloated feeling due to gas that leaves the bowels more slowly.
• Fatigue – Fatigue is a common symptom of high progesterone, but why does progesterone make you sleepy? The answer points back to its impact on the neurotransmitter GABA, which creates a sedative-like effect on the brain. That raises the question, “Does progesterone help you sleep or will you just feel tired throughout the day?” The answer depends on the individual. For many women, progesterone can help regulate their sleep-wake cycle, but in others it can cause excess drowsiness.
• Mood swings – A common question we receive is, “Does progesterone make you emotional?” While it causes many women to feel calm, for those with progesterone sensitivities, it can cause mood swings.

Common symptoms of progesterone imbalance

Unfortunately, not having enough progesterone may lead to a range of consequences:

• Menstrual irregularities – Since progesterone helps regulate your menstrual cycle by thickening the uterine wall, a shorter luteal phase and low levels of progesterone can lead to changing overall cycle length and regularity.
• Heavy menstrual bleeding – When ovulation doesn’t happen, even if estrogen levels are normal or slightly elevated, it can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding. This is because without ovulation, there’s not enough progesterone produced in the second half of the cycle to adequately prepare and transform the uterine lining.
• Pregnancy loss – Progesterone is an essential hormone for pregnancy. When its levels are too low to adequately support a pregnancy, a loss may occur during the initial months after conception.

Personal experiences with progesterone

Progesterone impacts women in different ways depending on how they respond to the hormone. For example, one woman may feel an overall sense of wellbeing and calm right after ovulation. During this time, she may notice she sleeps better and can relax more easily.

At the same time, the higher progesterone levels that led to a more even mood for that woman could cause mood swings and feeling depressed for someone. If you notice PMS symptoms like mood swings, irritability, and fatigue, it can be due to your brain’s response to fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels in the second half of your cycle.

Identifying patterns

Hormone fluctuations can cause a range of symptoms that can be confusing and frustrating. Understanding why you’re feeling a certain way during each stage of your menstrual cycle can make it easier to uncover patterns and treat unwanted symptoms. That’s why a hormone tracker like Hormona is such a useful tool. It allows you to easily track your symptoms and see how they correspond to your menstrual cycle, helping you better understand your body. Hormona also has a ton of resources and even hormone testing, so you can take control of your hormonal health.

Practical steps to manage progesterone-related symptoms

Managing progesterone-related menstrual cycle symptoms doesn’t have to be hard; here are some practical steps you can use in your daily routine.

Stay active

Staying active is one of the best ways to support your hormonal health and provide your body with the support it needs to function properly. Implementing positive lifestyle changes like walking, biking, and swimming, yoga, can help you feel your best all month long.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is essential for progesterone hormone regulation, so practicing good sleep hygiene is essential. Implement habits like keeping a consistent bedtime, avoiding electronics or caffeine before bed, exercising regularly, and creating a relaxing bedtime ritual.

Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet that’s full of nutrients and minerals helps support your hormones. Be sure to eat 400 g of vegetables and fruits daily, lean protein, and whole grains, and limit or avoid processed and sugary foods, alcohol, and excess caffeine.

If your symptoms are severe or interfere with your daily life, you should speak to a medical professional. Tracking your symptoms and hormones with Hormona will make it easier to receive the proper care and make informed medical decisions.

The benefits of tailored hormone management

Hormonal health can be confusing, and too many women don’t understand how their bodies work. With the insights from Hormona, you can create personalized health strategies that put you in control of your health journey. Technological tools like Hormona take the mystery out of your body so you can know how to treat and manage symptoms when they arise.

Conclusion

Understanding how progesterone affects you physically and mentally removes the fear and gives you the confidence you need to take control of your health. Hormone-tracking with Hormona puts you in control of your health and provides the insights you need to manage hormone-related symptoms with confidence.

FAQ

How do you feel when taking progesterone?

For most women, taking progesterone creates a feeling of calm and aids in better sleep. However, some women may experience negative side effects like drowsiness, fatigue, constipation, and mood swings.

Is progesterone the happy hormone?

No, progesterone is not considered the “Happy hormone,” but it can create a feeling of relaxation, peace, and wellbeing.

What does a rise in progesterone feel like?

Rising progesterone levels can make you feel more relaxed and calm, or it could cause breast tenderness, constipation and gasiness.

What to expect when you first start taking progesterone?

You may experience PMS-like symptoms when you first start taking progesterone supplements, like dizziness, fatigue, depression, night urination, mood swings among others.

How fast does progesterone work?

It works immediately after getting to your bloodstream.

What does a woman with high progesterone look like?

A pregnant woman is the most common example. However, apart from pregnancy, there isn’t a specific “look” for a woman with high progesterone.

Does progesterone give you energy?

No, progesterone doesn’t cause you to feel energetic; it is known to create a feeling of calm and relaxation.