Does low progesterone impact fertility?
It can. Low progesterone is surprisingly common in people with menstrual cycles and can have a big impact on fertility. This is important to catch for a myriad of reasons, since progesterone is not only an important hormone for overall wellness, but is also *critical* in supporting a healthy conception and pregnancy.
In conception + early pregnancy, progesterone is needed to support a healthy uterine lining, essentially making a cozy landing place for that little embryo to settle in and start growing. If progesterone is low, however, that lining may start to shed too soon, making it difficult or impossible for implantation to occur + pregnancy to progress, even if conception has occurred!
This is one reason we always run a progesterone lab 7 days past ovulation for our fertility patients when they first start working with us, and usually again when they tell us they are pregnant.
If a pattern of low progesterone is caught before conception occurs nutrition, lifestyle + supplements can help to naturally improve progesterone levels. And if low levels are caught during early pregnancy, supplementing with progesterone suppositories or injections may help to sustain an otherwise healthy pregnancy.
Some common symptoms that your progesterone might be low include:
- A short luteal phase (anything shorter than 12 days raises suspicion)
- Extreme PMSAnxiety + depression
- Premenstrual spotting
- Poor sleep, particularly in the 2nd half of your cycle
Have you had your progesterone levels tested?
