01/13/2024
🤔What causes low progesterone?
In order to understand how low progesterone happens it’s critical to know how progesterone is made!
📆Although a small amount of progesterone is made by the adrenals, large amounts are made ONLY after ovulation. Once ovulation has occurred the follicle transforms into the corpus luteum (CL), a temporary structure which makes progesterone for two weeks. If pregnancy does not happen, the CL dissolves, the period arrives and the next cycle begins.
⚠️Ultimately, this means that ANY condition that stops or impairs ovulation will *definitely* cause low progesterone.
➡️PCOS often stops ovulation altogether or causes it to be delayed. Due to the structure of follicles in PCOS, there also may be less production of progesterone post-ovulation.
➡️Hypothyroidism can affect the corpus luteum which is a highly metabolic structure. Without thyroid hormone it may struggle to make progesterone (38190029, 1427622)
➡️Inflammatory cytokines can inhibit progesterone production from the CL (31139895, 26161038, 26161038)
➡️And in endometriosis, it’s been found that local inflammation is linked to progesterone resistance. (28423456)
➡️Stress and undereating signal danger to the brain or lack of food for reproduction. The pituitary shuts down ovulation in order to conserve energy and avoid pregnancy during times of stress or lack of food.
🩸Another factor not mentioned in the slides is that the CL needs a massive amount of blood flow ! The CL has a rate of blood flow and need for oxygen that exceeds other tissues. Membranes of the luteal cells are in close proximity to capillaries to support this need (10617764). Good circulation is likely a factor in the production of progesterone.
⁉️Got any questions about progesterone? Ask me below and I’ll do my best to answer. Keep in mind that I can’t give personal medical advice on the ‘Gram
