Progesterone, A Woman’s best friend during Pregnancy
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
Infertility, miscarriage and C-sections are fast becoming important topics of discussion for anyone wanting to become pregnant. The rate of infertility, miscarriages and C-sections are at an all time high. Add everyday worry and anxiety to the equation and you will easily see how stress can contribute to these problems.
Stress interferes with the reproductive process and a major cause for infertility and miscarriages. The reason is simple…stress depletes progesterone.
The word ‘progesterone’ means “for gestation.” Which means we need this hormone, if we want be become pregnant and stay pregnant. Progesterone nourishes the uterine lining in preparation for the implanted, fertilized egg. It is progesterone that continually feeds and nourishes the uterus during pregnancy. Unfortunately, constant stress causes a decrease in your progesterone levels and is associated with infertility and miscarriages.
When you are constantly in that “fight or flight” mode, your adrenal glands will produce additional cortisol and adrenaline. This is a normal process. The problem is this -- in order to make cortisol, which is a stress hormone, your adrenal glands need progesterone. This causes your progesterone to be used in making stress hormones, as opposed to what it is designed to do, which is to support your pregnancy. This is commonly referred to as the “progesterone steal.”
It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. The body is designed for survival and when you are steadily in the “fight or flight” mode, it is more important for the body to run away from the threat than it is to have a baby. The constant demand for cortisol is going to reduce your levels of progesterone. Inadequate levels of progesterone strongly interfere with the reproductive process. Additionally, low progesterone is another reason why so many women struggle with PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, etc. Their progesterone is being stolen to make cortisol! This whole ‘progesterone steal’ process causes a deficiency and ultimately affects the balance of progesterone to estrogen and testosterone.
Supplementing with progesterone (I prefer sublingual progesterone over topical creams) can do wonders for so many women who are struggling with infertility, miscarriages, PMS, hot flashes, night sweats and other hormonal imbalances. Yet I always encourage my patients to address the reason for the lack of progesterone. If it is do to stress, you need to support those exhausted adrenal glands with a good adrenal supplement.
If we merely add progesterone, without properly nourishing those depleted adrenal glands, we are always going to have to supplement with progesterone. But if we strengthen our adrenal glands and manage our stress, we won’t be stealing all our progesterone. Most importantly – you can never get your progesterone levels back to normal if your adrenal glands are fatigued and exhausted.
Next time we will discuss how to accurately measure your hormone levels and how to support your progesterone.
Dr. Len Lopez is a nutrition and fitness expert and author of “To Burn or Not to Burn, Fat is the Question.” You can learn more about progesterone and how to keep those hormones in balance by listening to his weekly radio show. Sign up for his Free weekly health tips and take advantage of his “online health quizzes.”
Categories: Stress, Cortisol, Adrenals, and Thyroid Function,Women's Health Issues
Dr Len,
I wii apprecaite it if I can get a response back I saw your name in the cbn site and my husband and I are cbn members. On two occassions we have lost 2 kids I get pregnant and it gets to between 22-23weeks and suddenly things just go down and I loss my pregnancies can I get some help from you? you are probably the God sent we have been waiting for.Please help us give us the happyness we are looking for
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I am so sad to hear your story and hope I can give you some help. My wife and I know some of the feelings you probably have gone through.
As far as miscarriages goes, it seems like here in the states they don't measure or look at progesterone levels, yet it is known especially in Europe that progesterone or lack of it is the leading cause of miscarriages.
As far as your situation, I would definitely have your progesterone levels checked....I would definitely map it out over 30 days with a 7 or 11 day saliva sample. I would also measure adrenal function and see how stress is impacting your body. There I would measure cortisol and DHEA....two key hormones that help determine adrenals function, which is related to stress. this is important because the body will 'steal' your available progesterone in order to make cortisol, one of your stress hormones, and leave you with an inadequate amount of progesterone to support the fetus.
it's amazing that doctors will tell everyone to lower their stress while pregnant, but most doctors don't realize what it is that causes our body to produce more of it's stress hormones. I beleive in the article I wrote, i talked about the importance of keeping your blood sugar stable....because when it drops....its stressful to your body. The same goes for people who are always struggling with bloating, gas and indigestion, because those symptoms trigger your adrenals to produce more of its stress hormones. and to make those stress hormones, especailly cortisol....your body 'steals' progesterone and that will interfere with your pregnancy.
If we do determine that progesterone levels are low - i would ask your doctor for a prescription for sublingual progesterone that can be compounded into what is called a 'trouche" I hope I spelled that correct. It is a sublingual progesterone that is so much easier to give then a 'shot' or supposotory.
I hope this helps you, if you need some specific help let me also suggest you take a few of our online health quizzes such as for Stress, blood sugar and digestion.....that will let you know if your body may be overworking and part of the problem. Again, I don't know what is going on with your situation. It could be lack of progesterone which is common for miscarriages, but than again, it may be something completely else. But the first things first....rule out the obvious!
I would make sure that stress isn't the problem. Let me also say. I have many patients tell me - NO stress isn't the problem...but they are only thinking of stress as mental/emotional....they haven't looked or been told that blood sugar imbalances, indigestion and homronal imbalances also trigger your stress hormones and throw your body out of balance.
Hope I was able to help, let me know if there is anything else I can do. If you want to do the testing and your doctor hasn't ordered them for you in the past....there is a good chance they probably aren't familiar with these tests ....many doctors only know what they know and only assume if it wasn't taught in school it must not be important. But many of the lecturer's I attend are teaching the most cutting edge information.
Hope that helps,
Dr. Len
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Hello Dr. Len
I suffered a miscarriage a couple of months ago. They checked my progesterone levels and it was an 11.6. I want to get pregnant again, and am planning to take progon B. What do you think? Is there anything else I can do?
Thanks for your help.
Risa,
My wife has been on sublingual progesterone for almost her entire pregnancy. Remember when your stress levels go up your body steals progesterone in order to make cortisol. So keep an eye on your stress and that there are different types of stress. I would definitely have your adrenals first to measure and see if your cortisol and DHEA levels are in balance. If they aren't right now...it needs to be addressed prior to getting pregnant, and identify where your stress is coming from.
Regarding a one time blood test to measure your progesterone is NOT a good indication of your levels, becasue your progesterone fluctuates so much in 30 days....the best way to map-out your progesterone is with a 30 day...saliva test that includes 7 or 11 saliva samples over those 30 days.
Blessings,
Dr. Len
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Hello Dr. Len,
I had a miscarriage 1 month ago, at 9 weeks. As I was looking for the cause I went to a Acupuncturist who found out that my adrenals are week and put me on total GHR (which contains DHEA and lots of nutriens which help heal the adrenals etc.) and DSF Herbal. I have a hyperactive doughter who may cause some stress on me, so I am wondering what I can do to keep my next pregnancy as I am not certain if I can keep taking those herbs etc. during pregnancy I read different opinions about that and I have not much control over the stress I am facing. I do not believe that measuring my blood progest. levels would tell anybody much because I feel that they can fluctuate fast depending on the situation I am facing and how stressed I am. I also read about people taking HYdrocortisone during pregnancy I do not know much about that an if this is neccesarry to keep a pregnancy while strugeling with adrenal problems.
Any I Idea or help would be greatly appriciated.
Thanks a lot
Claudia
Claudia,
Miscarriages are tough to figure out but lack of progesterone is a huge factor becauase of all of the stress many of us are under. I know with my wife I had her on progesterone sublinguals to help keep her levels high....but remember the primary reason it is low is because of stress, poor diet.....basically adrenal exhaustion...which needs to be taken care of first.
Remember, you can never balance your reproductive hormones...if your adrenal glands are depleted and overworked....so work on that first....if you need some help, let my office know and we could set up an appt. if you want one.
Dr. Len
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