Did you know that progesterone is one of your most important hormones for all stages of your life? Low progesterone creates trouble for women in mid life. Having enough progesterone is very important for your wellbeing, especially during perimenopause.

Unfortunately, it’s common to reach this time of transition with low progesterone, which creates a host of unpleasant symptoms. 

Interestingly, these symptoms look like what in Ayurveda we call high Vata.

At the age of 35 your progesterone levels naturally start to decline. From age 45 this decline is more rapid.

Hello Perimenopause!

Living with less progesterone is generally not a problem as we no longer need to hold the uterine lining in place for pregnancy at this time of life. But we do still need to receive the nourishing and stabilising effects that progesterone gives.

I think of progesterone as the multi-tasking hormone (woman) who gives so much to others that she ends up depleted and burned out.

Sound familiar?

Let’s take a look at what Progesterone does and what happens when it is too low.

Progesterone’s key functions

Progesterone helps:

Blood sugar stability and encourages fat use for energy

Support good bone density & normalizes blood clotting so is helpful as stroke protection

Mood stability as it is a natural antidepressant

Keep skin and hair well nourished

Hold the uterine lining in place when pregnant

Protect against fibrocystic breasts, breast cancers, fibroids, cysts and endometriosis – essentially it helps keep estrogen in check!

Good thyroid function

And progesterone can shape shift! It can be a precursor for creating other hormones such as estrogen, DHEA, testosterone, and cortisol.

Low Progesterone = High Vata and creates: 

Sugar cravings

Estrogen dominance for some women, with increased risk of ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, and breast cancer

Low basal body temperature

Light and broken sleep

Osteoarthritis and lowered bone density

Recurrent miscarriages

Decreased libido and/or vaginal dryness

Thinning of skin, brittle nails, dry hair, cracked heels

Anxiety or depression

Fatigue and foggy thinking

Irregular periods, spotting before your period begins, more blood clots

A short luteal phase – less than 12 days between bleeding and ovulation.

All of these symptoms of low progesterone are, in Ayurvedic terms, created by high Vata – aka the Wind Energy that governs your nervous system.

High Vata is common in the fast paced, pushing on kind of society that we are steeped in. It is even more common for women as we reach our 40’s.

It is so important to stop and smell the blossoms in life!

Our naturally declining progesterone, coupled with ongoing stress from this time of life of raising families or business or, often, both, merge with the changes that perimenopause brings to create the perfect storm of high Vata and low progesterone.

The good news is that this scenario can be reversed!

With simple and effective habits and treatments you can nourish your nervous system and adrenals, stabilise your progesterone and reduce the high Vata to feel more grounded, nourished, energised and create a much easier ride of Menopause.

If you are feeling the effects of low progesterone you are invited to join The Heart Of Menopause, my new 3 part, in person Workshop series created to help women who want to move through Perimenopause with greater health, more ease, and consciously choose to thrive in their second half of life!

Click here to learn more and see when the next Heart Of Menopause is scheduled.

Or, Click here to make a time to work with me or book a free connection and clarity call.

Thank you for being here. I hope this information is helpful for you!

xx