61: Low Progesterone Could Be Why You’re So Tired, Bloated, and Anxious

Is low progesterone the missing piece behind your mood swings, fatigue, irregular cycles, or early miscarriages? In this episode, we dive deep into what progesterone actually does, why so many women are unknowingly deficient, and how it impacts everything from your sleep to your fertility to your emotional stability. You’ll learn the most common signs of low progesterone, why conventional testing often misses it, and what you can start doing today to support healthy hormone balance—naturally.

Whether you’re postpartum, trying to conceive, or just want to feel like yourself again, this episode is a must-listen.

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Transcript

What Your Symptoms Might Be Telling You About Low Progesterone

Hey friend, welcome back to the podcast. I’m really excited to chat with you today about progesterone. This hormone is incredibly important for both your cycle and your overall sense of well-being—and yet, most women know so little about it.

Let’s start with what progesterone actually does.

This hormone is produced after ovulation. It’s what dominates the second half of your cycle—so if you think of estrogen as the star of the first half, progesterone is running the show in the second half.

But here’s the problem: a lot of women aren’t producing enough. And there are several reasons why that might be the case.

Why Low Progesterone Happens

First of all, you can’t make progesterone unless you ovulate. So if you’re not ovulating, or ovulating irregularly, your body isn’t making enough of this hormone.

That might be due to stress, under-eating, being on or recently off birth control, or even excessive exercise. All of those factors can suppress ovulation, which in turn suppresses progesterone.

There’s also a natural decline in progesterone as we age, especially in our late 30s and early 40s. That’s often when women start to feel like their cycles are off, or their PMS symptoms have suddenly worsened.

Signs You Might Have Low Progesterone

Let’s go through some signs and symptoms that often show up when progesterone is low:

• You feel anxious or wired in the second half of your cycle
• Your sleep gets disrupted around ovulation or before your period
• You have shorter cycles (less than 26 days)
• Your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and your period) is less than 10 days
• You spot before your period starts
• You struggle to conceive or maintain pregnancy
• Your PMS is intense—mood swings, sore breasts, bloating, etc.

Does any of that sound familiar?

How I Support Clients with Low Progesterone

When I work with clients dealing with symptoms of low progesterone, we first zoom out and look at why ovulation might not be happening consistently. Often, it’s a stress issue—whether physical, emotional, or metabolic.

We might do HTMA testing to check mineral imbalances, because certain deficiencies (like low potassium, magnesium, or zinc) can impact hormone production.

We might also run a DUTCH test to confirm hormone patterns and see how estrogen and progesterone are behaving throughout the cycle. This gives us insight into things like estrogen dominance or adrenal dysfunction that could be suppressing progesterone.

From there, we build a plan that supports ovulation, balances blood sugar, and replenishes key nutrients. That’s how we bring progesterone back online naturally—without jumping straight to synthetic hormones.

You’re Not Broken—You Just Need a New Strategy

If you’ve been feeling like something is off in your cycle, or like your moods and energy crash after ovulation, I want you to know that it’s not “just how it is.”

Low progesterone is common—but it’s also correctable.

When we support the body with the right tools, it responds. I’ve seen this over and over again with my clients, and it’s something I’m really passionate about helping more women understand.

If today’s episode resonates with you, go ahead and hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss what’s coming next—we’re diving into estrogen dominance, PCOS, and more hormone-related topics in the coming weeks.

And if you want personalized support, the link to apply to work with me is in the show notes. I’d love to help you get to the root of what’s going on and finally feel like yourself again.

Thanks for being here, and I’ll talk to you next week!