Symptoms of Low Progesterone
Women's HealthHormones
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Low Progesterone Symptoms

Low Progesterone Symptoms
Everyday Health
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Updated on May 15, 2025
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Progesterone is a hormone with important functions in the sexual and reproductive health of women and people with ovaries, and having too little can cause problems.

 Progesterone and ovulation are closely linked, as progesterone may be low if ovulation is irregular or not happening.

Low levels of progesterone can cause many uncomfortable symptoms, as well as fertility issues. Sometimes, low progesterone can signal a natural process such as perimenopause, the stage leading up to menopause, or an underlying health issue, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

It is important to know how to spot the symptoms of low progesterone and when to talk to a healthcare professional about potential treatment.

Illustrative graphic titled Symptoms of Low Progesterone shows Irregular Period, Insomnia, Mood Swings, Anxiety and Depression, Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Weight Gain, Bloating and Pregnancy Complications. Everyday Health logo.
Low progesterone may cause some but not necessarily all of these symptoms. Everyday Health

Symptoms of Low Progesterone

The symptoms of low progesterone may differ among people who are pregnant and those who are not. Among people who are not pregnant, symptoms of low progesterone include:



For women in perimenopause or menopause, you may have both low estrogen and low progesterone, causing symptoms such as:

  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Anxiety, depression, and mood swings
  • Thinning skin tissue and vaginal dryness
During a pregnancy, progesterone helps thicken the endometrium of the uterus to help maintain a pregnancy to term.

 The levels stay high to help maintain the pregnancy.

Potential Complications of Low Progesterone

If untreated, low progesterone may affect fertility and immunity in the long run. It may also raise the risk of a condition called endometrial hyperplasia, where the uterus’s endometrium becomes too thick, causing heavy periods.

It may also cause endometrial neoplasia, a condition that raises the risk of endometrial cancer.

Having too little progesterone also may lead to complications resulting from having too much estrogen, which can range from depression and a low libido to weight gain and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Low progesterone during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage.

 It also can lead to premature labor.

When to See a Doctor

Ali Chappell, RD, board-certified reproductive endocrinologist in Houston and a polycystic ovary syndrome and hormone expert at Lilli Health, says it is wise to contact a healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

  • Irregular periods, or anovulation
  • Difficulty conceiving or unexplained infertility
  • Miscarriage
  • Symptoms of “unopposed estrogen,” such as heavy periods, spotting, and mood swings

“A common reason for low progesterone in females is polycystic ovary syndrome, which is due to these patients not ovulating regularly,” Chappell says. “Because persistent anovulation can contribute to health risks, it’s important to have a healthcare provider address it.”

If you are not in perimenopause, the time frame leading up to menopause, it is a good idea to seek medical advice if you have not had a period in three months, says Anne Hussain, ND, author of The Period Literacy Handbook. The same is true if you are in perimenopause and have significant insomnia, she says.

Your healthcare provider can:

  • Help you choose the best progesterone-boosting methods that work for you, depending on what has caused your progesterone to drop in the first place
  • Recommend a personalized treatment plan and establish a timeframe in which you might see results
  • Recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT), in some cases
  • Advise on any potential safety risks that may come with herbal supplements or HRT

Chappell recommends lifestyle changes to address low progesterone levels for premenopausal patients. But she adds discussing HRT with a healthcare provider can be helpful for those with perimenopause who experience symptoms such as heavy or irregular periods, sleep disturbances, night sweats, and mood swings that affect quality of life.

The Takeaway

  • Having low levels of the hormone progesterone can lead to symptoms that include irregular menstrual cycles, sleeping problems, and mood swings.
  • Irregular ovulation or anovulation can cause progesterone to be low.
  • If untreated, low progesterone can lead to fertility and immunity issues.
  • People with symptoms of low progesterone should consult a healthcare professional to determine a personalized plan that best addresses the underlying causes.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Cable JK et al. Physiology, Progesterone. StatPearls. May 1, 2023.
  2. Low Progesterone. Cleveland Clinic. February 6, 2025.
  3. Andersen ML et al. Effects of progesterone on sleep: a possible pharmacological treatment for sleep-breathing disorders? Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2006.
  4. Low Estrogen Level in Menopause. University of Rochester Medical Center.
  5. Reproductive Hormones. Endocrine Society.
  6. Progesterone. University of Rochester Medical Center.
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Anna L. Goldman, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Anna L. Goldman, MD, is a board-certified endocrinologist. She teaches first year medical students at Harvard Medical School and practices general endocrinology in Boston.

Dr. Goldman attended college at Wesleyan University and then completed her residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she was also a chief resident. She moved to Boston to do her fellowship in endocrinology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She joined the faculty after graduation and served as the associate program director for the fellowship program for a number of years.

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Ana Sandoiu

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Ana is a freelance medical copywriter, editor, and health journalist with a decade of experience in content creation. She loves to dive deep into the research and emerge with engaging and informative content everyone can understand. Her strength is combining scientific rigor with empathy and sensitivity, using conscious, people-first language without compromising accuracy.

Previously, she worked as a news editor for Medical News Today and Healthline Media. Her work as a health journalist has reached millions of readers, and her in-depth reporting has been cited in multiple peer-reviewed journals. As a medical copywriter, Ana has worked with award-winning digital agencies to implement marketing strategies for high-profile stakeholders. She’s passionate about health equity journalism, having conceived, written, and edited features that expose health disparities related to race, gender, and other social determinants of health.

Outside of work, she loves dancing, taking analog photos, and binge-watching all the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchises.

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