Did you know that low progesterone in our 40s is one of the commonest hormone imbalances?
Having small mood shifts right before your period is normal, but being on an emotional rollercoaster all the time is not.
In fact, persistent mood swings and anxiety could be a sign of hormone imbalance, specifically low progesterone.
You can feel amazing when your hormones are in balance but hormones can quickly become your frenemy when they are out of whack!
Many women don’t always realise their hormone imbalances are to blame and they certainly don't realise that its fixable. They attribute it to too much stress, too many family obligations, or just feeling burned out all the time.
They just can’t figure out why they seem to have the “super-sized unhappy meal” from feeling regularly anxious and depressed, on edge and angry, weepy then foggy, all while they are trying their best to take care of their family and maintain their careers.
For the millions of women who suffer from hormonal imbalances, life can feel like a never-ending rollercoaster ride of mood swings and unpredictable emotions.
Among the most common hormone disorders is low progesterone. This just isn't talked about in conventional medicine, which focuses on disease rather than the dysfunctions and imbalances that can precede it.
All too often, the conventional lens approaches the problem as: "you're either in menopause or you're not." Typically hormone tests aren't done and if you're in menopause you might get some standard HRT (usually synthetic hormone-like drugs) and if you're not you might get offered a contraceptive (which are always synthetic hormone-like drugs).
Here at London Bioidentical Hormones we test hormones, we individualise doses of bioidentical hormones and we tweak things as your needs change. That means we can address imbalances like low progesterone in your 40s. We make a difference to the people who have been told they just have to put up with it.
Progesterone, when imbalanced, can have a far-reaching ripple effect throughout our bodies. It affects both the physical and emotional aspects of our health, from our digestion, aiding in cognition, working as a sedative for sleep, and protecting the nervous system – all functions which directly impact our mood.
People often underestimate the impact of hormones on their mental state, yet an imbalance in progesterone or other hormones can cause emotions to swing like a pendulum – from extreme highs to lows and back again in a never-ending cycle. That’s why looking at the connection between hormone balance and overall well-being is essential for lasting mental health.
Low progesterone isn't just a hollow warning – in addition to provoking symptoms like mood swings and irritability, low progesterone has also been linked to depression, insomnia, and even weight gain.
So if your health suddenly feels out of balance, don't rush out looking for the next trendy supplement; start by making sure your hormones are at an optimal level. Your mood will thank you!
When it comes to managing low progesterone levels and their emotional impact, taking control of your lifestyle is key - but that doesn't mean you have to go it alone!
Learning from a trained hormone expert who understands how all the aspects of your lifestyle can boost or deplete progesterone can make all the difference. Understanding how shifting your food choices to a hormone-friendly diet, limiting environmental toxins found in foods, lawn care and makeup and how to upgrade your sleep, stress management and mindfulness can all shift your hormone balance and your overall emotional well-being.
Taking care of our emotional well-being isn't just good for the heart – it's good for hormone balance too!
First, examine ways that you can boost calm, and structure and create emotional resilience. Sit down and make a list of all your current emotional stressors and ways you can resolve them or lighten the load.
That might require setting stronger boundaries, not over-committing yourself, learning how to say “No” to certain family members, steering clear or limiting interaction with toxic or negative people and not overindulging in unhealthy practises like body shaming, too much social media, and junk foods.
Once you have your list, you may be tempted to try implementing it all at once, but that can be stressful! Instead, each week, choose one emotional stressor to tackle at a time and test it out throughout the week. Taking 5 minutes in the morning to journal about your experiences can remind you to set those boundaries before you make a decision on autopilot.
While some symptoms may be improved with mindset and lifestyle adjustments, you may find that it’s not enough to support your progesterone levels naturally.
If you are already eating healthy, working out, setting those healthy boundaries and yet still feeling emotionally “off kilter”, it’s time to call an expert who can do the right testing to see exactly whether your hormones are imbalanced and at suboptimal levels.
They can recommend further treatments such as medical-grade supplementation further diet changes or even the appropriate bioidentical hormone replacement therapy BHRT. Getting the right treatment can break the vicious circle and get you spiralling upwards.
If you're based in the UK, book a free discovery call to find out more here.
If you're not based in the UK, you can't work with our BHRT Drs but you can still work with our functional medicine nutritionist and coach: please call the clinic on +44203 303 0237 to find out more.
London Bioidentical Hormones is a Virtual Practice in the United Kingdom and serves patients throughout the United Kingdom.
