Making Sense of Perimenopause - Part 2 of 2

The first part of this two-part series on Perimenopause was published last month. Check it out HERE if you haven’t yet. This month, we’re focusing on the role of progesterone during perimenopause.

As previously discussed, progesterone begins to drop during the perimenopause phase. In a perfect world, that is ok. However, if stress is higher than our body can handle, our body can “steal” from our progesterone to make more cortisol – essentially to keep us running from the imaginary bear. In other words, our body is designed to survive, and if necessary, it will make more cortisol at the expense of balance in other hormones. Thus, stress management and perception of stress are VITAL in aspects of life and particularly this phase.

Symptoms of Low Progesterone can include:

Irregular periods
Low libido
Hot flashes
Migraines/headaches
Depression/anxiety/mood swings
Weight gain
PMS
Acne
Insomnia

Thankfully, there are several options to support progesterone levels.

Supplements to Support Optimal Progesterone Levels

Vi t ex (Chaste Tree Berry) is a wonderful supplement to support progesterone and overall hormonal balance.

Magnesium Glycinate/Malate combo is not only calming to the nervous system and aids in sleep quality, but it also supports progesterone production.

Evening Primrose Oil can be especially helpful for the premenstrual symptoms as well as hot flash support.

Seed Cycling

Seed Cycling is another helpful tool for overall hormonal balance. It can be used in the presence of irregular menstruation as well. Check out our new blog about seed cycling HERE.