Hormones and Metabolism: Does Progesterone Cause Weight Gain?

What Is Progesterone?

Progesterone is a vital hormone that plays a crucial role in a woman's health. It is mainly produced in the ovaries, but can also be produced in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands. One of the main responsibilities of progesterone is to prepare the lining of the uterus for pregnancy by thickening the endometrium to create an ideal environment for a fertilized egg to implant. If pregnancy occurs, progesterone continues to be produced to support the growth and development of the fetus. Progesterone also helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and can help to alleviate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). 

Weight Change As A Health Signal

So can progesterone cause weight gain? While it is normal to fluctuate a few pounds up and down, dramatic weight gain or weight loss that is difficult to overcome is not. When extreme weight changes happen, it is one of your body’s main signs that something is going on beneath the surface, most likely due to your hormones.

Hormones can influence weight because they play a key role in regulating metabolism, hunger, and satiety. For example, hormones such as insulin and glucagon help to regulate blood sugar levels and influence how the body stores and uses energy from food. The thyroid hormones play a role in regulating metabolism and how the body burns calories. And sex hormones - including estrogen and progesterone - affect how fat is distributed and stored in the body.

Is It Estrogen Or Progesterone That Causes Weight Gain?

The truth is, both influence your weight based on how they operate with each other. Progesterone works closely with estrogen to maintain hormone balance in women. The balance of the three forms of estrogen - estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) - is crucial for overall hormone health. Healthy progesterone levels are also necessary to maintain estrogen levels to avoid estrogen dominance. An imbalance of progesterone can be caused by chronic stress, age, a lack of ovulation, thyroid problems, and nutrient deficiencies.

How Progesterone Levels Can Impact Weight Gain Or Loss

So how does progesterone make you gain weight?  Ultimately, progesterone's role in weight regulation is closely intertwined with estrogen and how it interacts with this hormone. As I briefly mentioned above, progesterone and estrogen work hand-in-hand, but in order to understand how their relationship impacts your weight, we first need to look at how they influence your weight individually.

Estrogen promotes storing energy as fat in certain parts of your body whereas progesterone supports the metabolism of stored fat so that you burn it as energy. It also acts as a natural diuretic, encouraging your body to expel excess water - aka water weight and swelling.

That’s why, low progesterone can in turn lead to weight gain as there are minimal levels of this hormone to prevent estrogen levels from going haywire and high progesterone can result in rapid weight loss. This is the perfect example of the Goldilocks principle in action…”not too high, not too low, but just right.”

Signs That Progesterone Is The Reason For Your Weight Gain Or Loss

Changes in weight can happen with a variety of health problems, not just progesterone imbalance. Therefore it is important to pay attention to your other symptoms happening in conjunction with weight fluctuation to better determine if progesterone is the reason for your weight changes.

Symptoms of progesterone weight gain 

When progesterone levels are too low it can interfere with many different areas, including mental and sexual health. If you have any of these symptoms, low progesterone may be to blame:

• Irregular periods
• Low libido
• Hot flashes
• Migraines or frequent headaches
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Weight gain
• PMS
• Infertility
• Acne
• Trouble sleeping 

Symptoms of weight loss due to progesterone

What are the symptoms for too much progesterone? In general, high progesterone levels are less common than low progesterone and are usually the result of hormone replacement therapy or birth control. In addition to weight loss you may experience:

• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Water retention
• Low libido

How To Test Progesterone Levels

There are various ways to test progesterone levels, including blood, saliva, and urine tests. In functional medicine, we often prefer saliva testing as it can provide a more accurate picture of hormone levels over a longer period of time. Saliva testing can also measure the ratio of progesterone to estrogen, which is important for overall hormone balance. Blood tests can be useful to measure progesterone levels during a specific point in the menstrual cycle, while urine tests can measure overall hormone metabolites. 

It's important to note that progesterone levels can fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, so testing at the appropriate time is crucial for accurate results. A functional medicine practitioner can help determine the best testing method and timing based on an individual's unique needs and symptoms.

Lifestyle Tips To Support Healthy Hormone Levels

Thankfully, there are many ways that you can naturally encourage healthy progesterone levels. Keep in mind that while you may need some more targeted support, you can easily implement these tips into your daily routine without a complete lifestyle overhaul.

1. Eat more healthy fats

Increasing your fat intake if you are struggling with losing weight might seem like the opposite of what you should do. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. See, cholesterol is responsible for synthesizing pregnenolone for your body to produce progesterone. Recent studies (1) have found that regular consumption of healthy fats can help increase progesterone levels and in turn, help put you on the path to a healthy weight.

2. Supplements

• Chaste Tree Berry: A popular supplement for balancing progesterone, it has been shown to boost low progesterone production. (2)
• Magnesium: Studies have found that adequate magnesium levels were necessary to keep estrogen levels in check to avoid low progesterone due to estrogen dominance. (3)
• Vitamin B6: This vitamin is necessary for estrogen metabolism and keeping progesterone levels in check.
• Vitamin C: Studies have found that supplementing with Vitamin C was able to increase progesterone levels by 77%! (4) 

3. Alleviate stress

Chronic stress and high cortisol can disrupt the delicate balance of hormones in the body, including inhibiting progesterone production. Incorporating stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, and breathwork can help lower stress levels and support healthy hormone balance.

4. Daily movement

Regular exercise has been shown to help regulate hormone levels, including progesterone. If you are new to exercising on a regular basis I recommend starting off slow with 30 minutes of low-impact movement a day whether that is walking or yoga.

5. Get adequate sleep

Sleep is essential for your body’s hormone production. Aim to get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. 

READ NOW: The Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Sleep, According To A Functional Medicine Doctor 

6. Try a metabolic reset

Balancing hormones is just one piece of the weight loss puzzle. Unlock the best natural tools for your unique weight loss challenges and results that last with a personalized metabolic reset experience. The Metabolic Recharge Program includes tools and benefits such as live calls, recipes, exercise plans, group support, progress tracking and more. It’s perfect for those who 

• Have tried it all to lose weight
• Are sick of yo-yo dieting
• Struggle with underlying health issues
• Want personalized nutrition guidance
• Are looking for a science-based approach
• Desire to have more energy and vitality
• Seek a community of support