Progesterone: What It Does, How It Affects Your Body, and What You Need to Know

When you hear progesterone, a key female hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy and regulates the menstrual cycle. Also known as the pregnancy hormone, it plays a role far beyond fertility—it affects your mood, sleep, bone health, and even how your body handles stress. This isn’t just something your doctor mentions when you’re trying to get pregnant. Progesterone is active in your body every single month, whether you’re ovulating, on birth control, or entering menopause.

It works hand-in-hand with estrogen, the other major female sex hormone that drives the first half of your cycle. Too much estrogen without enough progesterone? That’s often why you feel bloated, moody, or get heavy periods. Low progesterone can mean irregular cycles, trouble sleeping, or even difficulty holding a pregnancy. And if you’re on hormone replacement therapy, a treatment used to manage menopause symptoms by balancing declining hormone levels, progesterone is usually included to protect your uterus from overgrowth. It’s not just about replacing what’s lost—it’s about keeping things balanced.

Progesterone doesn’t just live in your ovaries. It’s made in your placenta during pregnancy, your adrenal glands under stress, and even your brain. That’s why low levels can show up as anxiety, brain fog, or unexplained fatigue—not just missed periods. Some people use natural progesterone creams, others take pills or vaginal suppositories. But it’s not one-size-fits-all. What helps one person’s PMS might make another person feel worse. The key is knowing your levels and understanding how your body responds.

Below, you’ll find real, practical guides on how progesterone interacts with other hormones, how it affects your sleep and mood, what it means for your fertility, and how it’s used in treatments like birth control and menopause care. No fluff. Just what you need to understand your body better—and make smarter choices about your health.