We’ve covered estrogen and testosterone in our functional medicine Toronto blog, but what about progesterone? This hormone is noteworthy for supporting reproduction in the female body. Lacking it can lead to various discomforts, such as acne, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and more. 

Progesterone – which is also called the ‘pregnancy hormone’ – is imperative for men and women. The steroid hormone helps regulate menstrual periods and optimize immune function in the fetus and pregnant mom. In men, it contributes to developing sperm and testosterone, but male bodies tend to use lower progesterone amounts compared to women.  

This article from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre focuses on progesterone in women. We’ll discuss: 

• • What happens when levels are low;
  • How to tell when you’re deficient;
  • And details about customizing our patients’ functional medicine treatment plans. 

What is progesterone?

If your health goals involve planning for conception, understanding this hormone may be valuable for your personal knowledge. 

• • The hormone is needed to prime the uterine lining for implanting a fertilized egg. If you don’t get pregnant, the lining sheds during your next period and progesterone levels will decline. If you happen to get pregnant, the hormone will increase to support your pregnancy. 
  • Progesterone levels heighten during each trimester that you’re pregnant. When you’ve reached 28-40 weeks of pregnancy, the hormone tends to reach its peak levels. High amounts while pregnant helps prevent the female body from getting a period and to avoid early labor. “Because progesterone is so important in maintain[ing] the early stages of pregnancy, low progesterone levels may make it hard for you to conceive and may put you at higher risk for miscarriage,” explains the Cleveland Clinic.
  • Think of estrogen as the pregnancy hormone’s teammate, helping to balance progesterone levels. Having low progesterone can lead to estrogen dominance, which may trigger weight fluctuations, heavy periods, low libido, and more symptoms.
  • Progesterone contributes to supporting bone health. “The process of resorption and building of new bone requires hormones such as estradiol and progesterone, as well as bone-forming cells, such as osteoblasts,” verifies StatPearls. 
  • Understanding the cause of this deficiency is key for treating symptoms and this hormone shortage. Some of the reasons the female body can lack progesterone are: 
    • Perimenopause
    • Being diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) or anovulation
    • Chronic stress
    • Exercising excessively
    • Having an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
    • Low cholesterol levels
    • Crash dieting (i.e. quickly removing all carbohydrates from your diet)

Suggested Reading: Healthy Aging and Neuroprotection with Fisetin and Functional Medicine from Toronto

How do I know if I’m lacking progesterone? 

Functional medicine is a patient-centered, systems-oriented approach to healthcare that emphasizes individualized care and addresses the root causes of disease.

It does not apply a one-size-fits-all method to wellness. To identify why progesterone is declining, the functional medicine model may offer new insight for symptom management and supporting long-lasting wellness. 

Functional medicine addresses what is happening in your biology by analyzing aspects of your uniqueness, like genetic factors/family histories, lifestyle and environmental factors, nutrient deficiencies, etc. For progesterone concerns, it’s important to consider your current symptoms, as this deficiency effects pregnant and non-pregnant females differently: 

Symptoms in non-pregnant women	Symptoms in pregnant women
-Infertility -Mood swings -Sleep issues -Digestive issues (i.e. bloating) -Weight gain -Irregular periods	-Spotting in the first trimester -Cramping -Recurrent miscarriages -Preterm (premature) labor -Ectopic pregnancy

Understanding the root cause of hormone balancing issues may involve functional medicine laboratory testing, and these can provide details that conventional medicine tests may not be able to disclose. These lab tools are designed to scrutinize how your bodily functions are holding up. For example, functional medicine clinics like ours may use DUTCH testing to capture an overall profile of your hormones. These results can confirm how much progesterone you’re lacking, and the details would be used to modify your treatment options. A personalized treatment plan may include:

• • Lifestyle modifications to reduce chronic stress;
  • Alleviating nutritional deficiencies that might be affecting progesterone levels. Nutritional/natural therapies may be advised, such as nutraceuticals and IV therapy;
  • Doses for hormone-related therapies that are arranged for your biology. These may include various hormone optimization programs, compounded bioidentical hormones, etc.;
  • Altering your exercise regime accordingly;
  • Improving sleep conditions;
  • Altering your diet (i.e. adopting the Mediterranean Diet). 

Hormonal issues vary between individuals due to different lifestyle and genetic factors, exposures to environmental toxins, etc. Our lab services – which include testing for hormones, gut pathogens, heavy metals, etc. – help our healthcare providers target your personal health issues, including low progesterone levels. Please reach out to learn about our integrative functional medicine strategies. 

Treating hormone imbalances at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre

Personalized integrative medicine services can target your current symptoms and help prevent/delay the formation of chronic conditions, such as those potentially linked to heart disease and metabolic syndrome. 

If you’re interested in our functional medicine treatment plans and have not yet visited us, follow these steps to become a new patient: 

• • Book and attend your first visit with us. We’ll have a lengthy chat about your health goals and underlying concerns. If necessary, functional lab tests may be advised during this appointment.  

• • Once we scrutinize your test results, your treatment plan will be tailored with several modalities, including Western medicine integrated with naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, IV therapy, hormone optimization programs, psychotherapy, health detoxification programs, and more. 

Our Yorkville clinic offers in-person and virtual consultations, though intravenous drips, intramuscular injections, and acupuncture must be received on-site. Our health team boasts years of extensive experience combined and we’re affiliated with the Canadian Centres for Regenerative Therapy and Athlete’s Care Sports Medicine Centres. Our goal is for you to understand the benefits of optimal wellness with personalized, tailor-made treatments.

Our hormone optimization programs may be beneficial for tackling brain fog, concentration issues, weight loss, and other aspects of health. Improve your outlook on wellness right now – simply click here to request your consult at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre!

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Barros, L., Tufik, S., & Andersen, M. (2015). The role of progesterone in memory: An overview of three decades. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 49, 193-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.015

Cable JK, Grider MH. Physiology, Progesterone. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558960/

Nagy B, Szekeres-Barthó J, Kovács GL, Sulyok E, Farkas B, Várnagy Á, Vértes V, Kovács K, Bódis J. Key to Life: Physiological Role and Clinical Implications of Progesterone. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Oct 13;22(20):11039. doi: 10.3390/ijms222011039. PMID: 34681696; PMCID: PMC8538505.

Oettel M, Mukhopadhyay AK. Progesterone: the forgotten hormone in men? Aging Male. 2004 Sep;7(3):236-57. doi: 10.1080/13685530400004199. PMID: 15669543.

“Progesterone” from the Cleveland Clinic, reviewed December 29, 2022, viewed on January 12, 2025. 

Söderpalm, A. H., Lindsey, S., Purdy, R. H., Hauger, R., & De Wit, H. (2004). Administration of progesterone produces mild sedative-like effects in men and women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29(3), 339-354. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4530(03)00033-7

Sundström-Poromaa, I., Comasco, E., Sumner, R., & Luders, E. (2020). Progesterone – Friend or foe? Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 59, 100856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100856