Do You Have Low Progesterone or High Estrogen

If you suffer from PMS, period pain, or other menstrual disharmonies, you may be wondering if they are caused by high estrogen or low progesterone.

You’ve probably learned that high estrogen levels (estrogen dominance) can produce PMS, mood swings, fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, and a whole slew of other menstrual problems.

But so can progesterone deficiency, because estrogen dominance is often accompanied by low progesterone levels (when one is too high, the other will become relatively low).

It can be confusing to sort through the often-contradictory symptoms and come up with a correct diagnosis.

Low Progesterone or High Estrogen

In this post, I’ll help you make a distinction between these two common patterns of hormonal imbalances so you can get down to the bottom of your symptoms – and choose the right remedies.

Here’s the key:

High estrogen levels tend to manifest as signs of excess, whereas low progesterone levels are likely to produce symptoms of deficiency.

Below are some examples:

Emotional Symptoms of High Estrogen Versus Low Progesterone

If you have estrogen dominance, you may experience more “turmoil mood symptoms,” such as anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, anger, tension, mood swings, impatience, irritability, oversensitivity, or feeling overwhelmed or out of control.

On the other hand, if you have progesterone deficiency, you may experience more “blue mood symptoms,” such as feeling depressed or sad, crying easily, loneliness, a lowered desire to talk or move, a feeling of unattractiveness, low self-image, or sleeping more than usual.

Physical and Mental Symptoms of High Estrogen Versus Low Progesterone

Estrogen dominance tends to manifest itself as various symptoms of excess, such as bloating, nausea, gas, acne, breast tenderness, pulsing headaches, etc.

Whereas progesterone deficiency can make you feel tired, or cause you to experience a mental fog, food cravings, diarrhea, dizziness, dull headaches, or a decreased sexual desire.

Both high estrogen and low progesterone can cause insomnia. To learn the difference, check out high estrogen insomnia versus low progesterone insomnia.

Menstrual Symptoms of High Estrogen Versus Low Progesterone

When estrogen levels are too high, there may be a build-up of the uterine lining, which can cause intense, stabbing pains during period, and heavy menstrual bleeding with dark clots.

Due to the stagnation in the reproductive organs, you may feel bloated in the abdomen, have swollen and painful breasts, or experience pain one to two days before your period.  

Since progesterone deficiency often accompanies estrogen dominance, you may experience similar symptoms if your progesterone levels are low. But the strength is likely to be weaker.

For example, you may have more of a dull pain or dragging sensation in the lower abdomen, which is often relieved by pressure or massage. The color of your menstrual blood is not as dark, and the amount of your bleeding is also less.

As you can see, though similar, the signs of estrogen dominance versus symptoms of progesterone deficiency differ in intensity and strength.

Here are a couple simple questions to ask yourself when faced with mixed signs: “Do my overall symptoms suggest excess or deficiency? Do I feel robust or weak?”

If you feel robust and have more of the symptoms of excess, estrogen dominance may be the underlying cause of your hormonal imbalance. Study the 5 leading causes of estrogen dominance and learn natural ways to low elevated estrogen levels.

If you feel weak and have more of the symptoms of deficiency, you might want to focus on supporting progesterone. Review the 7 common causes of progesterone deficiency and learn how to use natural supplements to increase your progesterone production naturally.

I hope you find this post helpful. As always, please leave a comment to share your questions, thoughts and experiences.