Progesterone is an essential hormone for healthy and successful pregnancies. It plays a role in maintaining the uterine lining as well as other critical physiological functions, such as regulating estrogen levels. For many women, maintaining adequate progesterone levels is essential for a successful pregnancy.
However, many women suffer from low progesterone levels or progesterone deficiency. This can lead to a number of symptoms and complications associated with pregnancy, including miscarriage and preterm labor. Fortunately, there are natural ways to promote and increase progesterone levels in order to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Functional medicine is an approach to healthcare that focuses on the whole person, looking at the body as an integrated system. It uses diet, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplementation to promote optimal health and well-being. Functional medicine also utilizes natural progesterone therapy as a way to boost progesterone levels in pregnant women.
Let’s take a closer look at how you can use functional medicine techniques to promote and increase progesterone naturally.
How Progesterone Works – and Why You May Not Produce Enough
Progesterone works by increasing the production of endometrial cells in the uterus, which helps to maintain a healthy uterine lining. There are several reasons why women may not produce enough progesterone, including:
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Low ovarian reserve
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Advanced age
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Uterine fibroids
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Endometriosis
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
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Insulin resistance
Your diet and lifestyle also affect progesterone production. Poor nutrition, poor sleeping habits, and chronic stress can all contribute to low progesterone levels.
How to Promote Progesterone Levels with Functional Medicine
Functional medicine practitioners focus on using natural treatments to promote health and well-being. Here are some of the ways they can help to promote and increase progesterone levels:
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Diet and Nutrition – Eating a balanced diet with plenty of healthy fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is key to maintaining progesterone levels. Eating foods that are high in cholesterol can also help boost progesterone production. Consider adding nutrients to your diets such as zinc, vitamin B6, and omega-3 fatty acids.
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Herbal Supplements – Certain herbs can help to promote progesterone production, including chasteberry, wild yam root, motherwort, and red raspberry leaf. Talk to your functional medicine practitioner about which herbs may be right for you. A personalized supplement plan can help ensure you get the right dosage and formulation for your needs.
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Lifestyle Changes – Stress, lack of sleep, and excessive exercise can all hurt progesterone levels. Working with a functional medicine practitioner can help you make healthy lifestyle changes that will promote optimal health, including increased progesterone production.
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Natural Progesterone Therapy – Some functional medicine practitioners may recommend natural progesterone therapy as a way to boost progesterone levels in pregnant women. This is done by either taking a supplement or applying a cream topically. Your practitioner can best advise you on the most effective dosage and application method for your needs.
Achieve Balance with Internal Healing & Wellness
Progesterone is an essential hormone for a thriving lifestyle, and it can be challenging to maintain the right balance of hormones. Fortunately, functional medicine offers natural ways to promote and increase progesterone levels in pregnant women. Focusing on diet, lifestyle changes, targeted supplementation, and natural progesterone therapy can help keep your progesterone levels in balance.
If you live in the Houston or The Woodlands area, consider Internal Healing & Wellness for your functional medicine needs. Our team of integrative physicians and practitioners provides personalized care and treatments to help you achieve balance and optimal health. Dr. Khan has years of experience helping patients with hormonal imbalances and can provide the care you need to help promote healthy progesterone levels. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
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