Ever wondered where is progesterone made in the body? This hormone is vital for wellbeing, so there are several places and ways that it can be produced.
Let’s take a closer look at how your body makes progesterone and what can go wrong.
Where Is Progesterone Made In The Body?
The number one source of progesterone for women is produced after ovulation, around day 14 of their menstrual cycle. At this time, the egg drops and turns into what is known as the corpus luteum. This is a temporary hormone gland that produces progesterone to prepare the body for pregnancy.
The corpus luteum lasts for around 7 days. During this time, the body is in a kind of pre-pregnant state. In fact, it’s common for women to think they are pregnant because the symptoms are so similar – think nausea, bloating and fatigue.
At around day 21, the corpus luteum will be resorbed. As a result, your progesterone level will suddenly drop. This crash can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Intrusive thoughts
- Depression
- PMS symptoms
- Pre-menstrual exacerbation (PME)
Other locations of production
The corpus luteum is the main source, but it’s not the only one! There are 3 other areas of the body that can potentially produce progesterone.
Fatty tissue – this can both make and store hormones. In fact, if you have taken bioidentical hormones before, you may have stored a lot of it in your adipose tissue. This storage can explain why some women are sensitive to progesterone – they have excess stored away.
Adrenals – when we are no longer ovulating, the body needs a back-up mechanism. The main one is the adrenal glands. This is common for women who are menopausal.
Ovaries – Thanks to luteinising hormone, a small amount can be produced by the ovaries.
What can go wrong with progesterone production?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go awry, particularly in our modern-day lifestyles.
Firstly, there is a lack of ovulation. This may be due to menopause, or it could be the use of the Pill or Mirena that halt ovulation. If you don’t ovulate, you don’t produce the corpus luteum. As a result, your body will be forced to use the back-up options.
Then we need to think about what can affect the secondary locations:
Adrenals – high or low cortisol levels due to excess stress, low nutrient levels, excess sodium, hypothyroidism and hypoglycaemia
Ovaries – low thyroid function is a major down-regulator, along with nutrient deficiencies and high stress
To put it simply – no matter where your body is producing progesterone, it depends on your body being healthy and balanced. Common lifestyle factors including stress, poor diet and exposure to chemicals, can all impact how much you secrete and where it comes from.
These factors also influence what happens afterwards. For example – we want the majority to stay as progesterone so we can reap the health benefits. But some will have it funnel into testosterone, oestrogen and/or other hormones if their systems are out of balance.
Need some support and guidance when it comes to your cycle?
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