High Progesterone Symptoms and Side Effects

High progesterone symptoms include breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, and other symptoms like anxiety, agitation, or depression. Your progesterone levels naturally rise during pregnancy and after ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovaries.

Conditions like ovarian cysts or a disorder of the adrenal glands can cause you to have too much progesterone. It can also be a sign of a molar pregnancy, where abnormal cells grow in the placenta.

This article discusses the symptoms of high progesterone and when to see a healthcare provider.

What Is Progesterone?

Progesterone is a hormone that is responsible for preparing the endometrium, the membrane that lines the uterus, for pregnancy. Your progesterone levels naturally change throughout your menstrual cycle. After ovulation, your progesterone levels will go up for a few days and then drop again.

If pregnancy occurs, your progesterone levels will continue to rise into the third trimester. Progesterone levels may be even higher if you’re carrying more than one baby.

Symptoms of High Progesterone

The increase in progesterone as your body prepares for fertilization is linked to symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome or PMS, including:

• Breast swelling
• Breast tenderness
• Bloating
• Anxiety or agitation
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Low libido (sex drive)
• Weight gain

Symptoms of high progesterone levels caused by other problems may be hard to identify since you may associate them with your period or pregnancy.

Causes of High Progesterone

High progesterone is a sign that something is elevating your levels.

Hormone Replacement

Your healthcare provider may recommend a combination of estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy if you are experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats. Hormone replacement therapy increases your progesterone levels.

Hormone Contraceptives

Some types of hormonal birth control can cause an increase in progesterone over time. Studies have found that the second-generation progestins levonorgestrel and norgestrel are more likely to have this effect.

First-generation progestins such as norethindrone and third-generation progestins such as norgestodene are less likely to increase progesterone levels.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body will produce around 10 times as much progesterone as it does when you are not pregnant.

Increased levels of progesterone during pregnancy help thicken the lining of the uterus and make it possible for the embryo to implant. As your pregnancy progresses, higher progesterone levels also help prevent preterm birth. Very high progesterone levels during pregnancy can be a sign that you are having more than one baby. 

Ovarian Cysts

High progesterone may also be a sign that you have an ovarian cyst. Some ovarian cysts can produce progesterone and estrogen, which can lead to an increase in these hormones.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

High levels of progesterone can occur in a condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). This rare disease affects the adrenal glands, the small glands on top of the kidneys that produce hormones. It is the result of a missing enzyme, 21-hydroxylase. 

CAH throws off the balance of hormone production (under- or overproduction) and can cause greater male trait expression. 

Girls with severe CAH can be born with ambiguous genitalia. For example, the clitoris may be larger than usual and looks like a small penis while the labia fuses look like a scrotum.

People with milder forms of the condition may have early signs of puberty or fertility problems.

Molar Pregnancy

Another condition associated with high progesterone is a molar pregnancy. This happens when the embryo doesn't form correctly and the placenta grows into a noncancerous tumor.

Side Effects of Too Much Progesterone

Taking progesterone can cause side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you take progesterone and any of the following side effects become severe or do not resolve over time:

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Muscle or joint pain
• Mood swings
• Vaginal discharge
• Trouble urinating
• Runny nose, sneezing, or cough

Diagnosing High Progesterone

Blood work can measure progesterone levels. However, levels of progesterone vary throughout the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Thus, testing may need to occur on certain days and may have to be repeated. 

When to See a Healthcare Provider

No matter your age, whenever you feel your hormonal balance is off, you should call your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will know what tests to order and what to advise based on your concerns.

The only way to know if you have high progesterone is to see your healthcare provider and get a blood test. Note, however, that hormones are constantly fluctuating. Results outside the normal range may not mean anything is wrong.

Call your healthcare provider if you're older than 35 and having problems conceiving after six months of trying or are experiencing miscarriages. It doesn’t automatically mean there’s an issue with your progesterone production; however, it is something you should have checked. Problems with ovulation are a common cause of infertility.

Summary

High progesterone is often not something to worry about because your levels rise naturally before your period and during pregnancy. However, sometimes it could be a sign of an underlying condition. If you have high progesterone symptoms and are not pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you figure out what may be causing it and whether you need treatment.