Alongside mental health conditions like anxiety and depression and mood-related symptoms such as mood swings, low progesterone can have a knock-on effect all over the body. According to Dr MacRae, some of the signs and symptoms of low progesterone include:

1. Infertility or difficulty conceiving

Progesterone plays a crucial role in preparing the uterine lining for implantation during the second half of the menstrual cycle, so low levels can lead to fertility challenges.

It’s for this reason that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says women who experience bleeding in early pregnancy (before 12 weeks) and have had one or more miscarriages are offered progesterone after an ultrasound scan to confirm the pregnancy.

2. Severe PMS symptoms

While severe mood or symptom changes in the week leading up to your period can be the result of PMDD or PME, having bad PMS symptoms – such as bloating, irritability or breast tenderness – can be the result of low progesterone levels. Again, this is because the oestrogen in your system remains unopposed, leading to symptoms of high oestrogen.

3. An irregular menstrual cycle

In the female reproductive system, progesterone opposes oestrogen, which means low levels of progesterone can exacerbate the impact of oestrogen on the body.

Is it anxiety or is it low progesterone? Here’s how to tell the difference