Volume 29, Issue 163, September 2025

Beyond Pregnancy: The Role of Progesterone Deficiency and Fluctuations in Women's Health Disorders

Natalia Skrzypska^♦, Hubert Ziembicki, Justyna Wróblewska, Paulina Wasilewska, Olga Wojtczak, Kacper Zagaja

University Clinical Hospital, 49 Przybyszewskiego St, 60-355 Poznań, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Natalia Skrzypska, University Clinical Hospital, 49 Przybyszewskiego St, 60-355 Poznań, Poland

ABSTRACT

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating the menstrual cycle. A deficiency, often called Luteal Phase Defect (LPD), can lead to pregnancy complications, but also other symptoms. Patients with progesterone deficiency may have short menstrual cycles, irregular menstruation, and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Furthermore, not only a deficiency but also fluctuations in progesterone levels can negatively impact overall health, including brain function. It is still being examined how this hormone affects emotion processing and mood disorders. Effectively treating diseases related to progesterone levels requires looking at the person’s whole clinical condition. Therapy may not only rely on progesterone substitution and may not always be satisfactory for the patient. This is an issue that warrants further attention, as our understanding remains insufficient.

Keywords: Progesterone, Luteal Phase Defect, menstrual irregularities, women’s mental health, quality of life

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e183ms3722

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i163.e183ms3722

Published: 27 September 2025