Let's delve a little deeper...

You feel bloated around ovulation, have slowly gained some weight around the hips and bust, you feel like you dread the lead up to your period due to bloating, headaches and fluid retention. When it does hit it comes with clots, heaviness and can often drag on stop starting up to a week. Then once day 5 comes of your period you start feeling more like yourself again, but only for a few weeks before it all starts again.

Now do not be confused in thinking this is just with menopause, some women we see hit this early on due to stress. A lack of periods might be showing up, you might notice dry skin or hair, vaginal dryness, and low mood. Hot flushes might be coming day and night, and you might feel like you are having a wave of hormonal complaints. You can feel like you are gaining weight around the middle and maybe more sensitive to general stress levels.

So maybe it started with a random chin hair, then the acne and backne, your periods became more sporadic or may have even disappeared altogether. You may have been diagnosed with cysts on your ovaries, PCOS or blood sugar imbalance. When your period comes it feels lighter than it used to, and you do not tend to notice any mid cycle ovulation changes any more. Maybe you have been struggling with fertility, anger or even hair loss too to top it off.

Progesterone is our calming hormone that regulates cycles and moods. So, with progesterone being low you will feel more prone to depression and anxiety, commonly have scanty periods or if in conjunction with oestrogen excess the periods may be heavy. You are prone to infertility issues as well as miscarriage as progesterone helps with implantation of the egg. Progesterone deficiency can also cause hot sweats, low libido and PMS.