Before we dive into the differences in estrogen and progesterone, let’s first talk about when they appear during your cycle.
We have 4 main hormonal shifts during our cycle:
These can seem like a lot to keep track of. To simplify hormonal shifts during the cycle, first half of the cycle is primarily estrogen, second half of the cycle is primarily progesterone.
Estrogen
Estrogen helps us ovulate (we get a large surge and that stimulates LH and an egg release), so it’s definitely important, however, estrogen is often easily pushed out of balance. This can be related to poor liver detoxification, digestive issues (we poop out estrogen), and stress. Stress leads to high levels of estrogen.
What it looks like when estrogen is out of balance:
Stress & Estrogen
Excess stress leads to excess estrogen in a couple of ways. One of these is that excess stress in the body leads to less progesterone. This lower level of progesterone creates an imbalance and will make estrogen appear high even if it is in normal levels.
Excess stress in the body also leads to higher DHEA production. Women are most often going to turn that DHEA into estrogen. Sometimes we turn this into testosterone or other androgen metabolites.
Estrogen also stimulates more insulin release, which leads to more frequent low blood sugars, which leads to stress.
Progesterone
Progesterone helps us maintain a healthy uterine lining, is essential for survival of an embryo, and helps restore sex drive. We make progesterone after ovulation, which is why ovulation is essential for healthy hormones and is really the highlight of the menstrual cycle.
Other Effects of Progesterone on the Body
Progesterone also helps regulate our metabolism and how we use energy in the body and is anti-stress (much like glucose aka sugar). You can support healthy progesterone levels by eating balanced meals, avoiding skipping meals, getting sunlight daily, and prioritizing sleep just to name a few!
Dive even deeper into estrogen and progesterone in my podcast episode estrogen waves and the ups & downs of healing and how to boost progesterone levels naturally.
3 Ways to Work With Us
Mineral Healing Journey: A 6-Month, High-Touch Program for Women Ready to Rebalance Their Hormones at the Root
If you’re dealing with irregular cycles, PCOS, stubborn weight gain, low energy, thyroid issues, or hormone chaos, and you’re still in your cycling years, this is our most comprehensive hormone recalibration program. We’ll coach you through strategic nourishment, mineral repletion, and strength training to rebuild your metabolism and restore balance.
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Nurture Your Fertility
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If you’ve been trying to conceive for years, have experienced loss, failed cycles, or unexplained infertility, or feel like you’re “doing everything right” but still not getting pregnant, this is for you.
We focus on metabolic repair, mineral balance, inflammation, detoxification, and cellular healing, all tailored to your labs and history for BOTH partners.
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Master Your Minerals
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If you’re not ready for our group coaching but know your symptoms aren’t random, this is where to start. Master Your Minerals is our comprehensive, self-paced course that teaches you how minerals impact your hormones, metabolism, energy, and fertility.
You’ll get symptom trackers, practical tools, and structured guidance so you can start connecting the dots on your own. This is best for women who are proactive, want education first, and prefer to implement at their own pace.
