# Why Progesterone Is a Bigger Deal Than You Think

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hello-hormones-with-dr-carrie-jones-7333411/why-progesterone-is-a-bigger-deal-than-you-think
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hello-hormones-with-dr-carrie-jones-7333411/why-progesterone-is-a-bigger-deal-than-you-think.md
Podcast: [Hello Hormones with Dr. Carrie Jones](https://stenobird.com/podcast/hello-hormones-with-dr-carrie-jones-7333411)
Published: 2026-05-15T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://54c17651-b998-4423-8fb3-0961ba8b4fb9.libsyn.com/why-progesterone-is-a-bigger-deal-than-you-think
Audio file: https://mgln.ai/e/p1008880/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/54c17651-b998-4423-8fb3-0961ba8b4fb9/HH_-_EP_55.mp3?dest-id=5022965
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hello-hormones-with-dr-carrie-jones-7333411/episodes/why-progesterone-is-a-bigger-deal-than-you-think
Duration seconds: 438

## Resource

Progesterone is one of those hormones that gets mentioned everywhere but explained almost nowhere, and that gap is costing women a lot. What most women don't know is that progesterone isn't just a fertility hormone. You have progesterone receptors from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, which means when levels start to drop, the effects show up everywhere. We're talking worse PMS, heavier periods, anxiety that seems to come out of nowhere, and that lovely 1am wake-up where your brain decides it's time to think about everything you've ever done wrong. In this solo episode of Hello Hormones, I'm breaking down the top three things most women don't know about progesterone, including the brain chemistry behind why it's basically your built-in calm-down switch, what actually happens to your levels as you move through perimenopause and into menopause, and why having had a hysterectomy does not mean you're off the hook. If you've been wondering whether progesterone might be part of what's going on for you, this one is a great place to start. What's Discussed: (0:00) The top three progesterone facts most women have never been told. (0:43) Why progesterone is called the pro-gestation hormone and what it does beyond pregnancy. (1:11) The surprising ways progesterone helps if you're still cycling. (1:27) When your body actually makes progesterone and why it's not all the time. (1:51) Why your progesterone levels should be way higher than your estrogen. (2:14) Why progesterone is the first hormone to drop in perimenopause and what that feels like. (2:41) How far progesterone falls once you're fully menopausal. (3:10) The ALLO-GABA connection and why it explains your sleep, anxiety, and irritability. (4:39) When to talk to your practitioner about progesterone replaceme…

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