Can high progesterone cause need-to-go urgency and leaks?

Progesterone plays a vital role in various physiological processes, including pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and menopause. If you haven't considered the role of progesterone in your bladder health, you won't be alone - we often don't talk about it unless the topic is around reproduction. However, understanding how elevated levels of progesterone can significantly impact bladder health can help ease symptoms such as urgency and incontinence.

How does progesterone work in the body?

Let's firstly understand the role of progesterone in the body. It's is a hormone produced primarily by the ovaries during the second half of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Its main role is to prepare the uterus for pregnancy and to maintain the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilised egg. Similar to oestrogen, we have progesterone receptors in our pelvic area and they are also present in the bladder, indicating its potential influence on bladder function.

During certain phases of a woman's life, progesterone levels can fluctuate, leading to an imbalance that affects bladder health. These common periods of elevated progesterone include:

Menstrual Cycle: Progesterone levels rise during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which occurs after ovulation and before menstruation. This increase in progesterone can sometimes contribute to bladder symptoms such as urgency and increased frequency of urination.

Pregnancy: Progesterone levels soar during pregnancy to support the growth and development of the foetus. While this hormone is essential for maintaining pregnancy, it can also exert pressure on the bladder, leading to urinary urgency and incontinence, especially in the later stages of pregnancy when the uterus expands and puts additional pressure on the bladder.

Menopause: During menopause, there is a decline in oestrogen levels, leading to an imbalance between oestrogen and progesterone. This hormonal shift can affect bladder function and contribute to urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency, and incontinence.

In addition to these life stages, other factors such as hormone therapy, certain medications, and hormone conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis can also cause fluctuations in progesterone levels and impact bladder health.

How does high progesterone impact the bladder and cause leaks and urgency?

High progesterone levels can impact bladder function and manifest in various urinary symptoms. One common symptom is urinary urgency, where you might feel a sudden and compelling need to urinate, often with little warning. This urgency can be accompanied by increased frequency to pee, and causing you to run for the loo throughout the day and night more than you would normally.

High progesterone levels may contribute to urinary incontinence where you might experience leaks and a feeling of losing control over your bladder; noticeably when you cough, sneeze, laugh, jump or run.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to speak to your GP.

Can you manage high progesterone levels to ease bladder issues?

If you suspect you are experiencing symptoms that are connected to high progesterone in your body, then there are some steps you can take to rebalance your hormones and the impact on your bladder.

1. Changes to your lifestyle:

   Adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as maintaining a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, taking regular, low impact exercise, and managing stress (which will reduce inflammation in the body) can help regulate hormone levels and improve bladder function.

2. Pelvic Floor Exercises: We can never say this enough - you need to do your pelvic floor exercises, especially as we age. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through exercises such as Kegels can help improve bladder control and reduce urinary symptoms associated with high progesterone levels. Need help getting started? Check out our Pelvic Floor Exercises for Beginners Guide.

3. Hormone Therapy: For menopausal women experiencing bladder symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be recommended to rebalance estrogen and progesterone levels and alleviate urinary symptoms.

4. Supplementation: Taking a supplement that helps increase oestrogen levels will help to balance progesterone in the body. Jude's Bladder Strength Supplement is great for this, as it works to soothe and nurture the bladder in addition to offering the benefit of phytoestrogens through its powerful botanical blend of pumpkin seed and soy germ extract.

5. See your GP: If bladder symptoms persist or worsen despite lifestyle changes and conservative treatments, it's essential to seek evaluation and guidance from a urogynecologist or healthcare provider specialising in bladder health via your GP. Your GP may prescribe medications to manage urinary symptoms, such as anticholinergic drugs to reduce bladder contractions or hormone therapy to rebalance hormonal levels.

Jude’s clinically proven supplements give you better bladder and pelvic floor control, helping you sleep through the night and regain the freedom to live life on your own terms. With just one capsule morning and night, you'll have relief from need-to-go urgency in just 12 weeks.