Many women feel better in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy because the high levels can produce increased energy and a state of well-being. After delivery, when the levels drops suddenly, this can cause post-partem depression in some women. Some very important symptoms of imbalance in progesterone levels can be weight gain, fatigue, loss of libido, depression, headaches, joint pain and mood swings. But during pregnancy, much more is secreted. One important difference between estrogen and progesterone is that high amounts of estrogen are toxic to the body and can be harmful.
Progesterone is free of side effects, even in high amounts.
This alters the ratio greatly, to cause the above problems. Please note that this is not just a phenomenon for post menopausal women, but can occur 10 to 15 years prior to menopause. It also plays a key role in maintaining human health, strength and energy. It also promotes muscle growth, maintains mood and boosts the sex drive in women. In advancing age the testosterone levels decline causing a number of physiological changes to occur.