Female Hormones & Menopause
Women have two main female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, although testosterone which is considered a male hormone, is also produce by our bodies.
Hormones are chemical messengers produced in our bodies to regulate the activity of tissues and organs. They regulate the body’s growth, metabolism, sexual development, and function.
Our female hormones and the glands that secrete them are part of our endocrine system.
What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system is made up of glands that make hormones. Hormones are the body’s messengers that carry information and instructions from one group of cells to another.
What does the endocrine system do?
The endocrine system controls organs like the:
- brain
- kidneys
- stomach
- liver
- uterus
- skin
The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland by sending messages to it. It is situated immediately above the pituitary gland in the brain.
The pituitary gland is often called the ‘master gland” because it controls several other glands in our body, including the thyroid, adrenals, and ovaries.
At the start of our menstrual cycle, the pituitary gland sends out the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) to tell the ovaries to start the cycle.
Our ovaries and brain speak to one another about reproductive readiness. Still, we also have receptor cells all over our bodies to pick up hormones and tell various body parts how to support a possible future pregnancy.
The brain produces hormonal activity via the hypothalamus, which instructs the pituitary gland.
Our hormones grow breasts and milk glands but cleverly ensure that we do not lactate until we give birth. Instead, they densify bones by increasing mineral deposits and ensuring that our bone cells regenerate to be strong and widen our hips to bear children. They help increase our fat deposits in certain body areas to feed the child and us, shaping our bodies.
Ultimately, female hormones influence growth all over the body, affecting our blood flow, brain cells, and hair. They also maintain collagen in our cells and influence the strength and suppleness of our muscles and ligaments.
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen is a steroid hormone that actually appears in four different forms in our body at different stages of reproductive readiness or pregnancy.
Its most prevalent and powerful form is estradiol, which is converted from the weaker estrogen called estrone when we are between puberty and menopause. This occurs in our ovaries and influences various bodily processes. Other organs, glands, and tissues such as the liver, adrenals, bone, skin, and adipose fat produce a little estrone, too.
When our reproductive years pass, our ovaries stop working, and our body can no longer convert the weaker estrone into stronger estradiol. Consequently, our estrogen levels decline as we have to rely on the production of weaker estrogens, which means that our bodily systems suffer!
What is Estrogen’s role?
Like many chemical messengers, estrogen can enter all our cells. But only some cells have the correct receptors within them to ‘switch on’ the message and allow the cell to react. Our genes determine how each cell responds to each different chemical messenger, and in turn, how that cell functions.
Here are some examples of what estrogen does:
- Promotes breast tissue growth and lactation, uterine growth, and production of the womb lining
- Regulates our menstrual cycle
- Thickens and lubricates the vaginal wall
- Accelerates metabolism
- Influences how and where fat is stored
- Grows and maintains skin, bone, and tissues throughout the body, including cellular repair in the brain
- Keeps blood cells healthy and promotes high levels of ‘good’ blood fats while reducing levels of ‘bad’ blood fats
- Assists balance of fluid and salts
- Works in tandem with testosterone to increase sex drive
- Connects with other chemicals that enable brain cells to function efficiently
What issues can we develop when we have less estrogen?
- Disruption of our menstrual cycles
- Drying and thinning of the skin
- Weakened bones
- Negative effects on the blood and cardiovascular system
- Slow metabolism and changing fat stores
- Causes the brain to go slightly askew
We might end up forgetful, moody, tired, sore, achy… not a pleasant prospect!
What is Progesterone?
Often referred to as the pregnancy hormone. Progesterone affects our cervical and vaginal mucous to encourage sperm, relax the uterine muscles from cramping. It also blocks estrogen from growing the womb lining, so our egg might get fertilized, implant, and grow into a baby.
Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum, the empty follicle, where the egg develops.
If an egg is not fertilized, the production of progesterone stops. Our womb sheds its lining, and the pituitary gland, then begins our cycle again.
What is Testosterone?
It may surprise you to know that testosterone is, in fact, an important female hormone. It is produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands.
We actually have 3-4 times as much testosterone in our bodies as estrogen.
Levels naturally decline throughout our life span, peaking at age 18-24 and then halving by age 65-75.
Testosterone is:
- An active component towards maintaining energy levels and mood, bone physiology, muscle mass, cognitive function, and normal metabolic regulation
- Instrumental in dopamine production, affecting sexual desire and orgasm
What symptoms can too much testosterone cause for a woman?
It can cause:
- Excess body hair, specifically facial hair
- Balding
- Acne
- Enlarged clitoris
- Decreased breast size
- Deepening of the voice
- Increased muscle mass
Overly high levels of testosterone in women can also cause:
- Low libido
- Changes in mood
- Irregular menstrual cycles
In more severe cases testosterone imbalances in women, can cause infertility and obesity.
