It’s amazing how much hormones control our lives. Hormones are the chemical messengers that impact the way your cells and organs function. Normally, they will fluctuate at times throughout the month, like before your period, during pregnancy, or menopause. Some medications can even influence them negatively.
Our hormones control everything from our appetite to our menstrual cycles and weight. As you can imagine, when one thing is thrown off, the whole system is out of whack. That’s when you experience the horrible symptoms: menstrual cramps, insomnia, memory fog, ongoing fatigue, night sweats, dry skin, and so much more.
Now, exactly what hormones are we talking about??
Well… that is exactly what this post is about. Let’s get into it…
- Estrogen: Okay, yall… this is the primary sex hormone and it is produced in the ovaries. This hormone plays a crucial role in menstrual cycles, bone density, and regulating mood.
- Progesterone: This is another hormone that’s made in the ovaries and is secreted in the second half of the menstrual cycle (it prepares your body for pregnancy). It is very important in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy. Low progesterone can cause irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding. A drop in progesterone can result in miscarriage or early labor.
- Testosterone: Yes, we have testosterone (approximately 1/10 to 1/20th the amount that is in men) flowing. Our ovaries release small amounts into the bloodstream. It is a crucial hormone for building lean muscle mass, burning fat, and boosting libido.
- Cortisol: This is the stress hormone. Normal levels help blood sugar and the immune system. High levels of cortisol can result in feelings of fear, panic, depression, impaired memory, and seriously suppressing the immune system.
- Thyroid Hormone: There are 2 thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). These hormones keep the body in balance by regulating functions such as breathing, heart rate, metabolism, and body temperature. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland help control the thyroid.
- DHEA: Also called Dehydroepiandrosterone. This is the most abundant circulating sex steroid hormone in women. It helps to set off the reaction that will produce other hormones. It is produced by the adrenal glands. It also serves a protective role against stress and helps maintain the immune system throughout life.
As you can now see, there is so much going on behind the scenes. In another post, we can chat about when these hormones increase and decline during the menstrual cycle. Knowing about them can help you avoid PMS, sugar cravings, and other symptoms we tend to deal with at certain times of the month.