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Hormones are fascinating chemical messengers. Some hormones peak in the morning, some peak at night, and some peak at certain times of the month all with their own specific purpose. One hormone can signal the heart to pump faster, another hormone can signal hunger to the brain, another hormone can signal breakdown of fat tissue and other hormones can signal ovulation and this list can go on. It is this intricate and dynamic system of hormones that affects growth, appetite, sleep, mood, reproduction, metabolism and libido. As a woman, it is extremely important to be in tune with your hormones and really understand your monthly cycle.
There are two main groups of hormones: steroid (Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone cortisol and DHEA) and non-steroid hormones (Thyroid hormones, insulin and leptin). This series of blog posts will focus on steroid hormones.
Steroid hormones are a group of hormones made from cholesterol and imbalances within these hormones have become quite common - too much estrogen? too little estrogen? too much testosterone? too little testosterone? too much cortisol? too little cortisol? etc. If your hormones are out of whack, you are probably not feeling your best. Interesting thing is hormones like to travel as a pack. So, odds are you won’t have just one hormone out of balance, there will be multiple hormones that are out of balance. This makes it harder to understand what is really going.
In today’s post I want to chat about each hormone’s role in the body and what symptoms are experienced when they are over produced or underproduced. Pregnenolone is the master hormone that gives birth to all your steroid hormones which are explained below.
DHEA
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is predominately produced by the adrenal glands and a portion is made from the ovaries. It is known as the “mother of all hormones”. DHEA peaks around 25-30 years of age and then steadily declines thereafter. It is the antiaging hormone because it lessens wrinkles, increases energy, enhances memory, decreases body fat, increases muscle mass and improves libido. DHEA is a precursor hormone to estrogen and testosterone in both men and women. DHEA also counteracts the effects of too-high cortisol where constant stress (high cortisol) can reduce DHEA and therefore estrogen and testosterone (as seen in the diagram above)
Low DHEA is caused by fatigued adrenal glands and high DHEA can be associated with an overabundance of testosterone. High DHEA can lead to abnormal hair growth, acne, irritability, estrogen dominance and insulin resistance.
Testosterone
Testosterone is considered the “male hormone”. It is produced in the testes for men and in much smaller amounts by the ovaries in women. Small quantities are also produced by the adrenal glands in both sexes. Testosterone is an androgen that is responsible for a healthy libido, regulating the immune system, building muscle mass and maintaining energy levels. In both men and women testosterone levels are the highest in the teens and then declines gradually with age.
Low testosterone can be caused by aging, testes or ovary removal and high cortisol production. Chronically low testosterone in both sexes cause fatigue, decreased energy, lower stamina and reduced libido. It can also contribute to loss of body hair, depression, loss of bone or muscle mass, and cognitive decline.
High testosterone is a result of overproduction by the ovaries, testes and adrenal glands. In men this results in hair loss and aggressive behaviour. In women high testosterone can lead to loss of scalp hair, increased body and facial hair, acne and irregular periods and oily skin.
Estrogen
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone and play a pivotal role in stimulating the growth of reproductive tissues, maintaining healthy bones, increasing levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and plays a role a healthy cardiovascular system. Estrogen also regulates the menstrual cycle controlling the growth of the uterine lining during the first half of the cycle. It is also responsible for female secondary sex characterises such as breasts, wider hips and pubic hair. In women, estrogen is primarily produced by the ovaries and some is produced by the adrenals, brain and adipose tissue. Men produce estrogen as well but at lower levels than women. In men, estrogen is mainly secreted by the adrenal glands and by the testes.
There are 3 types of estrogen: estrogen (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3). Estradiol is the strongest of all three and estriol is the weakest. Estradiol is the most important estrogen in non-pregnant females. However, during pregnancy and in postmenopausal women, estriol becomes the primary form of estrogen in the body. All forms of estrogen are made from androgens, specifically testosterone.
High levels of estradiol in premenopausal women is usually due to over production of androgens by the adrenal glands and ovaries. In post-menopausal women, high estrogen levels are usually due to estrogen supplements. Excess estrogen levels when not balanced by progesterone may create a scenario referred to as “estrogen dominance”. Symptoms include, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain at the hips, water retention and increased bleeding.
Low estrogen levels are much more common post-menopausal women whose ovaries were removed or those who are not on hormone replacement. Symptoms include sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, thinning skin, hot flashes and heart palpitations.
Progesterone
Progesterone is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands and is an important player for the reproductive and menstrual function, especially during the second half of the menstrual cycle. The ovaries produce progesterone after ovulation has occurred and it is vital for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. It also plays an important role in breast development, helps use fat for energy, protects the breasts and uterus against cancer, promotes appetite and the control of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Low progesterone can cause you to feel anxious, sleepless, irritable, short menstrual cycles and you may feel extra emotional before your period. High progesterone levels can cause high stress, anxiety, dizziness, excessive sleepiness, bloating, hair loss, acne, breast tenderness and increased susceptibility to yeast infections.
The most important thing about Progesterone is that it counters the effects of estrogen and has a calming effect, reducing anxiety and increased sleepiness. So, the progesterone/estradiol ratio is important to consider when it comes to hormone imbalances.
Cortisol
May people fear cortisol for its bad rap associated with stress. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced in the adrenal glands. Fasting, food intake, exercising and psychosocial stressors cause the body to release cortisol. Cortisol is the highest in the early morning (around 8 am) and then reach their lowest at about 12-4 am. Cortisol has many important functions in the body: energy production, modulating inflammation, regulating blood sugar and blood pressure. Cortisol regulates energy by picking carbohydrate, fat or protein to be broken down for energy depending on the body’s needs. Cortisol is also involved in the entry of thyroid hormones into cells; thus, cortisol and thyroid hormones are interconnected.
Cortisol in the right amounts is needed for our bodies, however under and over production of cortisol can be harmful.
Low cortisol can be caused by constant stress, such as sleep deprivation, emotional stress, poor diet and nutrient deficiencies. Low cortisol can lead to symptoms of morning and evening fatigue, aches and pains, decreased stamina, low blood sugar (sugar cravings), low immunity and thyroid issues.
Chronically elevated cortisol levels can also be detrimental. High cortisol production from the adrenals happens in response to chronic stress where cortisol remains high for a prolonged period. This can lead to a breakdown of normal tissues (muscle wasting), immune suppression, fatigue, depression and weight gain in the abdominal area.
And there you have it – all the steroid hormones explained. As you can see having any of the above hormones not in balance can leave you feeling a certain type of way. Stay tuned to Part II of this post where we discuss how and why to test for hormone imbalances!
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