sex hormones and the menstrual cycle - their importance

Written By Bella Kalkbrenner

Hormone health and menstrual cycles have become a taboo subject in society. However, their importance must be recognized. Having the knowledge about hormones and the inner workings of our bodies sets us up with the self-understanding we need to make informed decisions for our health and well-being!

Hormones are the body’s inner guidance system, regulators, and messengers. The endocrine system aims to maintain balance in all areas, not just the reproductive system. Hormones impact everything we do and feel, and everything we do affects our hormones! Keep reading to learn more about the importance of women’s sex hormones and the menstrual cycle!

What are hormones, and why are they so important?

Women’s hormones and menstrual cycles are crucial for total body health and well-being.

Our hormones:

  • act as our inner guidance and control panel

  • are the WHY behind almost everything we do and feel

Every aspect of our life impacts and influences our hormones, including our genetics, nutrition, sleep, stress, inflammation, relationships, and the products we use. The equilibrium of our hormones dictates just about everything we feel and experience daily, from the health of our hair and skin — to our metabolism — to our mental abilities.

Essentially, every one of our actions impacts our hormones, and if your hormones are out of whack, your health and life will be negatively impacted.

Endocrine glands…

Our endocrine glands produce our hormones. These eight critical endocrine glands are:

  • Ovaries- produce sex hormones estrogen and progesterone

  • Adrenal glands - produce sex hormones such as testosterone. It also produces cortisol (stress hormone) and adrenaline

  • Hypothalamus

  • Parathyroid

  • Pancreas

  • Thyroid - regulates metabolism. Every cell in our body depends on our thyroid hormone

  • Pituitary

  • Pineal gland

The hormones produced by the endocrine glands are the regulators of our body. The endocrine system’s overall goal is to create balance throughout all complex functions and procedures.

Hormones regulate:

  • reproduction

  • development and growth

  • nutrient and electrolyte balance within the blood

  • energy and metabolic functions

  • water balance in the body

  • stress responses, nervous system health, inflammation

As you can see, hormonal health is more than just reproductive health; it is whole-body wellness!

Women’s sex hormones (these are what fluctuate during the menstrual cycle)

Understanding the sex hormones produced in our body is crucial to understanding the WHY behind what we may be feeling and experiencing throughout the month!

  • Estrogen- directs female sex characteristics, slows bone loss, promotes cell proliferation, stimulates and protects brain cells, and creates progesterone receptors.

  • Progesterone- maintains the lining of the uterus, relaxes muscles, stimulates bone growth, burns fat for energy, and, most importantly, balances estrogen's effects on the body

  • Testosterone- male sex hormone of which women, too, need ample amounts, especially during our ovulatory phase. However, most of us either have too little (low libido, high anxiety, poor muscle and bone strength) or too high (PCOS / PCOS symptoms)

Other hormones involved in the menstrual cycle:

  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - is released from the pituitary gland (in the brain) and stimulates ovarian follicle maturity

  • Luteinizing Hormone (LH) - is released from the pituitary gland in the brain during ovulation. This hormone causes the release of the egg from the mature ovarian follicle

Hormone fluctuations and the monthly cycle

A woman's menstrual cycle is divided into 2 (more like four) unique phases:

Menstrual (part of the follicular phase) days 1-5 - Estrogen and progesterone are low. The lining of the uterus called the endometrium, is shed, causing bleeding

Follicular days 6-14 - Estrogen and progesterone are on the rise

Ovulatory days 15-17 - Estrogen peaks. Testosterone and progesterone rise

Luteal days 18-28 - Estrogen and progesterone levels are high. If the egg isn't fertilized, hormone levels decrease, and the menstrual cycle starts again

Credit - Jill Merkel, RD

The foods we consume, the things we do, and how we move our bodies should change throughout our cycle to harmonize more with the natural fluctuations in our hormones during the month. Throughout the month, our bodies need more nutrients and respond best to certain exercises! Making these adjustments is very important in balancing hormones and preventing excess stress on your body! This is widely known as cycle-syncing. Read more about cycle syncing here!

BALANCE is key!

Just as we can do things to support our hormones, many habits can also cause damage to them. Hormonal imbalance is the root cause of many conditions plaguing society, especially among women. Learn more about hormone imbalances, their effects, and tangible tips for maintaining balance here!

Sources:

Dr. Bob’s Drugless Guide to Balancing Female Hormones, Dr. Bob DeMaria

Hormone Intelligence, Aviva Romm, MD

The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Murray, ND & Pizzorno, ND

https://womeninbalance.org/about-hormone-imbalance/

https://www.peacelovehormones.com/blogs/life-style/the-four-phases-of-the-menstrual-cycle

https://www.peacelovehormones.com/blogs/life-style/hormones-why-they-matter

Bella Kalkbrenner
Previous

balancing female hormones