Seven Hormones That Affect Women’s Health

“Hormones are very powerful things. We are helpless in their wake”, said the American novelist Mel Cabot. Well! The first part of it is indeed right. Hormones play a significant role in women’s health. These have an impact on several daily functions as well as critical milestones in women’s lives. Bodily functions that hormones affect include blood pressure, blood sugar, menstruation, sex drive, growth and fertility, metabolism, and sleep. Let us understand the role of hormones in detail. 

Estrogen

Produced mainly by the ovaries, estrogen is a female sex hormone. Adrenal glands and fat cells also produce little estrogen. It is responsible for puberty, menstruation, sex drive, reproduction, menopause, and also blood and bone health. It works in tandem with progesterone, another female sex hormone. A balance between the two is essential for good health. 

While it is natural for estrogen levels to fluctuate throughout a woman’s life, these going too high or too low indicate health issues. Consistently high estrogen levels lead to high blood pressure, hypocalcemia (low calcium), breast cancer, cervical cancer, and blood clots. Symptoms of estrogen dominance include weight gain, troublesome PMS, heavy or light periods, fibrocystic lumps in the breasts, fatigue, fibroids in the uterus, low mood or anxiety, and low sex drive. Too much estrogen has also been identified as one of the causes of depression. Alternatively, low levels of estrogen can cause skin issues like lesions, acne, and thinning skin, and hair loss. As women age, estrogen levels decrease, leading to menopause. Menopausal symptoms such as lack of libido, hot flashes and night sweats, and sleep issues can be related to low estrogen levels.

Testosterone

Testosterone is an androgen, which means a male sex hormone. However, women’s ovaries also produce it sparingly. Alongside estrogen, testosterone plays a role in the growth, maintenance, and repair of a woman’s reproductive tissues. It also helps with the increase in bone mass and improves mood and fatigue. High testosterone levels in women result in frontal balding, acne, hirsutism, enlargement of the clitoris, increased muscle mass, low libido, decreased breast size, and hoarse voice. Infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are common health issues in women with high testosterone levels.

Insulin

The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that converts sugar, or glucose, from carbohydrate intake into energy. It also helps store the glucose in the liver. In addition, insulin prevents blood sugar levels from getting too low (hypoglycemia) or too high (hyperglycemia). When the body’s ability to produce or process insulin gets impaired, it causes diabetes, one of the most common diseases globally.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. It is a primary stress hormone that puts your body and mind in flight-or-fight situations. It also regulates blood flow, increases sugar in the bloodstream, and controls inflammation. However, too much cortisol causes anxiety, hypertension, autoimmune problems, high cholesterol, and Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism). Low cortisol can cause Addison’s disease, low blood pressure, loss of appetite, fatigue, and weakness.  

Serotonin

Serotonin primarily affects our mental well-being. However, it also impacts our learning ability, memory, sleep regulation, digestion, and muscle functions. While too much serotonin can cause agitation, confusion, and lethargy; low serotonin is responsible for depression, insomnia, weight gain, migraines, sugar cravings, etc. Further, hypoactive female sexual desire (low libido) is also symptomatic of dipping serotonin levels. 

Adrenaline

Also known as epinephrine, adrenaline is a hormone as well as a neurotransmitter. It is secreted by the adrenaline gland and works on the nervous system. It is the adrenaline that enables us to think on our feet in harmful situations. During this phase, the release of adrenaline makes the blood rush to the heart and muscles. In addition, adrenaline also alleviates pain. You may have observed not people stuck in dangerous and panicky situations might not notice an injury that would usually be painful. It is because of the adrenaline’s effect on their systems. The adrenaline rush may last for an hour or so. Continuous exposure to stress may result in the overproduction of adrenaline. Its symptoms include sweating, palpitations, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, etc. Generally, the hypersecretion of adrenaline stops once a person is out of danger. However, people with health problems like sleep apnea or obesity are at greater risk of exposure to high levels of noradrenaline/adrenaline. Rarely, low adrenaline may show up as a genetic catecholamine enzyme deficiency. Some researchers say that women’s reactions during an adrenaline rush aren’t as strong as those of men. Not to say that they are weak, but sometimes they respond to stress with a nurturing and social outlook than with the familiar do-or-die frame of mind. 

Oxytocin

Popularly known as the love hormone, oxytocin is produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland. It has a bearing on the childbirth process as well as male reproduction. During childbirth, it helps begin labor by making uterine muscles stimulate and contract. In addition, it increases the production of prostaglandins, which intensifies the contractions and helps move the labor along. Oxytocin also promotes lactation by moving the milk into the breast when the baby sucks at it. 

Thyroid Hormones

As the name suggests, these hormones are produced by the thyroid glands and support many functions. From managing the metabolism of your body’s cells and body temperature to weight loss or gain and maintaining energy levels, thyroid hormones are critical to good health. Scant production of thyroid hormone causes hypothyroidism; while too much production causes hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include cold sensitivity, fatigue, unexplained weight gain, constipation, and dry skin. Alternatively, symptoms of an overactive thyroid are unexpected weight loss, sweating and irritability, rapid or irregular heartbeat, irregular menstruation, and hair loss. Women are five to eight times more likely to develop thyroid issues. These imbalances can affect any age but are more common in people aged 60 or above. Severe thyroid disorders may lead to Grave’s disease and Hashimoto’s disease. Learn about health and wellness apps that can help you take corrective medications and better care of yourself on time.

Did you find this article helpful?

Please share your thoughts below.

Author Bio:

Kanika follows and writes on trends in multiple fields including dental sciences, health and wellness, medicines and skills needed for workplaces of the future.