THE JOY OF HORMONES

​Whilst we know that oestrogen and progesterone help to make us female, do you know what other functions they have?  By understanding this, you will start to see why perimenopause can lead to symptoms and conditions not previously experienced.  There will be a later blog about symptoms and what causes them, but I don’t want to overwhelm you with all the information in one go…you wouldn’t thank me for that!
 
Whilst we immediately think of oestrogen and progesterone as being female sex hormones, men do produce some as well but in much lower levels.  We also associate these hormones with controlling our menstrual cycles, but did you know that they have other functions in the body as well?
 
Progesterone is the key hormone in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, but is also responsible for breast development and preparing the body for breastfeeding.  Progesterone has beneficial properties for both men and women.  For both genders, progesterone supports healthy bones, heart, liver and brain, improves cholesterol levels, mood-stabilising, but also has an effect on cognition, nerve function, and repairing of cells.
 
Oestrogen, as with all hormones, is a chemical messenger telling the body when to start and stop processes affecting sexual and reproductive health.  Levels rise during puberty, leading to breast development and curvy hips. Oestrogen also plays a role in controlling our voice box, making our voices generally higher than men’s, and has an impact on our height. As shown in the previous blog, oestrogen is key to controlling ovulation and preparing the uterus for pregnancy.  It is responsible for lubricating the vaginal walls and developing the uterus wall muscles.
 
Apart from the above roles of oestrogen, this hormone has non-reproductive functions as well. Oestrogen controls cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, bone and muscle mass, blood circulation, heart health, regulating mood, collagen production and skin moisture, as well as maintaining good brain function and metabolism.  I am sure you are already beginning to realise why you may be getting certain symptoms during perimenopause as your levels of oestrogen are beginning to fall.
 
Whilst fluctuations in oestrogen levels are normal in the body, there are steps that can be taken to help keep them within a healthy range:

1. Sleep – this does not just apply to oestrogen.  Getting enough, quality, uninterrupted sleep each night helps your body to maintain healthy hormone levels to carry out their functions at optimal levels.
2. Stress – controlling stress levels is important because excess stress increases release of adrenaline and cortisol which can reduce oestrogen levels.
3. Exercise – adequate levels of exercise help to maintain body fat and diet which are other factors that can affect oestrogen levels.
4. Alcohol – alcohol raises oestrogen levels which, in some cases, can increase risk of cancer.
5. Diet – eating foods with low levels of sugar, high levels of fibre and healthy fats help to regulate hormone levels.

 
So today’s fun fact is that even some insects produce oestrogen!

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