Women’s Hormones
There are a few key players when it comes to women’s reproductive hormones, fertility and menstrual cycles. They all play a very different but important role and work together to create balance. Oestrogen and progesterone are arguably the most important in relation to your cycle and fertility. Many issues that women experience with menstrual cycles are often linked to an imbalance in either of these hormones.
Oestrogen
This hormone is responsible for our womanly shape, hips, but, boobs, plump skin and is essential for our gut, brain and immune system. It is dominant in the first half of the cycle, the follicular phase (day 1-14). It begins low during menstruation and then slowly rises until it hits a peak just before ovulation.
Its main role is the build the uterine lining during the first half of the cycle. Oestrogen plays a crucial role in fertility and pregnancy as it helps to mature the egg in the ovary, soften the cervix and assists sperm and implantation. Oestrogen also enhances feel-good neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin and dopamine and therefore may give you a confidence and energy boost and encourage you to be social.
There are 3 types of oestrogen; estrone, estradiol and estriol. Estrone is mostly present during menopause, estradiol is the most active form and produced before menopause and estriol is made by the placenta during pregnancy. Oestrogen is produced mostly by the ovaries but also the adrenal glands and peripheral tissue. Right before ovulation, the peak in oestrogen triggers and surge in luteinising hormone which releases the egg and halts the production of oestrogen. As amazing as oestrogen may seem, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. To get the best of your hormones, they need to be in balance and working together.
Progesterone
This hormone is dominant in the second phase of your cycle (luteal phase) and peaks 7 days after ovulation. For those of you who track your cycle and notice an increase in BBT after ovulation, you can thank progesterone for that. This is a great way to know if you are ovulating each month. The main role of progesterone is to maintain the integrity of the endometrium and aid in the implantation of a fertilised egg.
Progesterone is mostly produced by the corpus luteum which is made from the follicle from which the egg was released during ovulation. Progesterone also stimulates the GABA receptors and can have a mood stabilising and balancing effect.
Progesterone is dramatically impacted by stress and your body will prioritise stress hormone production, resulting in a decrease in progesterone levels. This then leads to an excess of oestrogen which can cause period pain, weight gain, suppress thyroid function, anxiety and more. This is where tracking your cycle can come in handy. If we are able to find which phase of your cycle is too short/long, it can give us a clue as to which hormone may need support.
