Estrogen is necessary for the proper functioning of the body. When all hormones are balanced, the body works as it should, but when there is an excess of hormones, various problems arise. Despite the fact that estrogen is known as a “female” hormone, its excess also negatively affects men.
Why does excess estrogen occur?
In women, estrogen is produced in the ovaries, and in pathological conditions it is often produced by fat cells, placenta, liver, adrenal glands, brain and muscles. It is responsible for the menstrual cycle, the development of secondary sexual characteristics and even bone formation.
Together with calcium and vitamin D, it rebuilds bones, so its levels decrease significantly with age.
Estrogen also affects the thickness and strength of the vaginal walls, blood clotting, stimulates the production of vaginal lubrication and many other body functions, affecting pelvic muscles, hair and skin.
Throughout a woman's life, her hormonal levels constantly change: from puberty to pregnancy to menopause. A reduction in estrogen production occurs with menopause, leading to symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and loss of sexual desire.
What happens when the body produces too much estrogen?
Possible causes of excess estrogen:
Estrogen levels rise with puberty and pregnancy. But sometimes excess estrogen appears during normal life.
There are only two reasons why estrogen accumulates in the body: either the body itself produces too much of it, or we get it from environment and food products.
If estrogen levels are high compared to other hormones, the condition is often called estrogen dominance because one hormone is dominant over the others. A common disorder is estrogen dominance over progesterone, another hormone that also regulates the menstrual cycle.
Surprisingly, the accumulation of excess estrogen is not that difficult to explain since we are constantly exposed to estrogen-like compounds in foods containing toxic pesticides, herbicides and growth hormones.
Many of the everyday household products we use, including plastics such as BPA, detergents, cosmetics, furniture and carpeting, contain endocrine disruptors - chemicals that mimic estrogen.
These toxins lead to weight gain, which serves as a stimulus to produce more estrogen from our own fat cells.
Pharmaceutical hormones used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) also lead to excess estrogen, whether we take them ourselves or consume them from drinking water.
Be aware that there are also foods high in certain types of phytoestrogens, such as soy.
There are other causes of excess estrogen, including:
- Excessive alcohol consumption;
- Stress;
- Medicines;
- Diabetes;
- High blood pressure;
- Obesity;
- Heart diseases.
Considering all this, it is not surprising that the alarming rates of estrogen dominance according to recent statistics show that more than 50% of women aged 35 years and older suffer from excess estrogen.
Let's look at some signs of estrogen dominance:
1) You are gaining weight, although you have not changed your lifestyle
You don't overeat, you don't lie on the couch all day. But you still gain weight for no reason, especially in the pelvic area - this is one of the main symptoms of excess estrogen.
You also often suffer from bloating and are unable to lose weight, even if you significantly cut calories, eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. All this is because the body cannot balance hormonal levels, because only then will you lose weight and be able to maintain your ideal weight.
2) You have an irregular menstrual cycle
There are many reasons why menstruation occurs early or late, and high level estrogen is one of them. If your cycle is always on schedule and suddenly becomes erratic (except during pregnancy), it may be due to excess estrogen.
The menstrual period is carefully controlled by hormones and when the level of one increases beyond normal limits, the whole process goes astray.
3) Your breasts are too tender or swollen
Many women experience breast changes during their menstrual cycle and also during pregnancy. Breasts are very sensitive to hormonal changes. If your breasts feel sore, especially around the nipples and front of your breasts, or if you notice they are more swollen than usual, you may want to check your estrogen levels.
4) Breast pain
When there is an excess of estrogen and low levels of progesterone, the breasts acquire a so-called fibrocystic condition. It becomes tender and even painful, usually on the upper or side of the chest. If these signs occur, consult your doctor immediately to avoid the appearance of a tumor or other changes in the breast.
5) You are too emotional
Estrogen affects many systems in our body. Mental state and emotions are no exception. You've probably felt unbalanced and anxious during PMS. Such sudden mood changes occur due to hormones. When there is an excess of estrogen, women experience depression, panic attacks, anxiety, inexplicable anger, etc.
6) You have frequent headaches
Women are more susceptible to headaches and migraines due to their reproductive system and fluctuations in estrogen levels. With a strong deviation of estrogen from progesterone, headaches often develop.
Many factors influence the development of headaches, including genetics and diet, but in women, excess estrogen is a major contributing factor to chronic headaches and menstrual migraines.
Before puberty, migraines occur approximately equally in both boys and girls, but after puberty they occur with a frequency of 3:1 towards girls.
7) Your hair is falling out
Many people believe that men are more prone to hair loss, but this is not true. With an excess of estrogen and a lack of progesterone, women lose hair no less than men. But don’t rush to blame hormones for everything. It all depends on how much hair you have lost and over what period of time.
Noticeable hair loss depends on a number of factors: genetics, lifestyle, diet and overall health, whether you take steps to address the problem or not.
8) “Girl Memory”
Do you know this humorous expression? If you notice that your memory is experiencing problems much more often than before, for example, you often lose your car keys, or leave your phone at work, then this may be due to estrogen.
Low estrogen levels are often linked to Alzheimer's disease and memory loss, but scientists have found that excess estrogen also leads to difficulty remembering, although the exact cause is not yet known.
9) You suffer from insomnia
Estrogen is a brain stimulant; in fact, this hormone can be considered an exotoxin. This is why women who take a lot of estrogen experience terrible depression and insomnia when they suddenly stop taking it.
One of the signs of excess estrogen in women can be considered the inability to stop, be it work, sports or just conversation.
Even moderate estrogen dominance causes sleep problems, because an excess of this hormone reduces the production of melatonin. So if you have a lot of estrogen and not enough progesterone (a hormone that helps you calm down), then you are guaranteed to experience insomnia.
10) You feel exhausted
Lack of sleep can easily lead to feeling completely exhausted. Of course, in such a busy world, with many of us faced with a long list of responsibilities every day, many get tired, but this does not always mean estrogen dominance.
If you notice that you're feeling tired much more often than usual, or experiencing some of the other symptoms we talked about, you may actually have excess estrogen.
Know that estrogen dominance increases your risk of serious medical problems, including high blood pressure, depression, uterine, breast and endometrial cancer, and endometriosis.
Another important detail: estrogen levels need to be monitored from time to time, because their levels fluctuate constantly.
So what can we do to bring estrogen back to normal?
Limit your alcohol intake.
Since the liver is responsible for metabolizing estrogen, it needs to be taken good care of. Alcohol impairs liver function, which can cause estrogen to accumulate.
Using more than one alcoholic drink per day increases the risk of breast cancer in women.
Eat organic foods.
Non-organic foods contain many pesticides and chemicals, including those that act as estrogen in the body or endocrine disruptors. Buy natural products more often so that your body does not absorb hormones, antibiotics and chemicals.
Eat more fiber.
Insoluble fiber binds to excess estrogen in the digestive tract and is then excreted from the body. Fiber also affects the composition of intestinal bacteria and reduces the accumulation and reabsorption of free-floating estrogen. Good sources of fiber: fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and dried beans.
Eat more probiotics.
An imbalance of healthy bacteria, known as probiotics, and “bad” or unhealthy bacteria can not only compromise digestion, but also prevent the body from properly removing excess estrogen from the digestive tract.
Eat more probiotic foods: kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt and kombucha, or take a probiotic supplement.
Weak phytoestrogenic foods.
These foods counteract the effects of excess estrogen: flax-seed, oats, barley, pears, berries and apples.
Eat a balanced diet.
All essential vitamins and minerals help balance hormone levels. The body needs a sufficient amount of vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc and some more nutrients to support normal hormone levels and the functioning of enzymes that balance testosterone and estrogen.
Rosemary essential oil.
It is believed that this oil can control estrogen levels by stimulating blood flow to the brain, encouraging proper thyroid function, and strengthening the immune system.
This powerful antioxidant stimulates hair growth, improves memory, and relieves muscle pain, which means it may also combat some of the symptoms of estrogen dominance.
100% pure rosemary oil affects even inert estrogen hormones. Experts at Rutgers University evaluated the effects of rosemary extract on laboratory mice and found that a diet containing 2% rosemary oil increased liver microsomal oxidation and glucuronidation, a process associated with xenobiotic metabolism.
This especially affected estradiol and estrone in the uterus. Estradiol is considered an aggressive form of estrogen.
Avoid exposure to xenoestrogens.
Xenoestrogens mimic the effects of estrogen and are found in cosmetics, plastics, birth control pills and other products. Limit your exposure to these harmful substances.
Control your stress.
Excessive stress leads to higher production of estrogen in the body. Under stress, progesterone decreases and the stress hormone cortisol increases, which often leads to excess estrogen. published
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consciousness, we are changing the world together! © econet
And it is known that all processes in our body are controlled by hormones. Mood, health, appearance, appetite, sleep, intelligence - this, and much more, depends on hormones.
1. Female hormone: estrogen
One of the most famous female hormones is estrogen, which is produced in the ovaries. It is a sex hormone that gives a woman a feminine figure and feminine character. A rounded figure, a soft, compliant character, emotionality - we have all this due to the production of the hormone estrogen in the body.
In addition, it is able to accelerate the renewal of cells throughout the body, maintain youthful shine and health of hair and skin, and also protect blood vessels from cholesterol deposits.
It is clear that the hormone must be produced in the required quantity.
Excess and deficiency of estrogen
Excess estrogen can cause excessive fullness in the lower abdomen and thighs. In addition, doctors associate various benign tumors with an excess of this female hormone.
Its deficiency often causes increased hair growth in unwanted places: on the face, legs, arms.
If there is a lack of this hormone, a woman ages faster: the skin is more prone to wrinkles and fading, hair becomes dull and lifeless, etc.
2. Female hormone: testosterone
In women, the hormone testosterone is produced in the adrenal glands.
Excess and deficiency of testosterone
Its excess often turns a woman into an ardent lover of men. Thanks to testosterone, we can experience sexual desire, be purposeful and persistent.
This hormone can force a woman not only to fold her arms in anticipation of a man, but also to go hunting for him herself.
The more testosterone a woman produces, the easier and faster it is for her to build her muscles and get involved in active games. With an excess of the hormone, a woman becomes aggressive and hot-tempered.
If the body does not produce enough testosterone, then a woman does not want to have sexual relations at all.
3. Female hormone: oxytocin
The female hormone oxytocin is a hormone that forces us to be tender and affectionate. Oxytocin is produced in large quantities after childbirth. This explains our boundless love for the tiny creature that was born.
Excess and lack of oxytocin
This hormone is produced in large quantities during stress. That is why a woman tries to get rid of depression and anxiety by taking care of her children, her husband, and doing good deeds.
4. Female hormone: thyroxine
Thyroxine is a hormone that affects our mind and figure. It regulates metabolism. The faster it happens, the more difficult it is for a woman to gain weight and, vice versa.
In addition, thyroxine affects our intelligence. Thanks to this hormone, a woman can have slim figure, smooth skin and graceful movements. Interestingly, it is thyroxine that allows a woman to instantly respond to an interested male gaze. The hormone is synthesized in the thyroid gland.
Excess and deficiency of thyroxine
If the body produces thyroxine in excess, the woman loses weight very quickly. In addition, she has difficulty concentrating. One thought constantly replaces another, the woman experiences constant anxiety, suffers from insomnia, and her heart jumps out of her chest. A deficiency of this hormone causes drowsiness, lethargy and obesity, as well as memory impairment.
5. Female hormone: norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is called the hormone of rage and courage. During a stressful situation, this hormone is produced in the adrenal glands. Many people know the opposite hormone to this - the fear hormone, which makes us run away from danger. Norepinephrine, on the contrary, awakens in a woman a feeling of confidence and readiness for action.
The hormone dilates blood vessels, blood rushes to the head, and brilliant ideas come to our minds, our cheeks become flushed, wrinkles are smoothed out, and our eyes sparkle with bright fire. Norepinephrine helps a woman with her head held high to solve all problems, find ways out of troubles and look great at the same time.
Many men will not let you lie that sometimes during times of stress a woman does not fade, but, on the contrary, only blossoms.
There is no feeling of anxiety or insomnia. Very often you can observe that the slightest trouble takes us out of balance and makes us feel depressed. And sometimes nothing can piss us off! Thanks to the hormone norepinephrine!
6. Female hormone: insulin
Insulin is commonly called a hormone sweet life" It enters the bloodstream from the pancreas and controls blood glucose levels. Insulin breaks down all incoming carbohydrates, incl. sweets, and processes them into glucose (a source of energy). That. Insulin gives us the energy that allows us to live.
Some women produce slightly less insulin from birth than others, or the hormone is not as active.
When we eat too much sweet or starchy foods, excess glucose “wanders” throughout the body and negatively affects the condition of cells and blood vessels. As a result, diabetes may develop. The risk is especially high if members of your family suffer from this disease.
7. Female hormone: somatotropin
This female hormone is responsible for strength and slimness. The hormone is produced in the pituitary gland internal secretion, which is located in the brain. Somatotropin is responsible for burning fat, building muscle mass, strength and elasticity of ligaments, incl. and those that support the female breast.
In childhood and adolescence, an excess of this hormone leads to very high growth. If this hormone is produced in excess in an adult body, what can still grow grows: the chin, nose, knuckles. Excessive amounts of the hormone during pregnancy can lead to enlargement of some facial features, hands, feet, and hands, but after the birth of the baby, everything usually falls into place. In children, a lack of growth hormone is fraught with a slowdown, and often a complete stop of growth.
If a woman constantly does not get enough sleep, often overeats and is overtired, the level of the somatotropin hormone decreases, the muscles become weak, flabby, and the breasts lose their shape. However, no amount of intensive training will correct the situation.
Hormones control all processes in the female body. Taking hormonal medications can lead to hormonal imbalance, and the results of such treatment can be the most unexpected!
Therefore, before you start taking them, you need to assess the existing risk.
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Publication date: August 11, 2011
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called “ increased activity thyroid gland."
The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. It is located in the front of the neck. The gland produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control the body's use of energy. This process is called metabolism. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much hormone over a short (acute) or long (chronic) period of time. Many diseases and conditions can cause problems, including:
- Accumulation of large amounts of iodine
- Graves' disease
- Inflammation (of) the thyroid gland due to viral infection or for other reasons
- Benign growths of the thyroid gland or pituitary gland
- Tumors of the testicles or ovaries
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
- Sticky skin
- Weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Protruding eyes (exophthalmos)
- Fast heartbeat
- Skin redness
A physical examination may reveal an enlarged thyroid gland, tremors, hyperactive reflexes, or rapid heartbeat. Systolic blood pressure may be high. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is diagnosed by abnormal blood levels of thyroid hormones, often in the absence of any symptoms. Blood tests are also done to determine thyroid hormone levels.
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of symptoms. Treatment includes:
- Antithyroid medications
- (which destroys the thyroid gland and stops excess hormone production)
- Beta blockers, such as propranolol, are used to treat some symptoms, including rapid heartbeat, and anxiety.
Prospects (forecast)
Hyperthyroidism is usually treatable and only rarely life-threatening. Some of its causes may go away without treatment. Hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease usually gets worse over time. It has many complications, some of which are serious and affect quality of life.
Possible complications
- Rapid heartbeat
- Stagnant
- There is an increased risk of developing osteoporosis if hyperthyroidism is present for a long time
Complications after surgery.
Every woman faces hormonal fluctuations. PMS, pregnancy, menopause and many other factors can disrupt the balance of hormones, but if you cannot clearly determine the cause of the disruption, then this is a cause for concern. In our material we figure out how to recognize the enemy by sight and take care of your health in a timely manner.
Hormonal imbalance – what is it?
Hormones are substances secreted by organs and tissues associated with the endocrine system. They travel with the blood to the most remote parts of the body and bring with them the information necessary for their harmonious functioning. In other words, they “tell” what, where and when to do and how quickly.
Hormones regulate a huge number of processes in the body: metabolism, sleep cycles, heartbeat, sexual function, mood, temperature - and this is just a small list of everything that is under the strict supervision of hormones. But their work is often disrupted, and most often the reason for this is a decrease or increase in the amount of one or another hormone in the body.
A person’s levels of insulin, cortisol, thyroxine, estrogen, progesterone can either fall or rise, but each such change seriously affects general condition health. If you're cooking dinner and add too much salt or pepper, your meal won't turn out the way it was supposed to - the same thing happens to your body when it experiences a hormonal imbalance.
But how do you understand that you are at risk?
Irregular menstrual cycle
For most women, the gap between periods is 21 to 35 days. If you observe that every month they come to different times or, worse, do not come at all, this may mean that your body either lacks certain hormones, or, conversely, their levels are too high. Most often this is due to the ratio of the hormones progesterone and estrogen.
If you are 40 and more years, then the failure may be caused by the so-called perimenopause - the period before menopause, or the last independent menstruation of the female body. But in general, an irregular cycle can be a symptom of serious problems with the health of the reproductive system, so in such a situation the best course of action is to contact a gynecologist, take all the necessary tests and begin treatment, if necessary.
Sleep problems
If it takes you several hours to fall asleep, and this happens regularly, then this may well signal a hormonal imbalance. Progesterone, a hormone secreted by the ovaries, plays a large role in maintaining stable deep sleep. If its level drops, it can affect both the quality of sleep and the speed at which it comes. Moreover, low estrogen levels can result in nightmares, so it is very important to be diagnosed promptly by a specialist.
Chronic acne
Breakouts often happen during your period (or in the days leading up to it), but if it terrorizes your skin... on an ongoing basis, this indicates a serious hormonal imbalance. Increased amounts of androgens - “male” hormones that are present in both male and female bodies - can cause the sebaceous glands to overwork and also affect the function of the cells around the hair follicles. All this leads to rapid clogging of pores, and in the worst case, to the development of acne.
Memory Fogging
The influence of hormones on brain activity has not yet been fully studied, but it is known for sure that changes in the amount of the hormones estrogen and progesterone can cause memory fog. Some experts also agree that estrogen can affect chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Well, in general, memory problems can be directly related to negative hormonal changes in the body - such as, for example, thyroid disease.
Stomach problems
Our intestines contain a huge number of receptors that respond to estrogen and progesterone. When these hormones become less or more than normal, you may notice significant changes in your digestion. Diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea - all this can suddenly darken your well-being if the functioning of hormones is disrupted. If at the same time you observe frequent rashes and rapid fatigue, then it’s time to consult a specialist.
Breast changes
A decrease in the amount of estrogen, the main female sex hormone, can cause breast tissue to become less dense. But increasing its quantity can work in the opposite way, but not always positive side: The breast tissue will gain density, but in the process there is a risk of cysts and other formations.
Fast weight gain
If you feel sad or irritable, which often happens when estrogen levels drop, your appetite may increase. A decrease in the amount of the hormone can lead to significant weight gain: it is known that if this happens with estrogen, it can also affect the levels of another hormone, leptin, which helps regulate food intake ( read also: ).
How to prevent hormonal imbalance?
1. Add polyunsaturated acids to your diet: omega-3 and omega-6 will help reduce appetite and the risk of obesity. These acids trigger the production of leptin, so with their help you are unlikely to gain excess weight.
2. Next time you're ready to take a coffee or matcha break, think aboutadaptogenicherbs Adaptogen plants affect the physiology of the body, normalizing its internal processes, including the functioning of the hormone cortisol.
3. Taking probiotics will help maintain microflora balance and normal ratio"bad" and« good» bacteria. The more of the latter there are in the body’s intestines, the easier it is for it to process consumed food. It has also long been proven that hormonal imbalances associated with estrogen can be eliminated with the help of probiotics that restore reservesestrobolom– bacteria responsible for processing estrogen.
4. Vitamin D deficiency– one of the most common diseases on the planet. However, he has much more negative consequences than it might seem at first glance: vitamin B plays a decisive role in a number of body functions, including immune and anti-inflammatory. Low levels of this vitamin can lead to hypothyroidism– lack of thyroid hormones and a decrease in the intensity of its work.
5. In the atmosphere of city life, the first thing we sacrifice when it comes to lack of time is– this is a dream. However, 3-4 hours of sleep– critical for the body. With this amount, he begins to experience real hormonal stress: an increase in the amount of hormone ghrelin , which is responsible for appetite, and a simultaneous decrease in the hormone leptin, which is responsible for the feeling of fullness, leads to the risk of gaining excess weight and deterioration of metabolism. This is why normal sleep– one of the main components of health. If there is enough of it, the body increases the secretion of growth hormones, which help restore cells and produce new ones with greater intensity.
The stereotype that women live by emotions is probably hundreds of years old. Empathy, anxiety, the ability to blame oneself for everything and empathize with all living things are considered typically female abilities. Men traditionally seem to many to be less emotional, less anxious and more prone to aggression. But still, there is no point in generalizing: all people are different, and in the behavior of an individual, it is not gender, but personality type that plays a much larger role. Among women there are often “iron ladies”, and among men there are a lot of emotional, soft and compassionate ones - and everything is in order with hormones for both.
PMS may not be a one-size-fits-all explanation
One of the main theories of the origin premenstrual syndrome considers it an inadequate reaction of a woman’s body to a change in the ratio of sex hormones - estrogen and progesterone - at the end of the menstrual cycle.
Impaired perception of hormonal fluctuations leads to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, which primarily cause inconvenience to the woman herself. But this fact cannot be a reason to attribute what you don’t like in the behavior of a particular woman to PMS: it does not occur as often as many people believe.
Yes, weakness, engorgement of the mammary glands, heaviness in the lower abdomen, headache and increased appetite on the eve of menstruation occurs in 90% of females - but this is not PMS. Only 10% of women are familiar with real PMS, which seriously affects their well-being and emotional state.
In the latest International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10), you won't find PMS, only premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a serious disorder that often requires treatment. It occurs even less frequently: in 3% of cases.
If PMDD violates daily life, regularly plunges you into depression, forces you to take “sick leave”, take “packs” of painkillers, give up sex and entertainment - the help of a doctor is needed. But only three women out of a hundred suffer from it: to understand the behavior of the other ninety-seven, you will have to think and look for more rational arguments.
Depression after childbirth is not just a bad mood, but a serious problem
But another disorder caused by sharp hormonal fluctuations due to the end of pregnancy and childbirth - postpartum depression - is ignored by most people.
For some reason, people around them often attribute an incredibly happy state to women with babies with the same persistence that PMS is attributed to women without babies.
However, according to WHO, every sixth new mother, precisely because of this illness, not only does not experience joy after the birth of a child, but is also in a health- and life-threatening state of clinical depression.
Symptoms of postpartum depression:
- despondency and loss of interest in previously favorite activities,
- lethargy, apathy, weakness,
- loss of appetite,
- sleep problems,
- decreased concentration and memory impairment,
- increased level anxiety, tearfulness,
- feeling of one's own insignificance, incompetence,
- anxiety and guilt about the lack of love for the child,
- suicidal thoughts.
Postpartum depression is a real, serious problem. A woman suffering from this disorder needs understanding, support and treatment. Otherwise, depression can drag on for years and lead to other serious problems with health.
Emotional disorders after abortion - a medical problem
Few people even acknowledge the existence of post-abortion depression.
According to many, a woman who has had an abortion does not deserve compassion, and her “whims” look, to put it mildly, strange. Nevertheless there are many studies , confirming the relationship between abortion and psycho-emotional disorders.
Abortion increases the risk of suicide six times and provokes various disorders, primarily the development of depression and anxiety disorders with panic attacks. Therefore, post-abortion rehabilitation includes not only the normalization of the functions of the reproductive system disrupted by abortion, but also the restoration of the woman’s psycho-emotional state.
Both post-abortion and postpartum depression are associated with a sharp change in hormonal levels and an “unfavorable” ratio of estrogen and progesterone.
But these are not all hormones that can influence a woman’s psycho-emotional state. Hot temper, aggressiveness and anxiety can be the result of an increase in the amount of thyroid hormones and the adrenal hormone cortisol. Hypothyroidism, or decreased production of thyroid hormones, on the contrary, leads to apathy, lack of initiative and slow reactions.
What problems are really related to female hormones?
The most important female hormones are estrogens and progesterone.
Estrogens
Estrogens- a collective concept that combines three hormones: estradiol, estrone and estriol.
Thanks to estrogens a woman becomes and remains a woman all her life: they are responsible for the development of the mammary glands, the distribution of hair on the body according to female type, stimulate the growth of the uterus and other reproductive organs, regulate the menstrual cycle, and participate in childbirth. Estrogens are formed mainly by the ovarian follicles and very little - in the adrenal cortex and other organs.
The strongest of them is estradiol, in women of childbearing age its level dominates over others. With the onset of menopause, it begins to predominate estriol, which has a weak effect - this deprives a woman of many of the “advantages” that estrogens provided at a young age. Thus, with the onset of menopause, the skin quickly fades, bones lose their strength, and the risk of atherosclerosis, as well as associated heart attacks and strokes, increases.
Interestingly, estrogen receptors are found not only in the genitals, but also in the mammary glands, urethra, liver, and brain. When the amount of hormones changes, they begin to work differently, which sometimes affects well-being and health.
Progesterone
It is also formed in the ovaries, in the corpus luteum, which forms at the site of a burst follicle in the second half of the menstrual cycle.
Progesterone is called the “pregnancy hormone”, since thanks to it, in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, the uterine mucosa prepares to receive a fertilized egg. It is progesterone, produced by the corpus luteum, that controls pregnancy in the early stages.
Brain: hypothalamus and pituitary gland
The work of the ovaries is coordinated by the endocrine centers of the brain - hypothalamus And pituitary. They also produce hormones and with their help influence the synthesis of estrogen and progesterone.
Follicle stimulating hormone The pituitary gland triggers the maturation of follicles and controls the synthesis of estrogen.
Luteinizing hormone“pushes” the egg towards release and ensures the formation of the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone.
Prolactin is also formed in the pituitary gland. It is responsible for lactation, but at the same time indirectly affects the functioning of the ovaries, inhibiting their activity. If prolactin levels increase outside of pregnancy, the ovaries stop working normally, making it difficult to conceive.
Male hormones: testosterone
In the body of a woman, like in men, androgens are formed, in particular testosterone. Testosterone is mainly synthesized by the adrenal cortex and is responsible for libido, strength, endurance and determination, the ratio and distribution of muscle and fat tissue in the body. Female testosterone is an intermediate product in the process of estradiol formation. If follicle maturation is disrupted, testosterone remains unclaimed for the synthesis of estrogens. Its amount in the body increases, which leads to the appearance and exacerbation of male characteristics.
Menstrual irregularities
Unfortunately, many people believe that menstruation is called “menstruation” because it should come strictly once a month, on certain dates.
In fact, the duration of the menstrual cycle for each woman is individual: for some it is 21 days, for others it is 34 days. Everything between these numbers is a variant of the norm.
To find out the length of your cycle, you need to count how many days pass between the first day of one menstruation and the first day of the next. If your periods start every 36 or more days, or, conversely, come earlier than after 21 days, and if the difference in the duration of the cycles is more than 2-3 days, you need to consult a doctor. The cause of the disorders is hormonal imbalances.
Problems with hormones are also indicated by menstruation lasting less than three and more than 7 days, both too scanty and too heavy, as well as the appearance of blood in the middle of the menstrual cycle. All this is a reason to go to the doctor.
Decreased sexual desire
A woman's libido is regulated by estradiol and testosterone. Estrogens, which predominate in the body until ovulation in the middle of the menstrual cycle, improve well-being, improve mood, and encourage flirting. Research shows that a decrease in the amount of estrogen, as happens when ovarian function declines during menopause, leads to a decrease in sexual interest (and taking hormones for replacement purposes has a beneficial effect on the sex life of menopausal women).
The effect of testosterone on women's sexual activity has not been fully studied, and scientists have varying opinions about the role of androgens in female sexuality. Some see a direct connection between the peak of testosterone and increased libido during the period of ovulation, others consider heightened sexuality to be the result of the influence of estrogen.
Many agree that androgens enhance the effects of estrogens, and menopausal women are prescribed small doses of male hormones in addition to estrogens.
Purely theoretically, male hormones should make a woman more decisive in finding a sexual partner and having sex.
Many pharmaceutical companies have invested considerable funds in the development of “female Viagra” based on testosterone: taking a large dose of the hormone increases libido, but we cannot talk about constant use of the drug.
Today, doctors do not approve of the use of androgens on a regular basis and do not see much prospects in developing methods for enhancing female sexuality with male hormones.
Overweight
Many women blame extra pounds hormones, and they are partly right: hormones do affect weight.
Research shows that estrogens increase tissue sensitivity to insulin, accelerate the utilization of glucose and prevent its conversion into fat. A decrease in the amount of estrogen, as happens during pregnancy or menopause, increases the likelihood of developing insulin resistance: cells stop absorbing glucose that enters the blood after eating - and the body, trying to normalize blood sugar levels, has to “distill” it into fat.
Estrogens regulate appetite through the hormone leptin, which is produced by adipose tissue and controls food intake and satiety. If there is little estrogen, the amount of leptin decreases, and this provokes hunger and, as a result, consumption of large amounts of food.
The effect of progesterone on fat metabolism has been little studied. This hormone likely increases insulin production, which leads to decreased blood sugar levels and a feeling of hunger. All these factors, combined with a high-calorie diet and decreased physical activity, cause the appearance of extra pounds.
A decrease in the influence of estrogen leads to not just the accumulation of fat, but its local deposition in the abdominal area and around the internal organs. Doctors call this visceral obesity and see it as a great health hazard. Internal fat disrupts the functioning of organs and changes metabolic processes, in particular, contributes to the development diabetes mellitus second type.
If your waist suddenly begins to disappear and its circumference has exceeded 80 cm, this indicates that fat is being deposited inside the abdomen. Some scientists see a way out in compensating for the missing effect of estrogens with the help of hormonal drugs. But this is only as a last resort. First place, as always, healthy eating, daytime activity and sports.
Premature skin aging
If a woman is not yet in her fifties, and her skin suddenly becomes dry, dull and flabby, covered with a network of fine wrinkles and age spots, if thin veins of blood vessels appear on it, this is a reason to check your hormonal levels.
All of these changes are typical for women 45–50 years old entering menopause, but not for young women. The cause of skin aging at a young age may be a malfunction of the ovaries or their depletion (early menopause).
The skin is an estrogen-sensitive organ. It has a huge number of receptors that interact with estrogens, so the decrease in the influence of these hormones largely determines the deterioration of its condition.
Estrogens stimulate cell function and reproduction. When their influence on the epidermis decreases, the skin becomes dry, begins to peel, and becomes covered with acne and pimples. Changes in the cells that produce melanin lead to the appearance of pigmented and discolored spots on the skin. And if the synthesis of collagen and elastin slows down and the skin framework weakens, noticeable premature wrinkles may appear.
Hair can also suffer from a lack of estrogen: it becomes thin, lifeless, and begins to fall out. Nails become thinner and growing them becomes a real problem.
When estrogen levels decrease, the endocrinologist selects hormonal preparations containing synthetic estrogen and progesterone analogues, which will compensate for the deficiency of their own hormones. With this treatment, the skin really looks younger. The downside is that the use of artificial hormones is not suitable for everyone due to their unwanted effects.
There is a practice of using estrogen externally in the form of creams. But in Russia, cosmetics with hormones are prohibited: everything that contains them automatically falls into the category of “medicines.”
The solution may be phytoestrogens - plant analogues of hormones produced by the ovaries. Cosmetics with them are already on store shelves and sold without a prescription.
Oily skin, acne and pimples
It has long been known: no matter how much chocolate you eat, it will not cause acne. The nature of nutrition has little effect on the activity of the sebaceous glands and, even more so, does not affect the appearance of blackheads on the nose and cheeks. The cause of these troubles is a decrease in the influence of estrogens and an increase in the sensitivity of the skin to the action of male hormones and androgens.
Normally, estrogens reduce the activity of the sebaceous glands and accelerate the renewal of skin cells. When there are few of them, the skin becomes dry, the ducts of the sebaceous glands become “clogged” with dead skin scales - this disrupts the outflow of sebum.
Androgens further increase the activity of the sebaceous glands. The resulting secretion stagnates in the ducts, and acne appears. When microbes get involved, inflammation develops and acne “pops up.”
No diet, cream or “cleansing” of the skin can help against the formation of acne. There are drugs that reduce the synthesis of androgens and reduce their effect on the skin - for example, combined oral contraceptives (COCs) based on analogues of natural hormones, estrogen and progestogen, which initially have antiandrogenic activity. But only a doctor can prescribe them.
Hard mustache and hair on the chin and cheekbones in women sometimes also due to an imbalance in androgen production. With correction hormonal levels with combined oral contraceptives and antiandrogen drugs, they also disappear.
Unless you are one of the eastern women who are nationally characterized by more hair, your mother and grandmother do not have this feature, and you suddenly have a lot of coarse hairs on your face, it is worth checking your hormones.
Hair loss, or Androgenetic alopecia
Another consequence of the negative impact of increased levels of androgens on the female body is androgenic alopecia, or baldness.
According to some sources, up to 50% of women lose their hair precisely because of the influence of male sex hormones, or more precisely, one of the forms of testosterone - dihydrotestosterone. Under its influence, hair follicles become small, hair thins, becomes brittle and falls out.
To make sure that hair loss is due to androgens, it is not enough to do a blood test for testosterone. In most cases, the amount of testosterone remains within normal limits. But you can detect a reduced amount of estrogens or signs of low skin sensitivity to them: acne, pimples, dryness, peeling and sagging skin, thinning and brittle nails.
Hair loss can be associated not only with androgens, but also with anemia, lactation, low protein and fat in the diet, stress and “cruel” treatment of hair.
You can finally deal with the problem only by visiting a trichologist and having a trichoscopy and trichography done - a special examination of the hair. s, allowing us to consider them at different stages of development.
Unfortunately, despite the indirect relationship of androgenetic alopecia with female hormones, it cannot be treated with estrogens. Doctors use medications that have an antiandrogenic effect, preventing the conversion of testosterone to harmful dehydrotestosterone and speeding up the growth of new hair.
Thrush
Candidiasis, also known as thrush, is a disease caused by a yeast-like fungus of the genus Candida. According to some reports, up to 75% of women experience it.
Candida is not a dangerous fungus; it can be found in the vagina of every third healthy woman. The growth and reproduction of the fungus is controlled by the immune system, in particular leukocytes, which are released into the vaginal lumen and kill excessively multiplied fungi.
Research shows that increased levels of estrogen prevent the release of white blood cells into the vagina and thereby interfere with the triggering of the protective mechanism. Vaginal candidiasis is usually combined with rapid proliferation of fungi in the intestines. Intestinal candida disrupts the metabolism of estrogen in the body, which leads to the accumulation of hormones and increases the activity of vaginal fungi.
There is no need to take candidiasis lightly: it is quite dangerous. Against this background, the craving for sweets and starchy foods increases, which compromises metabolism and health. Candidiasis provokes allergies and acne, reduces resistance to infectious diseases.
Against the background of thrush, other vaginal infections quickly develop, some of which can lead to infertility. And the dominance of estrogen in the body provokes a decrease in libido, the development of mastopathy, endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
Antifungal antibiotics and drugs that promote the development of normal vaginal microflora help fight thrush. Only by restoring the vaginal immunity can we hope that the fungi will stop attacking and behave peacefully.
Instructions for testing hormones
If the above problems are familiar to you, you need to check your hormones. You can do a blood test for hormones in any independent laboratory - but you will still need to go to a gynecologist-endocrinologist for clarification.
Laboratory test results are always evaluated in conjunction with existing symptoms. Additional examination and consultations with other doctors may be required.
General rules for “studying” all hormones:
- Blood for analysis is taken on an empty stomach, so it is better to go to the laboratory in the morning without breakfast.
- The day before the test, you need to exclude alcohol, sex, sports training and heavy physical labor. Limit smoking if possible.
- You should not take any hormonal medications, and if you cannot refuse them, warn the laboratory technician about this.
- Try not to be nervous: emotional outbursts affect the production of hormones and the results of the analysis.
When to get tested depends on which hormone you want to determine. Typically, diagnosis is carried out in two stages - in the first and second phases (half) of the menstrual cycle.
On the 3rd–5th day of the menstrual cycle (counting from the first day of menstruation in a 28-day cycle), determine:
- estradiol,
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
- luteinizing hormone (LH),
- prolactin.
In the second half of the cycle, on the 22–23rd day (counting from the first day of menstruation in a 28-day cycle), they are tested for progesterone and estradiol.
If you suspect that the problem is related to male sex hormones, you need to get tested for:
- free testosterone;
- dihydrotestosterone;
- androstenedione (precursor of testosterone);
- sex hormone binding globulin (sex steroid binding globulin, androgen binding globulin, sex steroid binding globulin).
The analysis is carried out on any day of the menstrual cycle, because the formation of male sex hormones in a woman’s body is constant and depends little on the phase of the menstrual cycle.
To check whether menopause is approaching, you need to take a test for FSH and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) - a special substance that is constantly formed in the ovaries and allows you to judge their functional reserve. Blood for analysis should be taken on the 2nd–5th day of the menstrual cycle, but if there is no menstruation, the analysis can be done on any convenient day.