Menstrual cycle hormones.
Your magnificent endocrine system is an intricate and powerful network of glands that secrete hormones directly into your bloodstream, regulating specific functions across your entire body.
Think menstrual cycle, temperature, stress, metabolism, sleep, mood, development, growth and reproduction.
The hypothalamus in the brain is the ‘master controller’ of the endocrine system and continuously receives ‘data’ about hormone levels in your body. Hormones, are the chemical messengers that communicate information via the bloodstream from the hypothalamus to target receptors in organs, and direct movement and change.
Your pituitary gland hangs just below the hypothalamus and is always on alert to release either inhibitory or stimulating hormones, based on the data sent from the command centre above.
These messengers include reproductive and stress hormones, which are crucial to the orchestration and wellness of the menstrual cycle and well, pretty much female health in general!
The main hormone participants in conducting or upsetting your cycle are;
Oestrogen: Lovingly labeled as the Beyonce hormone, oestrogen makes you feel fertile and lucsious and with the increase of serotonin that follows, well, pretty fabulous when it’s flowing! Oestrogen is mainly produced in your ovaries but also in small amounts in your adrenal glands and fat cells. Oestrogen is a crucial player in ovulation and thickens the uterine lining in anticipation of a potential pregnancy. And yes, your partner can unconsciously scent your pheromones during this time! Oestrogen holds other important biological roles, supporting not only your reproductive system but your heart, bone and brain health as well. Ovulating is IMPORTANT for your whole body!
Progesterone: Progesterone begins to build in the body once ovulation has taken place and is responsible for maintaining the uterine lining in expectation of pregnancy. Progesterone is one the most anti-anxiety and anti-depressive substances that the human body produces and has a major impact on mood, sleep and relaxation. PMS or mood swings anyone?
Follicle-stimulating hormone: Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates ovarian follicles to mature.
Luteinising hormone: Luteinising hormone triggers the release a mature ova or egg from an ovarian follicle.
Adrenaline: Adrenaline is produced in the adrenal glands and is a natural stress hormone. Heard of adrenal fatigue? Hello adrenaline! This hormone is your body’s responder to stress and switches your nervous system into flight or fight mode, preparing you physically and mentally for dangerous situations. This includes mobilising glucose stores, to provide an immediate release of energy.
Cortisol: Cortisol is a steriod hormone that is produced and released in your adrenal glands and mainly helps to regulate your body’s response to stress. Cortisol mops up the bio-chemical impacts of adrenaline by regulating blood-sugar levels, regulating blood pressure, suppressing inflammation and helping to control your circadian rhythm and metabolism.
Regulate your stress hormones!
These beauties ensure that your cyclic health and well-being continue to function and flourish. As you might imagine, disruptions in either the communication of messages or in building hormones, wobble the system and imbalances like PMS, hormonal anxiety, mood swings or irregular, heavy, painful or missing periods, occur. The usual contenders to wonky hormones are;
1# Mismanaged stress
Inadequate nutrition
Insufficient sleep
Exercise (not enough or excessive)
Dysregulated blood-sugar levels
Your hormones are is nothing short of ingenious but need help to do their beautiful and important work in your body. If you would like extra support in managing your hormonal symptoms or learning to eat for cycle health, sent me a msg through the link below and we can arrange a free discovery session!.
Nourish your endocrine system and stay well and balanced!
important
Not everyone feels like Beyonce during ovulation and that’s OK. We are all beautifully unique and respond to hormones differently, according to our genetics, lifestyle, diet, environment and levels of stress.
Keisha xx
