Hormones are chemical messengers that are created by our endocrine glands and are released straight into the blood.
The body uses these hormones to control a variety of processes, including sleep, growth, hunger, and others.
For instance, our body’s growth hormones assist in controlling growth and development. Our sex hormone levels are affected by numerous circumstances.
Although a person’s hormone levels normally change throughout their lifetime, chronic hormonal imbalances could result in a variety of symptoms and negative health repercussions.
The adrenal glands and the ovaries are where women’s bodies get their sex hormones from. These hormones are necessary for several bodily processes in women.
Female sex hormones could affect hair growth, body weight, and muscle and bone growth.
Here we will get to know all about female sex hormones.
What Are Female Sex Hormones?
Your organs and glands manufacture hormones, which function as chemical messengers in your body.
Numerous vital bodily processes, such as growth and development, energy level, and reproduction are controlled by various hormones.
Female sex hormones are essential for controlling a variety of bodily processes.
They are primarily made in the ovaries and the endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream where they act as chemical messengers that deliver messages to every cell and organ.
Female sex hormones may[1] affect sleep, appetite, muscle and bone growth, and women’s health in general in addition to assisting in sexual development and the regulation of the reproductive system.
Female sex hormones naturally fluctuate throughout time, specifically throughout puberty, pregnancy, and menopause as well as after giving birth and while nursing.
What Are The Different Types Of Female Sex Hormones?
The following are the types of female sex hormones:
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DHEA
The body converts DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which[2] is produced by the adrenal glands, into testosterone in men and estrogen in women.
When DHEA levels are inadequate, everything else gets affected in women.
DHEA is crucial in both men and women because it acts as a reservoir for the other sex hormones whilst having its activities (such as neurotransmitter control and stress response).
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Progesterone
Progesterone is a hormone that[3] the ovaries naturally generate and which has several roles in the reproductive cycle.
It controls both the monthly menstrual cycle and its cessation during pregnancy.
The regular, concentrated doses of progesterone, together with estrogen, are what truly restrict ovulation after conception.
High levels of progesterone are frequently cited as one of the causes of PMS. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms include breast tenderness, bloating, and mood swings.
Irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, diminished libido, anxiety, melancholy, and migraines are a few symptoms of low progesterone.
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Estrogen
Estrogen is the most well-known female hormone and it is available in three hormone forms: estriol, estrone, and estradiol.
The ovaries, the fat cells, and the adrenal glands are where estrogen is largely produced.
Estradiol, the most potent and active of the three estrogens, is frequently the only one detected in an estrogen test.
The hormone that controls the menstrual cycle is estrogen, which[4] works in conjunction with progesterone. As we age, our levels of estrogen decrease, which results in menopause.
Estrogen levels are linked to heart health, mood, skin elasticity, metabolic health, brain health, and bone health in addition to the common menopause symptoms.
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Testosterone
The adrenal glands and the ovaries in women are where this hormone is largely made.
Although testosterone is a major hormone in men, it is also found in smaller quantities in women, wherein its function is to maintain a healthy level of muscle mass, endurance, and strength.
Additionally, it promotes memory, stamina, libido, and general well-being.
Unfortunately, the body’s testosterone levels plummet as it ages, inexorably creating an estrogen and testosterone imbalance. For women to be in proper balance, testosterone is very crucial.
A diminished libido, low energy, and a decline in general well-being could[5] all be symptoms of testosterone deficiency.
Female Sex Hormones During Puberty
It is during puberty that a woman physically transforms into an adult. Your body goes through several changes during puberty.
And you might experience stronger emotions. Puberty in women often begins between the ages of eight and fourteen.
Males typically begin puberty later than females do. Puberty develops gradually over several years and does not occur all at once.
Some puberty symptoms may appear early while others may take years to manifest.
Every woman experiences puberty differently since everybody is distinct. Everybody experiences puberty at their rate.
Females will most likely see these changes during puberty:
- Your labia change color and grow bigger
- You start getting your period
- Your hips get wider and your body becomes curvier
- Your breasts develop and get bigger
Hormones regulate puberty, and they have an impact on both your body and your emotions. Your emotions could[6] get stronger and more intense as you go through puberty.
It’s normal to have mood swings, which are sudden, erratic changes in your feelings.
Female Sex Hormones During Menstruation
A sequence of regular, biological changes in the body occurs during the menstrual cycle.
The number of days between the first day of one period and the first day of the next determines how long a menstrual cycle is.
In other words, the first day of your period coincides with the start of your menstrual cycle. There are two primary phases to the menstrual cycle.
The first 8-15 days of the cycle are typically devoted to the follicular phase, also known as the proliferative phase.
After ovulation, the secretory or luteal phase lasts for around 14 days, concluding with menstruation if the pregnancy wasn’t successful.
Menstrual periods that last between 22 and 35 days, with an average of 28 days, are typically regarded as normal.
Let’s examine how hormone levels alter across the various cycle phases.
- Follicular Stage (preparing for ovulation)
The decreased progesterone levels and elevated estrogen levels during the follicular phase of the cycle might make the skin seem better. This phase is also linked to mood improvement.
- Ovulation
Luteinizing hormone levels increase concurrently with a peak in estrogen levels.
The egg is released from the dominant follicle as a result of this procedure, which also initiates ovulation.
An egg is released from the dominant follicle during ovulation and waits in the uterine tube to be fertilized.
The best likelihood of conception for a typical 28-day cycle happens about 14 days before the start of the following menstrual cycle.
However, since a released egg only lives for about 24 hours and sperm could survive in the uterus for about 5 days, conception may occur at any time throughout this time frame, which is known as the fertile window.
- Luteal stage
Levels of estrogen and LH decrease following ovulation.
The corpus luteum, a sort of transient organ that primarily secretes progesterone to prime the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg, develops from the dominant follicle.
For the majority of people, this phase lasts 14 days. The body is prepared for the implantation of a fertilized egg during the luteal phase.
The luteal phase’s dominant hormone, progesterone, starts to rise. In the meantime, progesterone and estrogen levels gradually increase following ovulation.
Female Sex Hormones During Menopause
Up until perimenopause, which[7] is the period when a woman’s body starts to transition to menopause, monthly periods continue.
Although it could start earlier or later, perimenopause normally starts when a woman is in her late 40s and could endure for several years.
A woman may have trouble sleeping, night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness during perimenopause when her cycle becomes less regular.
Every woman will experience menopause as a natural part of aging, usually in her early 50s.
During this time, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which regulate menstruation, will decline, leading to less frequent periods.
The ovaries of a woman will also stop releasing eggs into the fallopian tubes. Twelve months following a woman’s last period, menopause officially starts.
A woman is regarded as being in the postmenopause period of her life after that.
The hormonal changes brought on by menopause could frequently harm a woman’s quality of life or possibly result in chronic health problems.
The body may suffer from the lack of progesterone and estrogen hormone production.
Postmenopausal women often lose 24% of their bone mass by the age of 50, mostly as a result of estrogen deficiency.
The risk of coronary artery disease may also increase as a result of estrogen loss.
Female Sex Hormones During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body’s hormone levels are impacted on a wide scale. During pregnancy, several hormones have important functions, like:
- Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG): This hormone could only be produced while pregnant.
It is virtually entirely produced in the placenta. During the first trimester, the mother’s urine and blood HCG hormone levels significantly increase.
They might[8] contribute to frequent nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy.
- Human placental lactogen (hPL): Human chorionic somatomammotropin is another name for this hormone.
The placenta creates it. The fetus receives nutrients from it. For nursing, it also stimulates the milk glands in the breasts.
- Estrogen: These hormones contribute to the maturation of female sexual characteristics. It usually develops in the ovaries. Additionally, the placenta produces it to support a healthy pregnancy.
- Progesterone: During pregnancy, the ovaries and the placenta both produce this hormone. It encourages the uterine lining to thicken in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Conclusion
The primary sex hormones in females are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are mostly produced in the placenta, the adrenal glands, and the ovaries during pregnancy.
Sexual development in a female greatly depends on her sex hormones. Sex hormones have a crucial role in a woman’s ability to develop her sexual organs and reproduce.
These hormones are mostly produced by your adrenal glands and gonads in the body. Sex hormones in your body could alter and fluctuate as a result of numerous simultaneous events in the body.
References/Sources
Working4Health prefers using primary and verified references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and our primary references include peer-reviewed research, academic, and medical institution studies.
- Angelica Lindén Hirschberg Sex hormones, appetite and eating behaviour in women Review Maturitas. 2012 Mar;71(3):248-56. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.12.016. Epub 2012 Jan 26. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22281161/
- Justine Tang,Li-Ru Chen,and Kuo-Hu Chen The Utilization of Dehydroepiandrosterone as a Sexual Hormone Precursor in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: An Overview Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022 Jan; 15(1): 46.Published online 2021 Dec 29. doi: 10.3390/ph15010046
- Jessie K. Cable; Michael H. Grider Physiology, Progesterone Last Update: May 8, 2022. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558960/
- Benjamin J. Delgado; Wilfredo Lopez-Ojeda Estrogen Last Update: June 28, 2022. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538260/
- Susan R Davis, Sarah Wahlin-Jacobsen Testosterone in women–the clinical significance Review Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2015 Dec;3(12):980-92. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00284-3. Epub 2015 Sep 7 Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26358173/
- Logen Breehl; Omar Caban Physiology, Puberty Last Update: April 5, 2022 Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534827/
- Nanette Santoro, and John F Randolph Reproductive Hormones and the Menopause Transition Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011 Sep; 38(3): 455–466.doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.004
- Danielle Betz; Kathleen Fane Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Last Update: August 11, 2021 Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532950/
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Otella has an experience of around eight years of writing about health and nutrition-related topics. She is a full-time mother and a housewife, and the time she has left after doing her mother and household duties is spent writing for Working for Health as a full-time writer. Her life goal is to raise both her boys into a gentleman, and at the same time, she wants to educate people on how to keep themselves fit by tweaking their daily diet.