Ovarian Hormones

Estrogens

• estrone, estriol, beta-estradiol
• Adult levels stimulate ephiphyseal closure
  • via influences on chondrocyte proliferation and function and on bone formation
• Facilitate deposition of fat and stimulate muscle growth
• Most effective in castrated male ruminants
  • improve gain and feed conversion 10-20%
• Decreases protein degradation
• SHBG Protein Binding
  • More binding
    • less free estrogen

Also see Dietary and Environmental Estrogens.

Progesterone

• Female hormone
• Prepares uterus for fertilized egg

Female Hormonal Regulation

• Hypothalamus regulates Pituitary
• Pituitary regulate Ovaries via:
  • Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
    • increases estrogen
      • peak of estrogen stimulates LH
  • Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
    • increases progesterone
• Ovaries affect numerous organs in body, including Uterus via:
  • Estrogen
    • estrogen dominance on first half of cycle before ovulation
  • Progesterone
    • progesterone dominance on last half of cycle after ovulation
    • clearance of progesterone at end of month
      • stimulates FSH (cycle repeats)

Female Cycle

• FSH
• Estrogen
• Estrogen peak
• LH
• Progesterone
• Clearance
• Cycle Repeats

Each phase is dependent upon the previous phase

Female Hormonal Defects

• Elevated Stress
  • Increases cortisol
    • suppresses Pituitary function
      • decreases Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
        • low production of progesterone
      • decreases Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
        • low production of estrogen
    • 'Pregnenolone Steal' during chronic stress
      • body favors Cortisol production
        • over sex hormone production
        • for survival
    • increased blood sugar (see below)
• Blood Sugar Imbalance
  • Increased Insulin increases Testosterone
  • Increased Testosterone increases Insulin
  • Problematic for female cycle
• Gastrointestinal issues
  • Liver dysfunction
    • backup of hormones
  • Gall bladder / bile dysfunction
    • problems if bile can't bind with hormones to be excreted
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction
    • Constipation/Transit time
      • reabsorption of hormones from large intestine
    • Dysbiosis
      • deficiency of healthy GI bacteria
      • unhealthy metabolites may be reabsorbed into system

Benefits of Balanced Hormones

• Hormones affect neurotransmitters
  • affect mood and motivation
• Estrogen and Progesterone are neuroprotective
  • help brain function and cognitive function
  • reduced brain inflammation
• Balanced hormones maintain strong bones
• Estrogen
  • may prevent Alzheimer's
  • cardioprotective in women
• Progesterone
  • helps regulate immune response
  • thyroid hormones work optimally with normal progesterone cycles

Diagnostics

Get tested if you have hormonal symptoms

• Hormones
• Blood Sugar
• Adrenals
• GI Function