Women’s hormone fluctuations during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and perimenopause often manifest physically with tender breasts or bloating as well as emotional changes that influence moods and emotions.

Hormones act like orchestra conductors, orchestrating our bodies into harmony or discord. Understanding how hormonal balance impacts mental wellbeing enables women to take charge of their physiology and take ownership over their health.

Estrogen

Estrogen is a hormone produced in the ovaries (grape-sized glands located by the uterus), which regulates female reproductive system activity. Estrogen also plays an integral part in secondary sexual characteristics like wider hips, pubic hair and breast development. Estrogens share chemical links with androgens which act like male sexual hormones.

Estrogen levels increase during puberty, pregnancy and menstruation before decreasing during menopause and childbirth.

Women with low estrogen levels may suffer from hot flashes, vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive. Furthermore, they are at an increased risk for osteoporosis (which causes thin and brittle bones), particularly if their family history includes it; those who are thin or petite may also be at an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Your body requires the appropriate balance of estrogen and progesterone in order to maintain an ideal environment in your uterus lining. Without enough progesterone or liver enzymes to break down estrogen efficiently, too much estrogen builds up and overwhelms it all.

As your health care provider has suggested, a blood test is the ideal way to monitor estrogen levels and what their results indicate. You could also opt for saliva or urine testing which is both more convenient and less expensive; however, the results can take longer.

Progesterone

Women experience a series of hormonal ebbs and flows throughout their lives – from puberty through pregnancy, perimenopause and beyond – which include estrogen’s role in changing our bodies but also including many others that impact energy levels, metabolism and mental wellbeing.

Progesterone is one of several essential hormones produced by the corpus luteum during the second half of menstrual cycles after ovulation. Produced as a steroid hormone, progesterone plays an integral part in pregnancy as it thickens the endometrium to accept fertilized eggs more easily while also helping prevent early labor and prepare breasts for milk production.

Progesterone levels during menstruation often act as an antidepressant and contribute to restful sleep, but as they decrease (prior to ovulation and perimenopause) women may experience mood swings, insomnia, anxiety and other symptoms.

A serum progesterone test measures the level of this hormone in your blood. Usually taken during the luteal phase – around day 14 of menstruation cycle – it should provide accurate results, although laboratory procedures, population served, testing technique or even age differences could impact results significantly. To get your levels checked accurately it is advised to see an experienced healthcare provider to get them assessed.

Thyroid Hormones

Hormones, for all their complexity and delicate nature, don’t operate alone in our bloodstreams; rather they interact with various hormones, medications, and inflammatory compounds – sometimes all at the same time! This interplay can throw off our delicate balance necessary for optimal health.

Estrogen, for instance, plays a crucial role in female reproductive health but its influence extends well beyond this realm. Estrogen regulates secondary sexual characteristics as well as fluctuating during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause – and an imbalanced level may lead to mood swings, weight gain and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Thyroid hormones – produced by the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck — play a crucial role in metabolism, heart function, brain activity and bone strengthening. If the hormone becomes disrupted it could result in hypothyroidism (slow metabolism) or hyperthyroidism (fast metabolism).

Understanding hormonal balance is central to mental wellbeing. Hormones play a significant role in regulating neurotransmitters that regulate mood and cognitive functions. Women’s Health Group can offer patients a personalized view of how hormonal health influences their overall well-being – from testing to treatment, their team of experts are here to guide patients towards finding balance.

Serotonin

Hormones act like chemical messengers that communicate information to your body regarding development and growth, metabolism, reproduction, and reproduction. When hormones get out of sync they can lead to various symptoms – so knowing which signs and how to restore healthy hormonal levels are vitally important in order to reach optimal wellness.

Women, unlike men, experience significant hormonal shifts throughout their lives — from puberty through menstruation, pregnancy and menopause — which can produce complex symptoms that lead to emotional rollercoasters. Many may wonder whether their mental state is caused by external forces or is more deeply embedded within themselves physiologically.

Estrogen and progesterone are two essential female hormones. Estrogen serves as the party girl, helping boost moods, raise energy levels, promote libido and enhance bone health; progesterone on the other hand acts more subduedly regulating menstrual cycles and supporting pregnancy. When out-of-whack with each other it can lead to symptoms including bloating, weight gain, menstrual irregularities and anxiety – symptoms which could negatively impact health as a whole.

Hormonal balance can have a powerful influence on one’s overall wellbeing, including lowering the risk of osteoporosis by supporting healthy bone density and cortisol levels, thus lessening stress on body and mind. Here at Riverwalk Women’s Health, our skilled obstetrician-gynecologists understand how hormones interact with mood to provide comprehensive care that supports physical as well as emotional well-being.