Estrogen Progesterone & Your Health
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I remember the “Talk” in high school. They separated the girls from the boys and explained to us that getting pregnant is a big NO NO. (which, for teens, I agree) Then, they explained how to avoid pregnancy, namely, the pills.
I regret to say they didn’t touch on the things that bothered and confused me then. Moreover, none of my OBGYNs provided any information about how things should go and what the alarm sounds are 🔔 🔔.
Please note that understanding reproductive hormones is important for any person with ovaries, AKA women, before and after menopause, as the absence of Estrogen and Progesterone impacts your health too.
What are Hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers, like snail mail. They convey information to cells that influence your mood, behavior, emotion, brain functions like focus and memory, the immune system, and reproductive and metabolic functions.
All the cells in the body are bathed in a broth of hormones that constantly change to adapt to factors such as light and darkness, appetite and satiation, stress levels, blood sugar, and where you are in your moon cycle.
For reproductive hormones to effectively convey their message, they need to enter the cell, meaning that cells need to be receptive to the message. If cells, for some reason, are not receptive, they might turn the hormones out.
Three primary hormones that manage the women’s reproductive system
Estrogen is the dominant hormone produced in your ovaries from the first day of your menses until the middle of your cycle. About day 14, but each woman has an individual rhythm.
LH (Luteinizing Hormone) is produced in the pituitary gland in response to a peak in Estrogen. It surges about 24 to 48 hours before ovulation.
Progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum, the transformed follicle after ovulation - it’s essentially the “yellow body” that becomes a temporary endocrine gland.
These three hormones create the three phases of the women’s reproductive cycle:
The Follicle phase is when an egg matures, and Estrogen is the dominant hormone.
Ovulation is initiated by LH. The egg is released from the follicle and is transported through the fallopian tube with the help of muscular contractions and tiny hairs that push it toward the uterus.
The luteal phase follows ovulation. The egg now in the uterus is awaiting fertilization, basking in the glow and nutrients that Estrogen built in the follicle phase. Progesterone’s role is to maintain that haven for the egg until fertilization, usually about 14 days.
Most women are aware of these three hormones and how they affect reproductive health. However, what most women don’t know is that reproductive hormones affect far more than just reproductive health. They have a far reaching effect on every system in the woman’s body, which means that if your reproductive hormones are out of whack, so is your entire body, but also if your body is not well, you will have imbalances in the reproductive system, including PMS, infertility, PCOS, and fibroids.
What does Estrogen do in your body?
Estrogen is a building hormone, meaning it promotes cell proliferation and the production of new blood vessels to supply the egg and the potential embryo with blood rich with nutrients and oxygen. However, Estrogen has many other functions that are not directly connected to reproduction.
Estrogen & Metabolism
Estrogen has a cooling effect on the body’s thermostat in the hypothalamus. Body temperature in the follicle phase tends to be 1/2 -1 degree cooler than in the luteal phase, partly because of Estrogen’s cooling effect and partly because Progesterone has a warming effect. In perimenopause, fluctuation in hormones leads to fluctuations in body temperature.
Estrogen & Immunity
Estrogen has a profound effect on the immune system. It suppresses proinflammatory cytokines while promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines. This is why in women with insufficient Estrogen or post menopause, we see an increase in inflammatory markers.
Estrogen & Your Heart
Estrogen supports the cardiovascular system. It promotes vasodilation, which lowers blood pressure, maintains arterial integrity and elasticity, preventing age related stiffening, reduces vascular inflammation at the cellular level, and supports a healthy fat metabolism (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL)
Women with insufficient Estrogen or after menopause lose the protective effect of Estrogen on the cardiovascular system, which, if combined with a reduction in anti-inflammatory protection, means they have a dramatic increase in the risk of developing a heart condition.
In The Brain
In the brain, Estrogen has a profound effect due to its anti-inflammatory action, but also because it promotes neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine, and GABA - that keep us calm and happy, as well as Acetylcholine, a vital neurotransmitter involved in memory consolidation. When you lose the protective effect of Estrogen on the brain, you increase the risk of mood disorders (depression and anxiety), brain fog, and memory loss, as well as degenerative diseases.
By supporting GABA and Serotonin sensitivity and function, Estrogen promotes a good night’s sleep. It also influences melatonin and the circadian cycle, enhancing REM sleep and helping maintain healthy sleep stage cycling.
The Bare Bones
Estrogen supports the resilience and strength of bones by reducing cell breakdown in old bones, supporting the protein scaffolding of bones, and extending the lifespan of osteoclasts, bone building cells.
Estrogen supports synovial fluid production; therefore, it decreases the friction in joints, acts to absorb shocks, and increases joint mobility (smooth movement)
Wow, Estrogen is doing so much more than I thought it was doing in my body. Impressive, but it also explains why any fluctuation in Estrogen affects far more than just the reproductive system. Make you think about all these times during your menstrual cycle when you felt moody, or emotional, had a hard time sleeping, or struggled with memory or focus.
Maybe respecting our bodies means slowing down and being graceful with ourselves because these hormonal ups and downs are not just a myth; they do affect almost every facet of our lives.
The 🔔🔔 - You might suspect insufficient Estrogen if:
🔔 Irregular or absent periods
🔔 Very light menstrual flow
🔔 Shortened menstrual cycles
🔔 Infertility issues
🔔Vaginal dryness
🔔Hot flashes
🔔 Joint pain
🔔 Bone density loss
🔔Sleep disruption
🔔 Brain fog and memory issues
🔔 Mood changes, depression, or anxiety
🔔Decreased libido
What does Progesterone do in your body?
Yes, Progesterone is a reproductive hormone; however, it has many effects that are not necessarily reproductive.
Progesterone balances estrogen. Estrogen is a building hormone that lines your uterus with a thick layer of tissue to support conception. Progesterone promotes the shedding and smoothing of the lining. In women with insufficient Progesterone, you will see fibroids and heavy periods.
Progesterone & Metabolism
Progesterone increases your body’s basal temperature, or your resting temperature. Perimenopausal women experience hot flashes because Progesterone fluctuates so dramatically that their body temperature shifts fast.
Progesterone & Immunity
Progesterone increases the production of Treg cells, immune cells that suppress inflammation. As long as your body releases sufficient Progesterone for the 10-16 days following ovulation, your risk of inflammation is reduced.
Oh My Heart
Progesterone acts as a natural calcium channel blocker, which helps relax blood vessel walls and can reduce blood pressure. Women post menopause lose the protective function of Progesterone and are at higher risk of cardiovascular conditions.
Progesterone also influences lipid metabolism - it can help maintain healthier cholesterol profiles.
In The Brain
In the brain, Progesterone converts to Allopregnanolone, a calming neurosteroid that acts like GABA. For women who experience a dramatic drop in Progesterone, that means anxiety and irritability.
Progesterone GABAergic effects promote deeper sleep. Poor sleep quality is an independent cardiovascular risk factor through its effects on inflammation and metabolic function.
In Bones
Progesterone stimulates osteoblast activity - those bone-building cells that lay down new bone matrix. Women who have irregular ovulation or anovulatory cycles - even if they’re still menstruating - may be losing Progesterone’s bone-building benefits.
The 🔔🔔 - You might suspect insufficient Progesterone if:
🔔 You are “spotthing” between periods.
🔔 Your periods are very heavy.
🔔 You struggle with PMS symptoms
🔔 Sleep disturbances
🔔 Increased inflammation
🔔 No rise in temperature in the luteal phase (10-16 days following ovulation)
It is important to note that the reproductive hormones don’t function in a vacuum. They are influenced by stress, specifically chronic high cortisol, metabolic conditions, insulin resistance, and thyroid hormones.
Messing up with one family of hormones leads to a chain reaction in the entire endocrine system, which means that any care plan for the reproductive system includes diet, detox, metabolic health, sleep, and stress management.
I invite you to share this information with your friends and family, especially your daughters, if you have them. No woman should be in the dark when it comes to understanding how reproductive hormones can change her life and how to notice when something goes wrong.
Maybe respecting our bodies means slowing down and being graceful with ourselves because these hormonal ups and downs that we women experience every month between puberty and menopause are not just a myth; they do affect almost every facet of our lives.
I’d love to hear how you’re finding ways to grow your health. Please join the conversation and leave a comment below!
This document is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation.