A female is conditioned to undergo a lot of complications if she does not bear normal hormonal conditions. Fluctuations in hormonal conditions will make the woman suffer severely throughout her life. Any woman will not have normal physical, mental and emotional wellness with abnormal fluctuations in hormones.
The significance of female hormones can be traced through the key areas:
- The Menstrual cycle
- The Process of conception and birth of a child.
- Structural growth of the body and bone health
- Emotional and mental wellness
- Metabolic changes and distribution of fats in the body.
It is required to be noted that the rise and drop of female sex hormones is a complex process. Let’s understand how hormonal changes bring changes and complications to a woman’s life.
What are female sex hormones?
The following are important details that help us comprehend female sex hormones:
- Female sex hormones are chemical substances produced naturally in the female body to generate physical, mental and emotional wellness.
- Sex hormones are natural components of the bodies of females and become active throughout puberty. A female gains the capacity to conceive due to a rise in estrogen and progesterone hormones. Apart from experiencing physical changes, she undergoes a transition in her behavior in a feminine way and becomes confident.
- Development of reproductive organs and characteristics takes place when existing in fetus form. As the mother carries the fetus in her womb, estrogen from the mother’s body goes into the fetus through the placenta.
- Nevertheless, these sex hormones are present in low concentrations while remaining in the womb, which decreases to negligible levels in the infant after his or her birth.
Categories of Female Hormones
Sex hormones are in large percentages in the form of estrogen and progesterone and play an active role in regulating the reproductive cycle of women. Even testosterone exists in every female in small amounts.
With closer analysis given below, one can deeply understand the following sex hormones in the female body impactful in stimulating the reproductive cycle and overall wellness.
Estrogen
A Female would not be able to experience the development of her sexual characteristics without a sufficient amount of estrogen in her body.
It may be breasts, hips and uterus. It is responsible for causing menstrual bleeding after every 28 days and makes the female capable of conceiving from her male partner.
Estrogen contributes to the production of eggs by the ovary. The body gets estrogen from other sources like the brain, skin, heart and liver.
It aids in improving the condition of bone, cardiovascular issues and mental wellness. Estrogen revitalizes the brain neurons and sharpens the memory.
Progesterone
Its relevance lies in preparing the female for conceiving and maintaining the growth of the embryo by increasing the firmness of the uterine lining.
It rises in the ovary through the process of ovulation or the release of eggs. But without the occurrence of pregnancy, this sex hormone diffuses again as a part of the menstrual cycle.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Studies have revealed that the production of this important female sex hormone is triggered by the pituitary gland in the brain.
It controls menstruation and makes the development of ovarian follicles possible. That’s how it enhances the chances of fertility or pregnancy.
Luteinizing Hormone
Medical science has mentioned that this particular hormone aids in the release of mature eggs from the ovary to prepare for pregnancy.
It enables the release of progesterone hormone by the ovary. The source of this sex hormone is the pituitary gland.
Hormonal changes impacting female development and fertility
Reproductive or sex hormones heightened during the stage of puberty and that causes the transformation of a girl into a woman. Major hormonal transformations experienced by any woman in her life are:
Puberty
It is the first stage of the development of the reproductive health of any girl. Pituitary glands become active in releasing the follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone
These hormones stimulate the growth of estrogen hormone and other secondary reproductive features like breast development, hair growth in the underarms and reproductive area.
Menstruation
It is the stage when a girl discharges blood from the reproductive area as a result of the shedding of the uterine lining. It lasts between 3 to 8 days.
It is a menstrual cycle which comes after every 28 days. In the initial 15 days after menstrual discharge, estrogen hormone helps in thickening the lining of the uterus and arranges for ovulation.
After that, the progesterone is in action to prepare the uterus for conception. However, the uterine lining will shed naturally if the pregnancy does not happen.
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Pregnancy
Ability to conceive naturally depends on the balance of major female sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
The rise and fall of such hormones during the menstrual cycle makes the process of conception easier.
Disruption in the ovulation, condition of uterine lining and time period of menstruation can lead to failure in pregnancy.
Menopause
It is the end of the menstrual cycle and reproductive potentiality which may start taking place in women as early as 45 or lastly at 55 years.
In this stage, a woman goes through another stage of physical development or challenges like hot flashes, disruption in mood and deterioration in bone health.
Causes of female sex hormones imbalances
Hormonal imbalance is quite common among women these days. Certain factors have been duly noted while examining the reproductive health of several women. Such factors are responsible for triggering hormonal imbalances:
Adolescence and menopause
Stages of puberty and menopause let the female undergo significant transformation in their physical and mental health.
Puberty is a period that prepares for the stage of attaining youthfulness and maturity and climbing to the stage of adulthood.
During the period of transition from puberty and adulthood and further ahead, sex hormones are highly active to make the female capable of conceiving.
But as she reaches 40 and in the next ten years and further, she will experience a decrease in stamina to give birth to a child and different old age issues including hormonal disorders.
Disruption in the hormonal activity may be experienced by the female in the beginning stages of puberty.
PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common disorder among young females and perhaps the leading cause of women infertility. It is caused by disorder in endocrine gland which leads to irregular menstrual cycle.
It is a pattern of hormonal disruption that may set in the period of puberty or even sometimes later. It gives rise to androgen or male hormones and reduces the chances of fertility.
It can make the female go through challenges of conceiving naturally and easily due to disruption in sex hormones, menstrual cramps and irregularity in menstrual bleeding and facial hair growth.
Interestingly, studies have shown that 70% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance.[1] One of the leading causes of insulin resistance is obesity. People with obesity and insulin resistance are generally at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Use of Hormonal uterine devices or pills
These devices play a significant role in lowering the sexual and reproductive capacity of women.
Use of such medications and devices may disrupt hormonal conditions and damage the reproductive organs in an unrepairable way.
There may be risks of fertility arising from diabetic medications, antidepressants and hormonal therapies for the treatment of cancer which may show up with various side effects.
Overactive thyroid
Poor thyroid condition can also be one of the causes of hormonal disorders. It may either get overactive or underactive.
Poor lifestyle and physical weakness
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key to keeping a lot of diseases and bodily disorders at bay. Food and exercise are the most vital components when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Unhealthy processed food consumption combined with alcohol drinking and nicotine or any form of drug abuse can do worse to the hormonal activities.
Such lifestyle disorders may cause physical weakness and stress and may not prevent the female from having healthy sexual and reproductive health.
Weight gain and loss
Excess accumulation of fats in the abdominal area or nutritional deficiency causes weight gain or loss.
Such conditions may also prevent boosting normal hormonal balance and rise in reproductive capacity.
Symptoms and causes of hormonal imbalance in every woman may be distinct or unique. So, every female requires a personified health care support or treatment.
Also Read our Post on Weight Management with Ayurveda: Tips for Healthy Weight Loss
Complications with female sex hormonal imbalance:
Growth of cysts in the ovary
Cysts growing around the ovary are one of the complications that surface with the outcome of hormonal imbalance.
Cysts are small sacs filled with liquid that do not release the eggs from the ovary. As a result, the female may find difficulty in conceiving naturally.
Endometriosis
It is the growth and hardening of tissue outside the uterus and that becomes a major factor in triggering the condition of endometriosis.
It is one type of complication of hormonal imbalance and that may facilitate difficulty for women to gain conception smoothly.
Premenstrual disorder
It is a type of disorder that sets in the body of a female one to two weeks before the onset of the menstrual cycle.
A woman undergoes the problems of uneasiness in her body in the form of bloating of the stomach, mood fluctuations and headache.
Osteoporosis
As the woman gets older, that is the age of menopause, she faces weakness in her bones as a result of low estrogen levels.
Such weakness in the bones disturbs the mobility of a woman and makes her suffer from fractures.
Cardiovascular disorder
As the estrogen lessens with age or for any other medical cause, she may suffer from a heart disorder.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance may last for a longer or shorter time. To examine it as a whole and follow up with a cure, an appropriate diagnosis is necessary.
The following diagnosing strategies are:
Genetic analysis
Detailed medical analysis involving symptoms and family background are taken into consideration for
finding the cause. Verification of family history will throw light on why or how the hormone is getting imbalanced and what is stopping the female from getting pregnant.
Physical health checkup
The doctor will verify the physical condition of the patient and study the symptoms or indications of the hormonal imbalance. It may be hair fall from the scalp, facial hair growth, fluctuations in weight and abrupt changes in the skin.
Hormonal diagnosis
Samples of blood, urine and saliva are taken to study the condition of hormonal disorders in the body of a woman. Apart from testing the levels of estrogen and progesterone, thyroid, cortisol and insulin are also verified to determine the severity of the imbalance.
Imaging or scanning
MRI scanning or other digital scanning techniques will help in a deeper analysis of the reproductive hormonal imbalance and infertility.
Advanced analysis and examination
Depending on the digital imaging tests and blood tests, you can get ahead further in the process of analyzing by discussing with the specialist. Either an endocrinologist, gynecologist or reproductive specialist will evaluate the disorder and offer medication appropriately.
Treatment options for female sex hormones imbalances
By determining the cause and specific hormonal conditions, type of treatment and medication is offered to the patient.
Allopathic medications
Hormone therapy will stabilize the hormonal conditions in the body. The doctor may advise for the use of oral contraceptives, hormone patches and creams as per the hormonal imbalance in the body.
Surgery
Depending on the severity of the cysts or tumors in the ovary, a surgical operation might be necessary to bring back the balance in sex hormones, revive fertility, or help go through the process of menopause easily.
Lifestyle changes
Any certified nutritionist will suggest you take green leafy vegetables, almonds, juicy fruits and broccoli. Even eggs are extremely effective in balancing estrogen levels as they contain vitamin D, vitamin B6 and higher levels of HDL cholesterol to revitalize hormones.
Ayurvedic Medicine for Fertility and PCOS: Use of Nari Jeevan Jyoti
As one of the ayurvedic supplements, Nari Jeevan Jyoti helps in cleansing the cysts from the ovary, easing menstrual flow and balancing reproductive hormones,
Lakhs of women have used this ayurvedic medication for PCOS and pregnancy support under the guidance of the physician and have experienced an improvement in their fertility and ability to reproduce naturally.
To be or not to be pregnant may not be the initial priority for every woman, but it is necessary to control the hormonal imbalance to stay away from complications and lead a long, healthy, and satisfying life.
Conclusion
Available in large percentages in the female body, estrogen and progesterone help women enjoy a healthy sexual life. Such sex hormones regulate the reproductive period and boost libido. Transition in the path of a woman starts at the age of 12 or 13 with menstrual flow.
The sex hormones may be in insignificant percentages when the female is in the fetus form inside the mother’s womb. But such hormones help in the development of the organs.
Percentages of sex hormones go higher during the periods of adolescence and youth. But such hormones tend to subside with the increasing age or as the woman reaches 50. That’s what menopause and perimenopause are and are indicated by excess bleeding or missed periods for one year.
It is all due to the hormonal imbalance. In some cases, hormonal imbalance occurs quite early in the age. Sharing the problem with a doctor and diagnosing will help in finding the right medication, surgery and diet.
