#6 Female Sex Hormones - Why Does It Matter?

On women's suppressed superpower.

Apr 03, 2024

Hello beautiful,

It's been a while, hasn't it? The past few weeks have kept me pretty busy with work travels, and even a little leisure time here and there. But now, I'm back and ready to dive in!

Today, I want to chat about the "why". Why do our female sex hormones matter so much? Why ovulation is called women super power? Why is it so crucial that we keep learning and educating ourselves? And why has this been a hot topic on everyone's lips in recent years?

…. Well, there's got to be a reason behind it, right?

Today, we're going to delve into some fascinating stuff:

🤔 Why do female hormones matter so much?
🤩 How these hormones influence our mood and energy level!
🎀 The surprising ways they can affect weight loss, and even hair and skin conditions.

Plus, we'll explore...

🎉 The signs that our hormones are balanced.
💡 Why ovulation is such a big deal.

Welcome back to Emazed.

Enjoy Your Read!

Our hormones are like secret agents, quietly regulating a lot of the critical functions in our bodies. From our mood, energy levels, sleep, and even skin health, these biochemical messengers play a significant role. So, when they're out of balance, it can throw us off in ways we might not even realize…

Especially in the modern world, we've become so out of touch with our bodies that we no longer recognize our natural state. We've come to accept constant anxiety, stress, dissociation, mood swings, period pain, migraines, stomach aches, and skin problems as normal. We continue to develop more cover-ups and short-term solutions, such as contraception.

Birth control pills have become such a common part of our daily lives, that it might seem like not having a natural menstrual cycle is just the norm… While hormonal birth control isn't exactly my cup of tea, it's definetly not all bad! After all, they do give us the freedom to enjoy another child-free hot girl summer, combat that pesky acne, and avoid the discomfort of bleeding to death. That’s a beauty of it. We have a choice.

Nevertheless, it's important that we stay informed about their side effects and educate ourselves about the other choices we have. Choices that might be a bit more gentle on our bodies. Because, let's not forget, our healthy hormonal levels, regular menstruation, and ovulation are not just normal - they're our very own superpowers!

Why do our female hormones matter so much?

I could talk hours about the biochemical pathways... But let’s summarize it 😃 Living in balance with your hormones can bring approx trilion positive changes in your life, impacting both your physical and emotional well-being. Let’s start from…

🌝 Improved Mood Stability

Female sex hormones help regulate neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine pathways involved in mood regulation. For example, estrogen is linked to serotonin and dopamine levels, neurotransmitters that lift our mood. So, having the right amount of estrogen can promote the production and activity of these neurotransmitters. This leads to improved mood stability and less irritability. Progesterone also brings calm to the central nervous system, adding to our emotional well-being.

⚡️ Feeling More Energetic

Estrogen can do wonders for our energy levels too! It enhances mitochondrial function, which is crucial for energy production in cells. Plus, estrogen promotes glycogen synthesis and utilization, contributing to stable blood sugar levels and sustained energy all day. Progesterone also plays a part in energy regulation by promoting relaxation and restful sleep, which can lead to feeling more energetic when we wake up.

💤 Sleep Like a Baby

Hormonal imbalances can mess up our sleep patterns and might even lead to insomnia. But don't worry, achieving hormonal balance may lead to better sleep quality, deeper rest, and more rejuvenating sleep cycles (you can go back to my previous newsletter about sleep to read more - click).

🐣 Boost Your Fertility

Hormonal balance is key for reproductive health and fertility. Estrogen helps stimulate the growth and development of the uterine lining (endometrium), preparing it for the implantation of a fertilized egg. It also promotes the production of cervical mucus, which helps sperm pass through the cervix and into the uterus. Plus, estrogen helps regulate the menstrual cycle, ensuring that ovulation occurs regularly. Progesterone, another key hormone produced after ovulation, maintains the uterine lining, making it suitable for embryo implantation and supporting early pregnancy.

💪 Stay Fit and Healthy

Imbalances in female hormones can greatly impact insulin sensitivity and thyroid function. Estrogen helps enhance insulin action and glucose uptake, so low estrogen levels during menopause or certain menstrual cycle phases can increase the risk of insulin resistance. Progesterone also affects insulin sensitivity, albeit less than estrogen, with fluctuations during the menstrual cycle potentially influencing insulin sensitivity. High androgen levels, like testosterone in conditions such as PCOS, are linked to insulin resistance. Also, estrogen can affect thyroid hormone production, potentially increasing total thyroid hormone levels. Progesterone may enhance tissue sensitivity to thyroid hormones.

🎀 Glowing Skin and Healthy Hair

Estrogen promotes collagen production, which helps our skin stay firm, elastic, and hydrated. It also supports hair growth and thickness. Women often notice improvements in skin quality and hair texture during puberty and pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high. Progesterone can also contribute to maintaining the skin's moisture balance. However, imbalances in female hormones can lead to skin issues like acne, dryness, or excessive hair growth (hirsutism).

😷 Keeping Chronic Diseases at Bay

Estrogen, for instance, can help us maintain healthy cholesterol levels, improve blood vessel function, and reduce inflammation. It also helps maintain bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Progesterone also contributes to cardiovascular health by promoting relaxation of blood vessels and supporting healthy immune function. On top of that, both estrogen and progesterone influence metabolism, which can impact weight management and reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

❣️ A Healthy Libido

Our sex hormones, particularly estrogen and testosterone, play important roles in regulating libido in women. Estrogen contributes to sexual desire by maintaining vaginal lubrication, enhancing blood flow to the genitals, and promoting overall sexual function. Testosterone, although present in smaller amounts in women compared to men, also influences libido by stimulating sexual thoughts and desires.

How do I know my hormones are in balance?

Just a heads up - if you're on hormonal birth control, it actually means you're not ovulating. This also implies that your menstrual cycle isn't natural and your hormones aren't fluctuating as they naturally would. It's completely okay if this is your choice, but it does mean you won't be able to accurately determine if your natural cycle and hormones are in balance.

Now, if you're not using birth control or you’re using a type of birth control that doesn't interfere with your ovulation - like a copper IUD, temperature measurment or/and condoms - then you're in a better position to observe your body.

… so you're wondering how to tell if your hormones are balanced? Well, there are several signs and symptoms you can look out for. We've touched on some of these in this newsletter, but what is the key thing to watch for?

✨Ovulation✨ often serves as a key indicator of hormonal balance. When ovulation happens regularly and predictably each month, it suggests a harmonious interaction between hormones like estrogen, progesterone, LH, and FSH.

✨Ovulation✨ is like the cornerstone of hormonal balance. It's not just about reproductive health and fertility; it also plays a role in regulating the menstrual cycle and acts as a gauge for overall hormonal well-being. Plus, regular ✨ovulation✨ is good news for your bones and heart, thanks to estrogen's role in maintaining bone density and promoting healthy blood vessels and lipid metabolism.

Even your brain benefits! Estrogen impacts neurotransmitter activity and cognitive health, while hormonal balance - including regular ✨ovulation✨ - is linked to emotional stability and mental well-being. And there's more - factors like balanced hormone levels and reproductive health, which are associated with regular ✨ovulation✨, may contribute to a longer, healthier life. So, ✨ovulation✨ is pretty important, and not just for reproduction!

To put it simply, it's like a cycle:

~ balanced female sex hormones lead to ovulation, and ovulation helps maintain balanced female sex hormones ~

I'm convinced that all these reasons shed light on our big question - why does it matter so much, you ask? Well, it's because it makes us women. It sets us apart, and I think it’s time we celebrate it rather than suppress it.

Thank you for reading and good luck,

I talk to you soon.

Hey there! Your thoughts and feedback mean the world to me as I'm always looking to improve. If you could spare a moment to drop a comment below or write me at emazedbye@gmail.com, I'd be super grateful. It could be about this topic, suggestions for future chats, or just your general musings. Truly, your input is priceless!

📖 Currently, I am reading...

Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon PhD. As a biologist, it's so interesting!!

…and Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life by Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar. How with the smallest effort you can improve your energy level, health, and sleep.

📹 YouTube channel I am subscribed to...

Charlie Follows - for beginners and advanced yogis who are looking for a home-friendly flow with a very calming voice.

🎙 Podcast I have been listening to...

Biohacking Bestie with Aggie - Biohacking but targeted for women? I am in!