"Female Hormonal Health Through The Years"

By Carolyn Berghuis, MS, ND, CTN

Female hormonal health is not just related to menstruation and menopause - it is a matter of lifelong well-being and longevity.  Often, people tend to think of women's "hormone problems" as starting in midlife with the onset of menopause. In fact, dysfunction can begin during adolescent years or even before birth. It is interesting to note that the reproductive system is the only body system whose functions are biologically expendable. With this in mind, we see how the ability to reproduce becomes a privilege in the body. Fertility, or the ability to ovulate, is therefore a good indicator of the overall health of a woman.

Millions of women continue to experience dysfunctions such as PMS, depression, decreased libido, fibrocystic breasts, food and sugar cravings, hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, uterine fibroids, irregular or excessive uterine bleeding and endometriosis.   Menopausal and sexual reproductive problems are actually symptoms of overall hormonal imbalances. Women need to get a complete picture of their hormonal status and find appropriate therapeutic steps to maintaining balance.

When analyzing female hormonal health we must also consider the delicate and beautiful dance the endocrine system performs.  For example, if a woman's thyroid, adrenal glands or other endocrine glands are depleted or functioning inadequately she will likely experience problems with her sexual reproductive organs. What disrupts one gland can disrupt another.

Both estrogen and progesterone are necessary in the female cycle, and their balance is key for full health. Unfortunately, many women in our culture have an imbalance of these hormones, especially, insufficient levels of progesterone to counter excessive estrogen -- an imbalance further exacerbated by chronic stress.  During times of stress or conditions of chronic adrenal hyper-stimulation, progesterone is capable of being converted into the stress hormone cortisol.  This conversion leaves the woman deficient in progesterone and hormonal symptoms often follow.

Adrenal and other hormonal gland dysfunctions can cause adverse symptoms, including cravings for sweets, weight gain, allergies, heart palpitations, insomnia, depression, fatigue, poor memory, foggy thinking, headaches, nervousness, inability to concentrate, recurrent infections and glucose intolerance.