Hormones are chemical compounds that are players in the most complex system in the entire body: the endocrine system. This group of glands, including the adrenals, pituitary, ovaries, testes, thyroid, and the hypothalamus are interrelated in complex ways. The endocrine system controls all other systems of the body by means of chemical messengers, who wait for an answer. Deepak Chopra, an endocrinologist puts it this way, "Touch one strand and the whole web trembles."
Estrogen - What is it?
Estrogen is a steroid hormone made from cholesterol, and occurs in both men and women.
Estrogen is one of the moving elements of the endocrine system. It's functions are primarily the growth and development of sex organs and other tissues related to reproduction. Estrogen is a primary female hormone and is actually three separate hormones:
- Estradiol
- Estriol
- Estrone
Estrogen is produced in three main areas of a woman's body:
- Adrenal Glands
- Fat Cells
- Ovaries
The main purpose of estrogen is to prepare the uterine lining, and the endometrium for implant of a fertilized egg in the event fertilization occurs. To assist in this function, estrogen encourages:
- Fat Storage
- Water Retention
- Maturation of the Female Adolescent
If pregnancy occurs, the above is OK, but if not the excess estrogen throws off the timing. When this occurs the excess estrogen causes the body to prepare for embryo implantation all the time and can cause:
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Slow Blood Circulation
- High Risk of Stroke
- Migraines
- Mood Swings
- Increased Clotting
- Disrupt Copper and Zinc Ratios in Brain Cells
Every system in the body has a feedback loop to keep balance and in the case of estrogen the sister hormone is called progesterone. Progesterone functions are equally important as estrogen.
Progesterone - What is it?
Progesterone is the other primary female hormone. It is the precursor for both estrogen and testosterone, as well as all other natural steroid hormones .It is produced in the ovaries and it's functions are:
- Fat Conversion
- Maintains the Endometrium in Pregnancy
- Maintaining Myelin (nerve insulation)
- New Bone Formation
- Regulates Estrogen Production
Once a month an egg from the ovaries, wrapped in an wrapper, called a follicle. After the follicle lets go of the egg, the egg journeys down the Fallopian tubes to the uterus, where it awaits possible fertilization. The burst follicle has an important task to do; that task is to begin production of progesterone, for the next two weeks. Progesterone's job is to maintain the uterine lining until one of two things happens:
If pregnancy does occurs, the progesterone production is taken over by the developing lining called the placenta as the burst follicle just can't make enough progesterone for the demand. If no pregnancy occurs, the follicle stops production of progesterone, and this causes the collapse of the blood-rich lining, which is then expelled from the body and know as a woman's monthly flow or menstrual period.
The relationship between estrogen and progesterone controls the entire infrastructure of the reproduction process on a daily basis, after the onset of the first monthly flow in adolescence.
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