Female Sex Hormones: Types, Roles & Remedy for Hormonal Imbalance

Every woman has a unique hormone. So, it becomes significant to have an understanding of Female Sex Hormones and its working mechanism.

The hormone plays a vital role in women’s life to help them stay healthy.

Here in this blog, we’re going to discuss the nature of the female hormones.

Moreover, we’ll let you know how you can spot hormonal imbalance.

Additionally, you’re going to have an idea of providing a natural remedy to your irregular hormones.

What Are Hormones?

This is the natural substance produced in the body.

Hormones help to relay messages between cells and organs and affect numerous body functions.

Every woman has “female” sex hormones.

Keep reading the blog to have more information about the female sex hormones.

Below we are going to discuss different types of hormones that a woman will have.

List (Types) of Female Sex Hormones

Generally, there are two main female sex hormones- estrogen and progesterone.

Females do produce a small amount of testosterone even though it’s considered a male hormone.

So, let’s have an eye over each hormone and Function of Sex Hormones….

Estrogen

Estrogen is the most known female hormone.

The bulk production of estrogen does happen in the ovaries.

However, a small amount of estrogen production does happen in the adrenal glands and adipose tissue (fat cells).

There are four major estrogens in any female:

Estrone is a weak estrogen that serves mainly as a precursor hormone.
Estradiol is the main estrogen, responsible for many classically female characteristics.
Estriol is a weak estrogen, mainly produced when pregnant.
Estetrol is also weak estrogen made during pregnancy — produced solely by the fetal liver.

Additionally, in reproduction and sexual development estrogen plays a significant role, including:

Puberty
Mensuration
Pregnancy
Menopause

However, estrogen can also affect:

Brain
Cardiovascular system
Hair
Musculoskeletal System
Skin
Urinary Tract

The level of estrogen can be determined by a blood test.

Though it can vary from one woman to another, we can measure normal ranges in pictograms per milliliter (pg/ml).

Premenopausal (Adult female): 15-350 pg/ml
Postmenopausal (Adult female): <10 pg/ml
Adult male: 10-40 pg/ml

The level in women can greatly vary throughout the mensuration cycle.

Progesterone

Progesterone was first to come into picture in 1934 in both women and men.

This hormone prepares your body for a healthy pregnancy by stabilizing the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone can be produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and the placenta.

Alike other female hormones this would be at the highest level during ovulation and pregnancy.

The role of progesterone is to:

prepare the lining of the uterus for a fertilized egg
support pregnancy
suppress estrogen production after ovulation

Alike, estrogen, progesterone levels we can determine by a blood test.

The normal range of progesterone would be in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml).

Phase	Range
Before puberty	0.1–0.3 ng/ml
During the first (follicular) stage of the menstrual cycle	0.1–0.7 ng/ml
While ovulating (luteal stage of the cycle)	2–25 ng/ml
The first trimester of pregnancy	10–44 ng/ml
Second trimester	19.5–82.5 ng/ml
Third trimester	65–290 ng/ml

Testosterone

Testosterone, primarily known as a male sex hormone.

However, this hormone is also important for female and makes a lot of difference.

An optimum level of testosterone plays a vital role in menstrual regulation, libido, bone strength, and muscle strength. Further, it helps women with mental clarity, burn fat efficiently, and energy.

The adrenal glands and ovaries are responsible for producing testosterone in females.

This hormone plays a significant role in several body functions, including:

Sexual desire
Regulation of the menstrual cycle
Bone and muscle strength

Just like the other 2 types of hormones in females, we can determine testosterone levels through blood tests. The normal range of testosterone in the female is 15-70 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl).

Read the next section to know different kinds of Female Hormone and Functions…

Female Sex Hormones and Their Functions (Roles)

Female sex hormones are integral to many body functions. And when you enter your puberty from your childhood your hormonal needs change.

Hormones also do change dramatically as you become pregnant, give birth, or breastfeed. And these hormones will continue to change as you reach near your menopause.

The changes in hormones will be natural and certain.

Puberty

Everyone body acts differently, but females usually enter puberty between age 8 and age 13. Females enter into puberty when their hormones kick into high gear.

The pituitary gland produces luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.

Production of hormone increases at puberty, which stimulates sex hormones such as estrogen, as well as progesterone and testosterone.

Puberty-related hormones cause several important physical changes:

Increase in fat cells, especially in the hips and thighs
Breast development
Pubic, leg, and armpit hair growth
Widened pelvis and hips
Maturation of ovaries, uterus, and vagina
Beginning of the menstrual cycle
Growth spurt

Mensuration

The very first menstrual period (menarche) happens about 2-3 years after the breasts begin to develop.

This again can differ from one female to another, but most of them get their first period between the ages of 10-16.

The female hormone regulates this menstrual cycle in 3 phases:

Follicular Phase– As blood and tissue evacuate the uterus through the vagina, there is a reduction in the levels of female hormones. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are produced, stimulating new egg growth. As one egg in the ovary emerges as dominant, this increases estrogen.

And follicle produces more estrogen, the other follicles break down.

The higher the level of estrogen the higher the level of LH will be. This phase can last for about 2 weeks.

Ovulatory Phase– During this phase, the luteinizing hormone and estrogen level will be on peak. And the dominant egg from the ovary will be released. The egg can survive for a day after release. Egg fertilization can happen only during the ovulatory phase.
Luteal Phase– This phase starts just after the ovulatory phase. The production of progesterone starts and ruptured follicle closes. This makes the uterus to receive a fertilized egg.

The cycle starts all over again if it doesn’t happen and estrogen and progesterone level decreases.

The normal menstrual cycle would last around 25-36 days and bleeding would last for 3-7 days.

However, this can vary quite a bit. Your cycle may become quite irregular for the first few years.

Further, it can vary in your life when you use hormonal contraceptives.

Libido

All 3, Testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen play a significant role in sexual desire and arousal.

Libido- female sexual desire would be on top just before the ovulatory phase of a menstrual cycle.

You’ll want to use hormonal contraceptives and that can lead to adverse side-effects.

These effects would be decreased libido, which can decrease after menopause.

If a woman gets surgery to adrenal glands or ovaries, this will decrease female hormone production.

This will ultimately result in a libido decrement.

Pregnancy

When a fertilized egg implants into the lining of the uterus, the placenta starts to grow.

The uterine walls will then thickens and fills with important embryo-sustaining nutrients.

Pregnancy-related hormones can be:

Relaxin
Estetrol
Estriol
Human chorionic gonadotropin
Human placental lactogen (second trimester)

During the first week of pregnancy when progesterone increases the cervix thicken and form a mucus plug.

This could be important to protect the embryo from infection.

However, if estrogen and progesterone increase rapidly, it can lead to nausea, vomiting, and frequent urination.

Once pregnancy ends, female hormones will go back to the lower levels from before the pregnancy.

The drop in hormone levels may contribute to postpartum depression.

However, breastfeeding decreases estrogen and prevents ovulation.

But, it can’t be considered as an effective form of birth control.

Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause. This period can generally last between 2-8 years.

The production of the female hormones during this period can fluctuate and decrease.

Perimenopause can make your period irregular or stop it altogether.

Menopause can be described as one year without a period. The average age is 51, but that can vary greatly.

Symptoms of perimenopause and menopause include:

Insomnia
Hot flashes
Changes in mood
Decreased sex drive
Vaginal dryness

If women hormone level during menopause is low, it can lead them to health issues like osteoporosis (thinning the bones) and cardiovascular disease.

Now let’s see what could be the common root of hormonal imbalance in females.

Correcting Female Hormonal Imbalance

Many women experience hormonal imbalance and there are several roots that can cause this.

Fortunately, correcting female hormonal imbalance naturally can be as simple as getting enough sleep and exercise.

Common Root Causes of Hormonal Imbalance

Chronic stress
Injury/trauma
Cushing’s syndrome
Adrenal fatigue
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)
Hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism
Hypogonadism
Diabetes
Hormone therapy
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Cancer (especially in ovaries or pituitary gland)
Chemotherapy
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Perimenopause/menopause
Miscarriage

Common Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

Unexplained weight gain/weight loss
Fatigue
Sensitivity to hot or cold
Frequent bowel movements or urination
Irregular heartbeat
Increased hunger/thirst
Breast tenderness
Bloating
Decreased libido
Infertility
Hypothyroidism
Irregular periods
Excessive hair on the face (called hirsutism)
Excess acne
Hair loss, thinning hair
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal atrophy
Night sweats
Pain during intercourse

So, how can we correct hormonal imbalance…

Natural Methods for Correcting Hormonal Imbalance

Correcting hormonal imbalance can go beyond looking just at your estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone.

However, there are many other factors that can impact hormone levels and overall health.

Addressing this issue will not only help you get hormone balance but will also improve your quality of life.

#1: Get Enough Sleep

You should have a sleep of 7-8 hours. This will help you get an opportunity to rest, including your endocrine system.

Sleep can disturb your hormone and may lead to obesity, diabetes, and issues with appetite.

Turn off all technology devices as it emits blue light that can disrupt your rhythm of sleep.

#2: Exercise Is Paramount

You should do work out on a daily basis if you want to be healthy.

Even short sessions of exercise can help you lose fat. And losing 10% of body fat can normalize menstrual periods.

Chronic stress leads to hormone imbalance so you need to find a way to reduce your chronic stress.

Listening to music, meditation, yoga, prayer, and quiet time can help lower stress.

#3: Quit Smoking

Tobacco is an addictive substance, which can impact your thyroid and pituitary gland function.

Smoking can also raise cortisol levels, a hormone linked to stress.

Excess alcohol can harm your liver which produces several hormones. So, it’s wise to protect the liver and keep alcohol consumption moderate.

If these lifestyle changes fail, you can always turn to hormone therapy.

Many of you will look to bioidentical hormone therapy, which uses a hormone that is chemically identical to what you have in your body.

If you’re looking for a natural way to manage hormone changes, particularly after menopause, this could be a safer option.

#4: Hormone Balancing Diet

Eating healthy fats and lots of fiber can contribute to the regulation of the hormone insulin, among other hormones.

Fatty fish (source of omega-3 fatty acids) can help you prevent depression and anxiety. This reduces inflammation which can contribute to hormone imbalance.

If you’re consuming excess sugar it can cause type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic disease, etc.

Probiotics and adaptogenic herbs balance hormones, as well as immune health and gut health.

#5: Meals Should be Consistent

Take your meal at the same time every day. Consistency would allow the stabilization of your blood sugar level.

Declination in the blood-sugar level can make you feel tired, jittery, clammy, and even indecisive because of brain fog.

So, be consistent when it comes to consuming food.

Final Words of Advice: Female Sex Hormones

Hormones can regulate body function and maintain general health.

Female sex hormones also play a crucial role in sexual development and reproduction.

The main sex hormones in the female are estrogen and progesterone.

The production of these hormones mainly occurs in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and, during pregnancy, the placenta.

Hormones in females can also influence body weight, hair growth, and bone and muscle growth.

These hormones can fluctuate anytime and create imbalance and a range of symptoms and health effects.