What You Should Know About the Link Between Hormones & Menstruation
To best understand the link between hormones and menstruation, you need to get an idea of how a typical menstrual cycle happens. The menstrual cycle is a complex reproductive process controlled by various hormones in the pituitary glands and ovaries. Several hormonal changes occur during the monthly cycle, resulting in varying outcomes. Let’s take a deep dive and expound more on the link and how hormonal imbalance can affect you.
The Menstrual Cycle
For starters, let’s look into the changes that happen during a typical menstrual cycle.
After a period, the levels of oestrogen and progesterone start to rise, with oestrogen levels at a faster rate. Oestrogen levels peak towards the middle of the monthly cycle, causing the release of an egg, a process called ovulation. After ovulation, oestrogen levels begin to dip, but progesterone levels continue to rise to prepare the womb for potential egg fertilisation. If fertilisation does not happen, progesterone levels start to decline as fast as the oestrogen did. The notable hormonal dip causes the uterus to contract and shed its lining, which is now a menstrual period.
The entire menstrual cycle is supposed to happen seamlessly. However, that is not always the case, particularly when the hormones are not behaving as they should.
What happens when there is a hormonal imbalance?
The reality is that hormones can sometimes fluctuate outside of the expected pattern. Hormonal imbalance prevents the sex hormones from increasing and decreasing in unity during the different times of the menstrual cycle. The result is usually an abnormal elevation of one female hormone over the other. Here are some ways hormonal imbalance can manifest during the menstrual cycle:
- Oestrogen dominance
Oestrogen levels rise close to the middle of a menstrual cycle to trigger ovulation. After ovulation, oestrogen levels are supposed to dip, letting progesterone take charge. However, with hormonal imbalance, oestrogen levels remain elevated. Oestrogen levels could also become dominant during the first half of the menstrual cycle leading to early ovulation or a shorter cycle. High oestrogen levels are fluid retention, irritability and anger, mood swings, sore breasts and painful periods.
- Progesterone dominance
Here, progesterone levels do not drop as they should when one does not conceive. Low oestrogen levels could also lead to a progesterone dominance which causes symptoms like feeling inexplicable emotional or weepy, tiredness and a lack of confidence. Progesterone dominance could also result in spots on the skin.
- Testosterone dominance
It may not be as common as oestrogen and progesterone dominance, but its impact is significant. When testosterone levels are higher relative to other sex hormones, there can be effects such as increased facial and body hair, weight gain and acne. High testosterone levels also cause the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) condition.
Hormone testing
Several symptoms point to a possible hormonal imbalance. Some common ones are abnormal hair growth, difficulty becoming and staying pregnant, premature menopause signs, acne, vaginal bleeding and abnormally long menstrual periods. If you have any of these symptoms, it is best to do hormone testing to ascertain or rule out hormone imbalances. Hormonal testing helps detect thyroid conditions, which contribute significantly to hormonal imbalance that impacts the menstrual cycle.
What causes the hormonal imbalance?
Hormonal imbalance brings forth numerous unwanted effects in women, but what causes the imbalance? There are several reasons. Some like menopause, pregnancy and breastfeeding are natural causes. Other causes of hormonal imbalance are:
- Thyroid issues
Hormonal imbalances can be a result of an overactive or underactive thyroid. Remember, thyroid glands produce hormones, and any issues could lead to hormonal imbalances. Autoimmune conditions and tumours can also result from thyroid issues.
- Stress
When stressed, the body produces cortisol. Long periods of stress cause long-term elevated cortisol levels which impact other hormones in the body, causing imbalances.
- Eating disorders
It is also worth noting that anorexia and other eating disorders affect hormone levels. They can lead to reduced oestrogen levels and low bone density, among other issues.
- Birth Control
Hormonal birth control may be the culprit causing imbalances. Birth control pills may affect hormones in the body, causing irregular periods, weight gain, digestive issues, and more. Also, coming off hormonal birth control or switching to a different kind may affect the natural hormone levels.
Hormonal imbalance causes many unwanted symptoms. But the good news is that several treatments help restore balance and bring the hormones back to acceptable levels. The treatments vary depending on the cause of the imbalance. One may need long-term management to achieve hormonal balance. It is best to consult with your health care provider concerning any changes you notice in your body or menstrual cycle.
