Me & My Hormones
Me & My Hormones: What Each Hormone Actually Does
6 minute read
Most women are handed the word hormones without ever being told what the individual ones do. Here is the plain version, so the next conversation with your clinician starts further along.
| Estrogen | Progesterone | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it mainly comes from | Ovaries, with smaller amounts from fat tissue and adrenal glands. | Made after ovulation, by the structure the egg leaves behind. |
| In the cycle | Rises in the first half, peaks near ovulation. | Rises in the second half, falls if pregnancy does not occur. |
| Tissues it acts on | Brain, bone, blood vessels, skin, vaginal and urinary tissue. | Uterine lining, brain, breast tissue. |
| Commonly noticed when it shifts | Hot flashes, sleep disruption, vaginal dryness, changes in skin. | Cycle changes, sleep changes, mood shifts before a period. |
| What happens across the transition | Fluctuates unpredictably, then settles low. | Falls earlier, as ovulation becomes irregular. |
Testosterone is not only a male hormone
Women make testosterone too, in the ovaries and adrenal glands. It declines gradually with age rather than dropping sharply at menopause. It is discussed in relation to energy, muscle, and sexual desire, and it is measured and interpreted differently in women than in men.
The supporting cast
- FSH and LH — signals from the brain that tell the ovaries what to do. They rise as the ovaries respond less.
- Thyroid hormones — affect energy, weight, and temperature, and can produce symptoms that look like menopause.
- Cortisol — the stress hormone, which interacts with sleep and blood sugar.
- Insulin — governs how the body handles glucose, and its behavior changes in midlife.
None of this tells you what is happening in your body specifically. It tells you what to ask about, and which words to use when you ask.