Understanding the Role of Hormones

Have you ever stopped to consider how much of your daily life is determined by hormones? Did you know that all of your hormones are produced from cholesterol and that they can therefore be influenced by diet, lifestyle, stress, nutrients, drugs and your metabolism?

Up until now, you’ve probably only thought of them as the pesky little things that drive women crazy? That time of the month?! Pregnancy brain? The seven dwarves of menopause - itchy, bitchy, sweaty, sleepy, forgetful, psycho and teary?

Now, that may well be true, but they do so much more than that. And we don’t only have sex hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA to contend with, but how much of each we have and what balance they are in, are equally important.

Not enough, bad news. Too much, bad news. Out of balance, also bad news. And it’s not only how much you have, but also how you metabolise these hormones, which can have a dramatic impact on your quality of life.

Hormones don’t only affect women going through menopause. It affects us all on a daily basis, from our young teenage years when we start developing secondary sexual characteristics right up to the age of menopause or the “change of life”, where women fall prey to osteoporosis, hot flushes, loss of libido, urogenital complaints.

Men too, start going through andropause, or the so-called male menopause. And yes, it does exist. As we grow older, sadly, our own hormone production naturally declines. Whilst some people seem to breeze through this, without much effect at all, for some it can be an extremely challenging time that greatly affects their quality of life.

Hormones regulate our periods, allow us to ovulate, fall pregnant, maintain a pregnancy, have a libido and a healthy sex life, gives us good clear skin, maintain bone density and protect us from heart disease. When it is out of balance, though, we struggle - PMS, acne, inability to fall pregnant, PCOS, endometriosis, recurrent pregnancy losses, breast and uterine cancer. Are you starting to get the picture?

Of course, it not only affects women. In men, it can affect their libido, virility, quality of erections, ability to build muscle when exercising, sperm count and quality, hair loss and also their risk for prostate cancer. Don’t forget that men too, can develop breast cancer.

Hormones have the ability to affect our mood and should never be forgotten about when we treat conditions such as depression or anxiety.