Are There Any Other Hormones I Should Know About
Thyroid
This hormone ensures that all the organs are working well, and converts the bodys food into energy. An underactive thyroid gland means that the bodys processes are working slower than they should this can cause a person to be lazy, lethargic, sluggish and emotionally low. Persons with low thyroid levels may be vulnerable to low moods and depression. When the thyroid is hyperactive, a person may feel nervous, irritable and restless, have a high heartbeat rate, and may lose weight easily. Such persons may be vulnerable to anxiety disorder.
Cortisol
This hormone is also known as the stress hormone. Cortisol has several functions: it regulates metabolism and helps control blood pressure. During pregnancy, it aids in the growth of the fetus. High cortisol levels may cause drastic weight gain, and increased blood pressure. Emotionally, it is linked to anxiety and depression. A person with low cortisol levels may experience mood swings.
Oxytocin
Its also known as the love hormone or the cuddle hormone. Apart from stimulating labor and promoting lactation, oxytocin is also known to help the mother and child bond. It also drives social interaction and sexual arousal. Low oxytocin is believed to be linked to depressive symptoms.
This piece has been written with inputs from Dr Aruna Muralidhar, senior consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, Fortis La Femme, Bangalore and Dr Ashlesha Bagadia, perinatal psychiatrist, Bangalore.
References
What Is An Mtf Timeline
Those that are going through a sex change male to female have something called an mtf timeline that they go through. There is a process to the steps once you begin taking mtf hormones. Within the first one to three months, you will begin to notice decreased libido. This is one of the first signs you will notice on your male to female journey. Between the next three to six months on your gender transition, the next part of your mtf timeline is body fat redistribution. Youll begin to notice your muscle mass will decrease, your skin will begin softening and natural breast enlargement will begin. Although there are many stages of boob growth through the mtf transition, this is where it will begin. This is the part of the mtf timeline where those going through the male to female transition will notice the most extreme difference.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Update
To learn more about women’s health, and specifically hormone replacement therapy, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health started a large study in 1991 .It was called the Women’s Health Initiative . The hormone trial had two studies: the estrogen-plus-progestin study of women with a uterus and the estrogen-alone study of women without a uterus. Both studies were concluded early when the research showed that hormone replacement did not help prevent heart disease and it increased risk for some medical problems.
The FDA states that hormone therapy should not be taken to prevent heart disease.
These products are approved therapies for relief from moderate to severe hot flashes and symptoms of vaginal dryness. Although hormone therapy may help prevent osteoporosis, it should only be considered for women at high risk of osteoporosis who cannot take non-estrogen medicines. The FDA recommends hormone therapy be used at the lowest doses for the shortest duration needed to achieve treatment goals. Postmenopausal women who use or are considering using hormone therapy should discuss the possible benefits and risks to them with their healthcare provider.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers the following suggestions for women who are deciding whether or not to use postmenopausal hormone therapy:
Always see your healthcare provider for more information.
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Appetite And Weight Gain
You may gain weight during hormonal shifts, such as menopause. But hormone changes donât directly affect your weight. Instead, it likely happens because of other factors, like aging or lifestyle. For example, when youâre feeling blue or irritated, as you can be when your estrogen levels drop, you may want to eat more. It can also impact your bodyâs levels of leptin, a hunger-revving hormone.
Ii How To Treat Hormonal Imbalance
If you are looking for natural ways on how to treat this health problem, keep both of your eyes on the following ways:
1. Coconut Oil
This is the first one among great ways on how to treat hormonal imbalance with foods that we want to mention in this article. Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids, which are very good for human health. Coconut oil can be used to reduce the inflammation caused by hormonal imbalance. Besides, it also helps you lose weight and reduce anxiety and stress. You can consume 1-2 tbsp. of organic coconut oil on a daily basis. Alternatively, you can add it to your salads or use it instead your cooking oil. Repeat this remedy 2-3 times daily.
Read on Top 7 Simple Ways To Use Coconut Oil For Burns And Cuts On Face And Hands to discover some of the best ways to treat burns and cuts on face and bodys parts with the help of coconut oil.
2. Do Regular Exercise
When it comes to learning how to treat hormonal imbalance naturally at home, you should try doing regular exercise. Physical activity can affect hormonal health. For example, it can reduce insulin levels and simultaneously increase insulin sensitivity. Many kinds of physical activity can help increase insulin sensitivity and simultaneously reduce insulin levels. They include strength training, aerobic exercise, and endurance exercise.
3. How To Treat Hormonal Imbalance With Food Ashwagandha
4. Vitamin D
5. Manage Stress
6. Yogurt
7. Avocados
Directions:
8. Avoid Overeating And Undereating
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Can Symptoms Be Prevented From Returning After Hrt Is Stopped
It has been suggested that slowly reducing the therapy dose over a period of months may help reduce the return of flushes, but there is no scientific evidence for this. Unfortunately, the symptoms will return if they are going to, whether therapy is stopped gradually or suddenly.
Active women may suffer fewer symptoms than inactive women, so regular exercise may help. Reducing alcohol and caffeine intake may help reduce hot flushes. Dietary changes can also help with symptoms, such as increasing foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, and reducing sugar intake. Some prescription medications from the doctor such as clonidine may help with hot flushes. Some antidepressants may also help the hot flushes and night sweats, although NICE guidelines state that there is no evidence that antidepressants will help with low mood.
NB HRT is NOT the same as transgender hormone therapy, or cross sex hormone therapy, where sex hormones and other hormone medications are administered for transgender individuals.
Other resources:
Hormones To Transition From Male To Female
Lets take a deeper more in depth look at some of the majorhormones necessary to make your transition from male to female smooth andsimple.
Before we get started, its important to note that male tofemale transition using hormone therapy is not an overnight, one and donething.
Instead, it is a long-termprocess that allows your body to produce hormones and re-enter a state similarto that of puberty to facilitates the changes you desire.
During puberty, your body takes several years to define your dominant features. Using MTF hormones is a method that tries to replicate the phases of puberty but to your liking.
The majority of people who seek to transition using medication are on the more eager side of things, but hormonal changes do not present themselves at a rapid pace.
Everyone is built differently, meaning that we all havedifferent genetic setups, therefore our bodies respond to hormones andtreatment at completely different rates. And because everyone is different,your medicines or dosages may vary widely from those of your friends, or whatyou may have read in books or online.
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When Is The Best Time To Test Hormone Levels
If youre struggling with a hormone imbalance, testing your sex hormones can help you understand where the issue is rooted. Evaluating estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can be helpful in understanding which hormones are driving your symptoms.
Hormone levels arent static throughout the monthand this is why so many women get within range blood test results.
Signs Or Symptoms Of A Hormonal Imbalance
Your hormones play an integral role in your overall health. As a result, theres a broad range of signs or symptoms that could signal a hormonal imbalance. Your signs or symptoms will depend on which hormones or glands arent working properly.
Common hormonal conditions affecting both men and women could cause any of the following signs or symptoms:
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Estrogen Supplements For Males Transitioning To Female
Estrogen is the hormone that is primarily responsible to bring about physical feminine changes in ones body during the male to female transition process.
Though estrogen can effective on its own it is best paired with a testosterone blocker which is preferably given weeks prior to starting estrogen hormone therapy.
Estrogen comes in a few different forms which include:
- Gels
- Sprays
Estrogen pill are the most used method of administering thehormone. Though pills are cheap and effective, doctors believe they can causeyou harm if you are older than 35 and smoke.
Estrogen patches such as climara forte can be very effective and safe but require you to always wear one. However, these patches do have some downside- not only are they prescription only they can also cause skin irritations and rashes.
The majority of transwomen first choice in estrogen hormones to help them transition tend to be interested in getting their estrogen through injections.
Estrogen injections can only be administered by doctors andcan cause a huge fluctuation range in your estrogen levels.
Having unstable estrogen levels is what causes:
- Mood swings
- Migraines
Taking a higher doseof estrogen does not mean you will see physical changes faster.
Long term use of prescription estrogen boostingmedication can cause a sever build up of fat inside your heart and or arterieswhich could be fatal.
Choosing The Right Hrt For You
It is important to find the correct HRT to help your symptoms.
A low dose of HRT hormones is usually prescribed to begin with. If you need to, you can increase your dose at a later stage.
Once you’ve started HRT, it’s best to take it for a few months to see if it works well for you. If not, you can try a different type or increase the dose. It’s really important that you talk to your GP if you have any problems with HRT.
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How Do I Naturally Balance Female Sex Hormones
My hormones feel so out of balance a female patient will tell me. Im tired of feeling crappy and terrible all the time. Do I need to do hormone replacement to feel better, or is there a natural way to get my hormones in balance?
Hormone imbalances are epidemic these days. When talking about hormones, I want you to think of a symphony. All of them interact, so when one gets out of whack, others quickly follow. There are many key players in this orchestra adrenals, thyroid, insulin but today, were focusing on womens sex hormones.
While many things can cause an imbalance in our sex hormones, the good news is that many women can fix these imbalances without medications.
You might never know this from conventional medicine, which seems to subscribe to the idea that women are destined to suffer throughout their reproductive life. Women suffer from mood and behavior swings resulting from the three Ps: Puberty, premenstrual syndrome , and peri-menopause , or the three Ms: menstrual cramps, menopause and mental anxiety!
Are Womens Bodies Defective?
Why do sex hormone levels drop up to 90 percent during the aging process? Are women destined to suffer from impaired mood, muscle loss, poor sleep, memory difficulties, and sexual problems?
Of course not!
The truth is: Women do NOT need to suffer.
These and other imbalances are all fixable.
Do You Struggle with Out-of-Balance Sex Hormones?
I have premenstrual syndrome.
I have monthly weight fluctuation.
I feel bloated.
Overview Of Menstrual Cycle For Hormone Testing
- Day 1 this is the first day you see bright red blood.
- Day 14 this is when women are typically told they ovulate, but thats not true for everyone or every cycle. But we use this as a baseline when discussing lab tests and timing. You should monitor your cycle and symptoms to find out when you *actually* ovulate for sure.
- Day 28 not everyone has a 28-day cycle. However, youll often hear the menstrual cycle talked about in terms of 28 days. This is where your hormones drop if you don’t get pregnant. If youre tracking your period and you know that you have a shorter or longer cycle.
- Back to Day 1 this is when youll once again see blood.
> > Its important to note: While on hormonal birth control you should not ovulate and you dont have a period. Instead, you have a medication-induced withdrawal bleed that isnt actually a period. Some women will continue to ovulate with an IUD.
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When To Look For Support
If the natural hormonal changes of adolescence turn into something more dangerous, dont hesitate to turn to professionals for help. In todays challenging world, many families need support to handle the effects of emotional disturbances, impulse control disorders or substance abuse. In some cases, a personalized teen rehab program is what it takes to get a teenagers life back on track.
For answers to your questions about teenage drug abuse, sexuality or emotional identity, contact the professionals at Newport Academy. We specialize in helping young people and their families build the futures that they deserve.
Image courtesy of Redd Angelo via Unsplash.
Your Hormones Your Health
Feeling bloated, irritable, or just not your best? Shifts in your hormones could be to blame. Hormones are chemical âmessengersâ that impact the way your cells and organs function. Itâs normal for your levels of them to shift at different times of your life, such as before and during your period or a pregnancy, or during menopause. But some medications and health issues can cause your levels to go up or down, too.
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Lab Test To Consider For A Missing Period
- Pregnancy test
- Follicle-stimulating hormone
- Luteinizing hormone
- Estradiol
- Prolactin
- Fasting insulin
- Glycated hemoglobin , fasting glucose or glucose challenge
Will you need all of these? Maybe. Maybe not. This is where an experienced clinician can help.
I know that many women experience resistance to their request to have comprehensive hormone testing. I would urge you to seek out a functional medicine practitioner, a naturopathic physician, a reproductive endocrinologist, or a gynecologist. I know it can be super frustrating to try to find a provider that will help you but there are many amazing practitioners out there who can and will help you get the labs you need.
Also dont let a doctor convince you that a missing period doesnt matter because youre not interested in baby-making at the moment. Amenorrhea is a sign of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed, whether youre trying to conceive or not. The quality of care you receive should not be dependent on your whether or not you want to have a baby at this moment.
If your period is missing, Id encourage you to check out my full article on amenorrhea here.
Navigating Female Hormones: A Pharmacists Guide To Hrt
Ashley Firm, PharmD
US Pharm. 2015 40:33-37.
ABSTRACT: Hormone replacement therapy is an important element of managing symptoms experienced by menopausal women. Both synthetic and compounded hormone replacement products are widely used to manage decreased sexual function and unwanted vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats. Given the vast number of hormone combinations and delivery methods available, selection of the proper product is dependent on symptoms, adverse events, and patient-specific factors. Pharmacists can play a large part in helping patients and prescribers with product selection and symptom management. In order to do this, it is important for pharmacists to understand the role of hormones in the female body and the symptoms associated with hormone excess and deficiency.
Hormone replacement therapy is a key element of managing the symptoms experienced by menopausal women. The objective of this article is to discuss the general role of hormones in the female body, symptoms caused by hormone excess and deficiency, and options for replacement therapy. The reader will become familiar with products currently on the market and with the role pharmacists can play in the management of HRT in female patients going through menopause.
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How To Trigger Female Hormones In Males
If youre interested in increasing your female characteristics, consider taking hormones. Sometimes used by transsexuals, these hormones can help block testosterone, grow breasts, change your voice and make your body shape look more feminine. If youve decided that this therapy is right for you, take estrogen, progesterone and androgen blockers to help with your transformation. Some of these hormones already exist naturally in men, but taking additional amounts can increase your feminine characteristics.
Increase female characteristics with estrogen, the basic female hormone 1. Produced in a womans ovaries, estrogen will help enlarge your breasts and broaden your hips and pelvis. Several types of estrogen exist.Try conjugated estrogen , estradiol valerates or phytoestrogen, which comes from plants.
Take progesterone along with estrogen. Used to prepare a womans body for pregnancy and pregnancy maintenance, progesterone along with estrogen could help breast development. You could try a synthetic form of progesterone, such as Duphaston or Provera. Non-synthetic options exist as well.
Block the effects of testosterone with an anti-androgen drug. Take Spironolactone or Finasteride to block the effects of testosterone. If youve already had an operation to remove your testes, you might not find these drugs necessary, as the testes produce large amounts of testosterone in men.
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