Female hormones: which ones are there and how do they affect us?

To understand our body, we must understand how it works. And in the specific case of women, feminizing hormones play a crucial role, so it is important to understand what female hormones exist and how they affect us.

The relationship they have with aspects such as our mood, localized pain, the menstrual cycle, sexual appetite or fertility, among others, is so narrow that understanding the functions of each one can guide us about our physical health in general.

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Female hormones: which ones we have and how they affect us

The processes of the human body are extremely complex. The endocrine system is no exception, which is where the secretion of hormones occurs. This in turn is related to other organs and systems of the body.

The organs and mechanisms of the body are not isolated from each other. They are all interconnected and influence each other. In the case of hormones, each has a function and different parts of the body intervene in different ways.

1. Estrogens

Estrogens are one of the most important and well-known female hormones. One of the main functions is that they are those directly responsible for the development of secondary female sexual characteristics, such as the onset of menstruation, breast growth and widening of the hips. This hormone makes its appearance in adolescence.

In addition, it is also involved in the ovulation cycle. However it affects other areas. They are related in the production of collagen and in general intervenes in the appearance of the skin, and even in its coloring. They are also involved with the fixation of calcium in the bones. They directly affect mood, as low estrogen levels cause anxiety.

2. Testosterone

Testosterone is considered a male hormone, but it is also present in women. Because testosterone is crucial in providing masculine characteristics in men, it is believed to be an exclusively masculine hormone. However, this hormone also performs important functions in the female body.

One of them is related to sexual appetite. Testosterone directly affects women because, if their levels are below normal, you could lose libido. If it is at optimal levels, it helps to eliminate fat from the body more easily. If it is above normal, it could cause irritability and aggressiveness.

3. Progesterone

Progesterone performs important functions for fertilization. This hormone is released in the ovaries and during pregnancy it is released in the placenta. When progesterone makes its appearance at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, causes the endometrium to develop properly to allow implantation of the egg.

In pregnancy, the placenta is responsible for producing progesterone. In this process, the secretion of progesterone allows the pregnancy to develop safely. It is also involved in the lactation process, where progesterone helps prepare the breasts for the secretion of milk once the pregnancy ends.

4. Cortisol

The hormone cortisol is related, among other things, to emotional situations. This hormone is produced in the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys. Its most important function is to regulate the body's reaction to stressful situations.. Therefore, it is responsible for triggering the release of adrenaline.

The secretion of cortisol in the blood causes different reactions in the body. If its production is very high, the menstrual cycle is altered, there is a greater accumulation of fat in the body, while nervousness and anxiety increases. Conversely, if levels drop, depression, fatigue, weakness, and irritability can occur.

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5. Thyroid

Thyroid hormones significantly affect mood. This hormone is produced by the thyroid gland. One of its main functions is the regulation of metabolism. For this reason an imbalance in thyroid hormones causes severe disturbances in metabolic function.

When the amount of thyroid hormones falls below ideal, it is common for women to feel tired and have symptoms of depression. If, on the other hand, it is very high, there is a significant increase in the person's weight, in addition to anxiety. In either case, a medical study is required to check thyroid levels and determine if treatment is required.

6. DEA

The DEA hormone is produced in a gland above the kidneys. The DEA hormone is said to be the hormone of youth. This is due to facilitates elasticity in muscles and skin, and thus allows greater flexibility. In addition, it helps the body generate energy and reduce fatigue.

If the presence of the hormone DEA decreases, the body begins to be affected. You may also experience extreme fatigue, weakness, and muscle aches that can range from mild to severe. There is even a direct relationship with the loss of defenses. While it is not an exclusive hormone for women, it is a precursor to testosterone production.

7. Oxytocin

Oxytocin is known as the labor hormone. It is also called the love hormone, and it is related to happiness, sexual pleasure, and emotional ties. It is produced in the hypothalamus. The complexity of the processes in which this hormone intervenes, make it very interesting for neurochemical studies.

The hormone oxytocin causes spasms during intimate intercourse, which in turn produces pleasure. But during pregnancy, oxytocin, which increases considerably at the end of labor, causes contractions in the uterus and breasts to promote the expulsion of the baby and breastfeeding maternal. It is also closely related to the sensation of sexual pleasure, so low levels of oxytocin cause loss of libido.

Bibliographic references

• Money, John. (1965) "Influence of Hormones on Sexual Behavior." Annual Review of Medicine.

• Gives life. Edwards, (1971). Neonatal administration of androstenedione, testosterone or testosterone propionate: Effects on ovulation, sexual receptivity and aggressive behavior in female mice, Physiology & Behavior.