Female and Male Hormones

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What are hormones and what role do they play in the female and male body?

Hormones are one of the main regulating elements of the human body, since body growth depends on them; they determine the development of sexual characteristics. They influence alertness and attention, sudden changes in mood and character, and regulate metabolism.

Female hormones – estrogen, progesterone, prolactin – the normal functioning of the female body depends on them. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries. It regulates the menstrual cycle and contributes to the formation of secondary sexual characteristics (enlargement of the mammary glands, hair growth in the pubic and axillary areas).

Male hormones – androgens – the most active of them is testosterone. It is because of the presence of this hormone that men have a low voice timbre, grow a beard, and have sexual desire. Masculine character and aggressiveness are also attributed to this hormone.

Hormonal imbalance

During hormonal imbalance, complete chaos begins in the body. The imbalance is more pronounced in women than in men. Its signs are:

Weight gain – one of the causes of weight gain may be hormonal imbalance.
Hair loss or, conversely, increased hair growth in women.
Acne – skin eruptions in women may be caused by insufficient hygiene, poor nutrition, phases of the menstrual cycle; but often this is related precisely to hormonal imbalance.
Excessive sweating.
Feeling of fatigue.
Memory decline.
Confusion.
Low mood, headache, pain during menstruation.
Depression.
Sleep disorders – the hormone that allows us to have restful sleep is called estrogen; its deficiency, characteristic of menopause, perimenopause, and hormonal imbalance in general, causes sleep disturbances.
Digestive system problems – gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin – these three hormones are responsible for digestion and for converting food into molecules so that the blood can absorb them. Their disturbance causes digestive system disorders.
Breast changes – estrogen deficiency can cause a decrease in the density of the soft tissues of the breast, while an increase in this hormone can cause the appearance of nodules in the soft tissues of the breast. In both cases, you should consult a specialist.
Hair loss – if you have started experiencing hair loss and cannot solve this problem by any means, examine your hormones.

Hormonal imbalance may also affect a person’s sexual life. In women, disruption of estrogen levels may cause decreased vaginal lubrication, which can make sex uncomfortable or even painful. In men, low testosterone levels may cause erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. Hormonal imbalance may also cause infertility, menstrual cycle disorders, and complications during pregnancy. Therefore, it is important for both men and women to maintain a healthy hormonal balance.