women's healthy monthly cycle

The Hormones at Play – Part 2

Last week we touched on 6 of the hormones at play during your menstrual cycle. (If you missed it, read Hormones At Play - Part 1).

 

There are 12 in total so it’s easy to see how complex a woman’s cycle is. If you don't have a perfect period, it's important to understand all the hormones that play a role in your menstrual cycle.

 

happy women dancing.
Hormones influence your mood

 

Here are the remaining 6 of the hormones at play:

 

Testosterone

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, but is also essential for women. It is produced in the ovaries and adrenals. Testosterone is helpful for libido, mood, bone growth, and muscle mass.

 

Free Testosterone (fTest)

Free testosterone isn’t attached to any other molecules. It is what is actively available to your cells.

 

Total Testosterone (tTest)

The total amount of your testosterone, both free and bound.

 

a woman holding a baby
Hormones produce breast milk

 

Prolactin

Made by our pituitary gland in our brain is responsible for the production of breast milk.

 

Cortisol

Produced by our adrenal glands, this is our stress hormone.

 

stressed person sitting on the ground
Hormones influence our stress levels

 

Thyroid

The thyroid is the small butterfly gland that sits above your Adam’s apple and produces two thyroid hormones, t4 (thyroxine) and t3 (triiodothyronine).

 

See how easy it is to have hormone imbalances?!