Where are the (reproductive) hormones produced in the body?

Reproductive hormones, including GnRH, LH, FSH, DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, are produced in various glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, and testes, regulating reproductive functions and the development of sexual characteristics in both males and females.  For this blog, we will focus on estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA to help balance your hormones.

Estrogen

Estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle, plays a role the growth, development, and physiology of the human reproductive system.  This hormone also influences many other systems of the body including the nervous, skeletal, integumentary (skin, hair, nails), adipose (fat), and cardiovascular systems.  Estrogen is significant hormone produced by the ovaries (prior to menopause) in females and by the testes in males.  After menopause, a female’s estrogen is mainly produced in the adrenal glands. To a lesser degree, estrogen is secreted by your adipose (fat) tissue as well.

There are 3 major forms of estrogen.  

• Estrone (E1) – this is the main form of estrogen produced by the body after menopause.

• Estradiol (E2) – this is the primary form of estrogen that is produced during a women’s reproductive years.

• Estriol (E3) – this is the predominant form of estrogen that is produced during pregnancy.

During the female cycle estrogen increases during the month to stimulate the growth of the egg follicle, prepares the uterus for implantation by enhancing and maintaining the mucous membrane that lines the uterus, maintains the thickness of the vaginal wall, and promotes lubrication.

Estrogen also regulates many other important functions in the body.  For example, estrogen affects collagen production and moisture levels in your skin, cholesterol levels, bone and muscle mass, circulation and blood flow, blood sugar levels, and brain function, including your ability to focus.

Progesterone

The main function of progesterone is to prepare the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for a fertilized egg to implant and grow.  If there is a pregnancy, the progesterone increases to support the pregnancy.  If there is no pregnancy, progesterone levels will drop, the endometrium then sheds and results in a menstrual flow.

In addition to regulation of bleeding during menstruation and thickening the lining of the uterus during pregnancy, progesterone plays a role in improving mood, supporting thyroid function, and supporting lactation after a baby is born.

Testosterone

In the female reproductive system, testosterone is synthesized in the ovary and the adrenal glands.  It is a precursor to the production of estradiol.

Testosterone plays a role in libido (sexual desire), bone metabolism and muscle health, as well as mood, cognitive function, and energy.  

DHEA

Although DHEA is a lesser-known steroid hormone, it is the most abundant circulating sterol in humans. It is produced in the adrenal glands and derived from cholesterol. The two adrenal glands are located on top of each of your kidneys. The body uses DHEA to make estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone.

Age you age, your body’s production of DHEA naturally diminishes, and this decrease has led many to refer to this hormone as the ‘fountain of youth’ hormone. There are many functions that are impacted by DHEA including nitric oxide production, blood flow, and immune function.  Stay tuned as this hormone is the subject of much ongoing study.  

Thus far, some research suggests that treatment with high doses of DHEA has beneficial effects on lowering body fat, modulating the effects of diabetes, atherosclerosis, and obesity (animal studies).  In humans, the same article suggests that DHEA may also modify the immune response, display neuroprotective and memory-enhancing effects (although the mechanism of these processes is not well documented to date) (1).

Hormone Regulation

In summary, the majority of a woman’s hormones are produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands. In younger women, most hormones are produced by the ovaries and a small portion are also produced by the adrenal glands. As a woman approaches menopause, more of her hormones are produced by the adrenal glands and fewer are produced by the ovaries. Younger women get most of their hormones from the ovaries and older women get the majority of their hormones from the adrenal glands. The body is therefore well equipped to keep a woman’s hormonal levels in balance her entire life, assuming her ovaries and adrenal glands are working properly.

What controls hormonal balance?

As we noted above, the ovaries and adrenal glands actually produce the hormones. But how does the body control hormone production levels? When estrogen and progesterone are not produced in ideal amounts and properly balanced, problems begin to occur.

Hormone production is controlled by a structure attached to your brain called the pituitary gland. It is often referred to as the “master gland” because of its power over hormone production and balance. This gland sends its own special hormones to the ovaries and adrenal glands.  This is how it directs their hormone production activity by telling them to increase or decrease hormone production.

For simplicity, we will now focus on the ovaries and their hormone production and leave the adrenal glands for another blog.  The pituitary gland produces two hormones called LH and FSH which control ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone.

• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)– spurs ovulation and helps to support a pregnancy.
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) – in addition to regulating the menstrual cycle and stimulating the growth and release of the eggs from the ovary, FSH has a role in sexual maturity and development.

While the pituitary gland may be referred to as the “master gland,” it too has a “master,” the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that produces “releasing hormones” and “inhibiting hormones” and sends them to the pituitary gland. These hormones act like “on” and “off” switches for the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus produces a hormone called Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and it directs pituitary production of LH and FSH which lead to estrogen and progesterone production in the ovaries. See the diagram below for a summary of hormone control.

Hormone Control and Production

Hypothalamus 

produces GnRH

↓ 

Pituitary 

produce LH & FSH

↓ 

Ovaries 

produce Estrogen & Progesterone

As you can see, the hypothalamus is really running the show when it comes to hormonal balance. So, what can interfere with proper hypothalamus control of hormones? It is very dependent on proper levels of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals like serotonin and dopamine that allow nerve cells to talk to each other and convey information.

Neurotransmitters and Natural Hormone Balance

What is a neurotransmitter?

A neurotransmitter is a chemical made in the brain that is used by your nerve cells to communicate with each other. There are many neurotransmitters in the body but the ones we will be talking about today are also catecholamines.

What is a catecholamine?

A catecholamine is a hormone that also functions as a neurotransmitter.  The 3 main types of catecholamines are dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline). They are essential for hypothalamus control of hormone levels. Let’s dive into these a bit more.

Dopamine

Is made in the adrenal glands (you have one on top of each kidney) and is also a neurohormone released by the hypothalamus in your brain. As a neurotransmitter, dopamine is involved with many functions in the body including movement, memory, pleasure (reward and motivation), behavior and cognition, attention, sleep and arousal, mood, learning and lactation. As a hormone, dopamine plays a role in the ‘fight or flight’ response.  It also causes blood vessels to relax or constrict (depending on the dose), increases sodium and urine release from the body, reduces insulin production in your pancreas, slows gastrointestinal movement (peristalsis), and reduces lymphocyte (a subset of your white blood cells) in your immune system. 

Norepinephrine

Its main action is to constrict blood vessels, which helps maintain blood pressure in stressful situations.  It also has an impact on the sleep-wake cycle, mood, and memory.

Epinephrine

As a neurotransmitter, it plays only a small role in metabolism, attention, focus, panic and excitement. Epinephrine’s major role is as a hormone which is released by the adrenal glands and causes changes in your body known as the fight or flight response.  These changes include increased heart rate, increased respiration (breathing), increased blood sugar, and increased physical strength.

If a woman has an imbalance of catecholamines she will often have a hormonal imbalance. She may also suffer with digestion problems, fatigue, irritability, headaches, low blood pressure, adrenal fatigue, low blood sugar, muscle cramps and even restless legs syndrome.

A functional medicine approach to hormonal imbalance should actually include a neurotransmitter and hormone assessment. Many hormone problems can be corrected by supporting neurotransmitters naturally! This corrects hormonal imbalances without subjecting your body to additional synthetic hormones and the potential side-effects they carry. Most hormone problems are really a hormone-control problem, and hormone control begins with proper neurotransmitter levels and hypothalamus function. In our office we look for the most fundamental imbalance in the body that is causing poor health and correct it naturally. Your hormone problems might actually be a neurotransmitter problem!

Schedule An Appointment To Balance Your Hormones Today

Looking for natural remedies for hormonal imbalances in women?  In a functional medicine appointment at Naperville Integrated Wellness you can expect a  focused on understanding your hormones, you can anticipate a thorough exploration of your medical history, lifestyle factors, and any symptoms related to hormone imbalances. The doctor may delve into details about your menstrual cycle (if applicable), sexual health, energy levels, mood, sleep patterns, and any changes you’ve noticed in your body. Expect discussions around stress levels, diet, exercise routines, and environmental factors that could impact your hormone balance. The doctor may order specialized tests to assess hormone levels, adrenal function, thyroid function, and other relevant biomarkers. Based on the gathered information, they’ll collaborate with you to create a personalized treatment plan that may include dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, targeted supplements, and possibly hormone replacement therapy if indicated. The focus will be on addressing the root causes of hormonal imbalances to restore optimal health and well-being.  Contact Naperville Integrated Wellness today!

The purpose of functional medicine is: 

Understanding how the body works, knowing how and where to investigate health issues, knowing what to look for, understanding the significance of what is found and creating a plan of action to reverse and correct the root cause the health problems.

My wish for you…health, happiness and a better quality of life! 

If you would like more information about neurotransmitters, hormones, functional medicine functional medicine and integrative medicine or Dr. Borkowski, go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com

Do your own research, inform yourself and ask lots of questions. When collecting information you MUST consider the source. There is no shortage of false, misleading, outdated, profit-driven and utterly biased information in healthcare today; even from the most respected sources.

This approach to healthcare is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease. This article is for information purposes and is not a substitute for professional healthcare services. Contact our office for more information.

If you are looking for a functional medicine doctor in Aurora, Chicago, Downers Grove, Plainfield, Wheaton, St. Charles or Orland Park, please contact us today!

Webb, S. J., Geoghegan, T. E., Prough, R. A., & Michael Miller, K. K. (2006). The biological actions of dehydroepiandrosterone involves multiple receptors. Drug Metabolism Reviews, 38(1–2), 89–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/03602530600569877