OVARIAN HORMONES 101
Before taking the first step within the Hormone Optimization Strand, you’ll need to know more about your ovarian hormones.
There are three primary ovarian hormones.
Estradiol: The Feminine Hormone
I call estradiol “The Pretty Hormone.” It causes us to have feminine features like a higher-pitched voice, pretty hair, and skin.
Estradiol is also a powerful fat-storing hormone that promotes voluptuous features such as breasts, hips, and feminine bellies.
Estradiol is also the best anti-aging hormone. The more estradiol we have, the better we will look as we age.
Progesterone: The Calming Hormone
I call Progesterone the 60s hormone. It's all about peace, love, and flower power. It's all about singing, dancing, and whistling.
It is indirectly a woman's fat-burning hormone. I say “indirectly” because it neutralizes estradiol's ability to store fat.
It is the sleep hormone. It puts you to sleep and keeps you asleep through the night.
Testosterone: The Drive Hormone
Testosterone is the masculine hormone. It causes hair growth and, of course, where you least want it. It gives you a lower-pitched voice and masculine features.
It “IS” the fat-burning hormone that gives men and women six-pack abs. Because it also builds muscle, bodybuilders use synthetic versions of testosterone to burn fat and build muscle.
The more testosterone you have, the more sex drive you'll have, but also the drive to be a success and be first in line; think of men in pick-ups cutting you off to get to the next red light before you.
PRE-MENOPAUSE
Let me explain the transition of your ovarian hormones when you pass from pre-menopause to post-menopause. My take is different, so throw aside what you think you know about hormones and menopause.
In Pre-menopause, your ovaries begin producing estradiol on the first day of your cycle, the first day you bleed. Estradiol increases until, about the fourteenth day, it hits its mark and releases luteinizing hormone. This surge in luteinizing hormone causes you to ovulate.
After ovulation occurs, estradiol production wanes. It gently finds its bottom and then starts the cycle over.
"Think of ovulation as a volcanic eruption. The egg catapults into your fallopian tube, and progesterone and testosterone flow like lava from the follicle, the mouth of the volcano."
Progesterone prepares the uterus for conception by making the intrauterine walls thicker and sticky, preparing the uterus to house a fertilized egg. When conception doesn't occur, the sloughing off of this intrauterine wall causes menstruation.
Testosterone, well, God set us up there because the one time a month a woman gets a shot of testosterone, which will increase her sex drive and decrease her inhibitions, kind of like tequila, is the one time a month an egg is floating around to be fertilized. We call testosterone the perpetrator of our species.
MENOPAUSE
As we age, our estradiol production decreases until one day, it doesn't hit its mark. When this happens, ovulation doesn't occur.
The dictionary defines menopause as "not having a period for one year."
"I define menopause as not ovulating."
When a woman stops ovulating, her ovaries no longer produce progesterone and testosterone, and she loses her calming and drive hormones.
The biggest problem is that estradiol loses its dancing partner, progesterone. This loss significantly interrupts your balance of femininity and youthfulness.
We blame this imbalance and loss on menopause, but in reality, it's the chasm between progesterone and estradiol that causes all the problems.
This chasm creates a condition called Estrogen Dominance.
ESTROGEN DOMINANCE
Being estrogen-dominant may confuse you because most doctors and menopausal patients think a lack of estrogen is what causes the plethora of menopausal symptoms.
Your doctor may even prescribe estrogen. You may have even asked your doctor to prescribe you estrogen because that is what a friend told you helped her with hot flashes.
You start using estrogen, and your hot flashes and night sweats reduce and even disappear. The bad news is most of the other symptoms worsen.
“ Adding estrogen to an estrogen-dominant woman will make them more Estrogen Dominant, causing even more weight gain, sleeping problems and anxiety.”
Let me clear up some of the confusion I just caused.
For ovulation to cease, estrogen levels need to decrease slightly, but once ovulation ceases, ovarian production of progesterone and testosterone decreases severely.
"You may have reduced estradiol from 20% to 30% to cause ovulation to cease, but your progesterone and testosterone will decrease by 80% or more."
When it comes to falling into the hormone abyss, the initial symptoms are caused by the chasm between estradiol and progesterone.
Progesterone is like many wives. You know the type of wife men need to keep them in check. Men are much lower on the evolutionary scale than women, so they go wild when not held in check. I know; I just broke the Bro Code.
“Estradiol without progesterone runs wild when it comes to weight gain.”
The larger the chasm between estradiol and progesterone, the more estrogen-dominant you will become and the more weight you gain.
THE SYMPTOMS OF ESTROGEN DOMINANCE
Weight Gain
Weight Loss Resistance
Sleeping Disorders
Hormonal Induced Anxiety
Hormonal Induced Depression
Loss of Interest in being Intimate
Loss of Motivation to be Social
The next step we will take is to see if you have fallen into the menopausal hormone abyss (Estrogen Dominance) and, if so, how far.
Estrogen Dominance is the first phase of menopause. There are other hormone-related conditions that estrogen dominance can cascade into. So, if you don’t see some of your symptoms listed above, the missing symptoms may be in one of the subsequent phases of menopause. The good news is that many of those other hormone-related symptoms will dissipate with the taming of estrogen dominance.
In my next blog post, I will delve deeper into the Hormone Optimization Strand of HOPE.
Please comment below and rate this blog above; it will fuel my desire to teach you how to optimize your hormones and weight.
IF YOU ARE READY TO LOSE WEIGHT AND FEEL GREAT,
AND YOU WANT DOC MAC TO COACH YOU,
FOR FREE!
THIS WEEK'S US-IE
Vicky and I had a weekend filled with friends. On Thursday, we went to a dinner sponsored by our RV Club. Then, we drove into the Sierra and had lunch with a friend. Then, we ate an incredible Italian meal with our next-door neighbors on Saturday night. That's them in the US-IE. The restaurant served astonishing food. I had Blackened halibut and veggies. Have you ever noticed that the servings are smaller when you eat at a gourmet restaurant? That's the way it should be. Then, we had several friends and family over to watch the Super Bowl. It was a fabulous weekend.
“Being social is one of the best tools for optimizing hormones, weight, health, and mind."
And remember...
"IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR HORMONES!"
"Because when your hormones are optimized, your weight, health, and mind will follow."
🍽️ Doc
FDA Disclaimer:
The information provided in The Pause newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The statements made about hormones, weight loss, or any other health-related topics have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any decisions related to your health, including starting or stopping medications, supplements, or lifestyle changes.
Bình luận