THE USUAL SUSPECTS { ar t i c le } While the body uses dozens of different hormones, there are three main ones that you might be familiar with. Oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone are three of the better-known hormones of the endocrine system, and we’ve explained them in more detail below.
Progesterone Progesterone, often referred to as the “pregnancy hormone”, is largely responsible for fertility. Much like oestrogen, progesterone levels fluctuate in line with the menstrual cycle, and are at their highest 5-7 days after ovulation. As its alias implies, progesterone plays a critical role in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy. Low progesterone levels can cause heartache for some as it can make conception more difficult. Low progesterone levels during pregnancy have also been linked to complications such as miscarriage and early labour. Testosterone While testosterone may conjure up images of muscly men at the gym, it may come as a surprise to learn that this hormone is present in both men and women. While men do produce far more testosterone than women, the role this hormone plays in women’s bodies is still important. In men, testosterone affects sex drive, sperm production and hair
Oestrogen Oestrogen is arguably the best- known sex hormone, and while it is present in both men and women, it plays a bigger role in women’s bodies. There are three types of Oestrogen in women; all of them are present throughout a woman’s life, but one will dominate depending on life stage. Oestradiol during childbearing years, oestriol during pregnancy and oestrone after menopause. Oestrogen levels fluctuate in line with the menstrual cycle, being at their highest during the middle of the cycle (ovulation), and lowest during menstruation. As a sex hormone, it isn’t surprising to learn that oestrogen heavily influences puberty, the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. But it also plays an important role in bone strength and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. growth. In both men and women, testosterone is involved in bone and muscle mass and signals the body to produce new blood cells.
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