Menstrual Hormones

 

During menstruation, a female’s hormones change and affect the body in different ways. Some hormone levels are higher than others while other hormones may have lower levels but throughout your menstrual cycle hormones fluctuate. A female’s menstrual cycle is regulated by 4 main hormones: luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and two sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH):

The luteinizing hormone starts ovulation. When your LH levels increase it triggers your ovary to release a mature egg and this is known as ovulation. During ovulation is when the female body is the most susceptible to pregnancy occurs around the second week in a female’s menstrual cycle and can last only 24 hours. Your LH levels are the highest 12 hours before ovulation, and they are the lowest when a female begins her period.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH):

The follicle-stimulating hormone and the luteinizing hormone work hand in hand. The FSH is responsible for developing an egg to maturity for ovulation to take place. When LH is at its highest FSH is also at its highest level. Your FSH levels drop after ovulation and right before your period begins.

Progesterone and Estrogen:

At the beginning of a female’s menstrual cycle, her progesterone and estrogen levels are low. When your FSH levels are low, and the mature egg is produced you will experience an increase in estrogen. During ovulation when your LH and FSH levels reach their peak your estrogen levels begin to decrease but your progesterone levels continue to increase. After ovulation, estrogen and progesterone levels reach their highest peak to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs your estrogen and progesterone levels will remain high but if no pregnancy occurs, your levels will decrease, and you will begin your period.

In-conclusion:

At Stetho Health Systems we acknowledge the hormonal changes that menstruating women experience throughout their cycle. Hormonal changes can affect a woman in different ways such as headaches, acne, and cravings. We want to educate women on why these hormones change and what roles they play in impacting a woman’s cycle.