Men and Women Experience Hormone Decline

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Hormones are the messengers that tell your cells what to do. From the pituitary gland to your thyroid, hormones control everything from your mood to your fat-burning metabolism.

With over 50 hormones identified in the human body, it's clear these chemical messengers play a crucial role in your health and well-being.

For hormones to have the desired effect, target tissues must possess receptors that can receive and interpret their messages. Take, for instance, the collaboration between your pituitary gland and thyroid. The pituitary gland releases a thyroid-stimulating hormone.

They are produced by specialized glands in the endocrine system and released into your bloodstream. Some hormones affect all cells while others only affect specific receptor cells. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are special glands that connect the nervous and endocrine systems. Some organs have both endocrine and non-endocrine regions.

Common Culprits for Imbalances

Both men and women naturally experience a decline in hormones as young adults and this trend continues throughout life. Undergoing testing in your 20s or 30s can be prudent anytime you don’t feel yourself. Discussed below are common culprits for imbalances, including:

Estrogen: Estrogen is a crucial hormone for females and is responsible for many distinct characteristics in women, such as ovulation, menstruation and breast development, but men with increased belly fat are at high risk of estrogen dominance.

Testosterone: Issues with testosterone imbalance can have significant effects on a person's health and well-being. Conversely, maintaining optimal balance can improve aspects of healthy living. In addition to reducing belly fat and increasing muscle mass, it can enhance libido and improve energy levels.

Progesterone: Research suggests that too much progesterone may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. On the other hand, a sudden drop in progesterone levels during pregnancy can lead to premature labor or miscarriage.

Insulin: Insulin deficiency or improper utilization of the fat-storage hormone can be dangerous to your health and well-being, especially when high blood sugar levels are combined with an increase in the release of the stress hormone cortisol.

Cortisol: High cortisol levels cause fat to be stored in the abdomen, leading to what's often referred to as cortisol belly fat. To combat an adrenal belly, it's important to better manage stress and make healthier lifestyle choices.

Thyroid Hormone: Hormonal weight gain can be due to insufficient production of thyroxin. However, there are ways to combat weight gain. Improving your diet, increasing physical activity, getting enough sleep, managing stress levels, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol can all help to prevent hormonal weight gain.

Although you would like to believe you have complete control over your body, it's important to remember that hormones can play a significant role in your physical and emotional health. Understanding hormones like testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, insulin, human growth hormone, serotonin, and melatonin is essential for taking care of your health.

At MRC, we understand the importance of hormone balance for your well-being. We work closely with you to test your blood levels and identify deficiencies. Based on the results, we can create a personalized plan that may include hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, and optimizing your adrenal and thyroid function.