7 Common Myths About Hormones and How They Really Affect Our Body

Hormones activate and control various processes in our body: cell growth, reproductive function and even energy level. However, we often blame them for mood swings, problems with weight, sleep, and skin. But what do we really know about these substances and what myths do we tend to believe?

O awesome.club studied what endocrinologists say about popular opinions associated with hormonal health.

One of the most worrying questions for women who are about to start taking the pill is whether it will affect their weight in any way. As we know, increased estrogen level can lead to a slowdown in metabolism and an accumulation of adipose tissue. Today, the most common medications are combined contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progestin – a synthetic form of progesterone.

So the problem could exist in the 60s-70s, when these drugs had just appeared on the market and contained very high doses of estrogen. Modern contraceptives contain synthetic hormones, which were created taking into account the characteristics of the female body and do not lead to weight gain. There is, yes, some risk of weight gain, but this is a side effect. The increase is a maximum of 2 kg per year and occurs in a negligible percentage of women who are already prone to bloating (progestin causes slight fluid retention in the body).

Either way, it’s important that your doctor warns you that the pill can increase your appetite. If your weight increases significantly, it is usually not because of a side effect of the pill, but because of a hormonal imbalance. In that case, it is worth consulting a doctor.

Both men and women have predominant hormones, androgens in the case of men and estrogens in the case of women. Androgens support the development of the male body and its reproductive system, muscle growth and a deeper voice. Estrogens are responsible for the development of the female body: the mammary glands, the menstrual cycle and the possibility of pregnancy.

The thing is, under normal circumstances, even men have about 20% estrogen (the other 80% are androgens) and women have approximately 25% androgens. When this balance is disturbed, problems arise.

For example, when a woman has high levels of testosterone, the possibility of becoming pregnant and maintaining the pregnancy is significantly reduced. When testosterone levels are within the normal range, they help with fat processing, mood regulation, brain function and muscle strengthening. The excess of female hormones in men can lead to obesity, edema and decreased sexual desire.

If prolactin and oxytocin (two other hormones also found in men and women) are at normal levels, in general certain parameters of the body, such as bone tissue resistance, blood sugar level and water balance remain regular. Also, in men, these two hormones protect against prostate cancer.

When referring to healthy women, endocrinologists say that, in most cases, moodiness, crying and emotional arousal are not related to hormonal changes and PMS. These symptoms are only associated with hormonal changes in about 5% of women; the rest are likely more susceptible to PMS-related myths.

In the case of people with serious illnesses, hormones can actually be responsible for emotional instability. For example, people with diabetes may become irritable due to increased levels of adrenaline.

The production of the well-known “sleep hormone”, which controls the biorhythm of each person, although it occurs during sleep, is directly related to the level of lighting in the room where that person sleeps. Any light, even an insignificant flashlight, reduces the production of this hormone, which directly affects your health and beauty.🇧🇷

But the use of over-the-counter melatonin sleeping pills, a popular habit these days (for example, to combat jetlag), is not recommended. In cases of severe sleep disorders, their use is also far from justified. Uncontrolled consumption of these pills can affect ovulation, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The best solution for correct hormone production is to sleep the necessary hours and darken your room as much as possible, especially when, for work reasons, you have to sleep during the day – as is the case with night watchmen and on-call doctors, for example.

In fact, whenever contraceptives are prescribed based on laboratory test results and by a competent doctor, they can be taken without any problems. They are good for your health and can reduce your risk of developing some forms of cancer, such as endometrial, ovarian and colorectal cancers. In this case, the longer the medication period, the lower the risk of developing the disease.

However, the results of several studies suggest that the risk of developing breast cancer increases slightly. Therefore, the doctor must choose contraceptives based on the patient’s medical history.

When a woman has an excess of male hormones, she can really have a hard time getting pregnant. However, the stress hormone cortisol can also affect fertility. Normally, it is responsible for the energy level and metabolism speed, in addition to increasing the levels of adrenaline, a hormone that helps us deal with dangerous situations.

Excessive increase in cortisol causes hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure, mood swings and difficulties getting pregnant.

But it is not cortisol that causes stress, on the contrary: when a critical situation occurs, the body goes into “survival” mode, and, under these circumstances, it makes no sense to reproduce. Therefore, if you are planning to be a mother, we recommend staying calm and, as far as possible, avoiding unpleasant situations.

Normally, hormonal changes always occur during the day and during the menstrual cycle (in women). However, the action of each hormone varies throughout the day.

For example, an analysis of thyroid levels should be done in the morning, from 8:00 to 10:00, always on an empty stomach and, if possible, with the person calm. The levels of progesterone, prolactin and estrogen vary greatly throughout the menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is important to inform your trusted doctor about the best times to perform any exam whose result may be affected by these hormones.

Do you often feel the effects of hormones? Do you know people who are more prone to mood swings because of these substances? Tell us!