Hormones
We recognize the dramatic increases in infertility rates, miscarriages and pregnancy complications worldwide. For couples who have experienced such challenges, you may experience heightened levels of emotional, metabolic, psychological, physical and financial stress. This hormone section is for all parents looking to conceive and to have a successful pregnancy and birth. It applies to both men and women.
The human body is highly complex. The impact of our choices can massively impact our health and with that, the ability to have a successful conception, pregnancy, and birth. One of the primary contributing factors to a successful conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is the role and functionality of all associated hormones.
What is a hormone?
Hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands like the pituitary, hypothalamus, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pineal, and other organs such as the liver, gut, kidneys, pancreas, placenta, testes, and ovaries. Together, these form the endocrine system—a network of glands, tissues, and organs that produce, store, and release hormones crucial for life, health, and bodily functions.
Hormones regulate metabolism and maintain homeostasis by controlling processes like blood pressure, blood sugar levels, fluid and electrolyte balance, growth, development, sexual function, and reproduction.
The body utilizes hormones for two primary types of communication: between endocrine glands, where one hormone stimulates another gland to adjust hormone levels, and between an endocrine gland and its target organ.
When a hormone is released into the bloodstream, it only affects cells equipped with specific hormone receptors, located either inside the cell or on its membrane. Upon receiving the hormone signal, the cell can initiate various responses such as protein synthesis, enzyme activation or deactivation, changes in cell membrane permeability, increased cell growth, secretion, or modulation of hormonal responses. A single hormone can trigger multiple cellular reactions, with hormone levels constantly monitored and adjusted based on the body's needs.
There are three major groups of hormones.
Amino acid derivatives (amines) produced from tryptophan and tyrosine.
Steroids made from cholesterol such as estrogen from the testes and ovaries and cortisol and aldosterone from the adrenal glands. These are carried around the blood system bound to a transport protein.
Larger amino acid peptides made from amino acid chains.
What hormones are involved in conception, pregnancy, birth and beyond?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) control the sex hormones, estrogen in females and testosterone in men, and the production of eggs in women and sperm in men. They are secreted by the pituitary gland.
Oxytocin stimulates the contraction of uterus and milk ducts in the breast. It is secreted by the pituitary gland.
Prolactin initiates and maintains milk production in breasts and impacts sex hormones. It is secreted by the pituitary.
Inhibin regulates the FSH secretion from the pituitary gland and GnRH in males. It is secreted by the ovaries in women and testes in men.
Estrogen affects reproductive development, female sexual characteristics, and the functioning of the uterus and breasts. It is secreted by the ovaries.
Progesterone in women, stimulates the uterus lining for fertilization and prepares breasts for milk production. In males, it contributes to sperm production. It is secreted by the ovaries in women and testes in men.
Testosterone helps develop male sexual characteristics and maturation. It is secreted by the testes.
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) regulates luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) production in the pituitary gland. In males, it aids in the production of testosterone from the testes. In females, it aids in the production of estrogen and progesterone from the ovaries. It is secreted by the hypothalamus.
Thyroid hormone in males enhances metabolism. In women, it regulates metabolism and contributes to reproductive tissue development. It is secreted by the thyroid.
You can see how many hormones are involved when it comes to having a baby and how important it is to be able to support their development, secretion and balance.
Infertility affects 186 million people worldwide and the male partner accounts for approximately half of that number. Conception requires producing healthy eggs and sperm, plus the ability for the sperm to fertilize the egg and for the egg to then implant in the uterus.
Many biological and environmental factors can lead to infertility and difficulties with conception. These include:
Hormonal disorders that affect your hypothalamus and pituitary, testes and ovaries.
Medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian insufficiency (POI) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Polyps, and fibroids.
Fallopian tube complications such as endometriosis.
Thyroid condition.
Autoimmune diseases.
Sexually transmitted infections.
Genetic disorders.
Medications.
Birth control pill as the estrogen and progestin contents can be present in the body for a time after you stop taking them. This can disturb menstrual cycles from returning for a time and will stop the ovaries from releasing an egg. The progestin also increases the thickness of the vaginal mucus making it harder for the sperm to reach the egg in the uterus for fertilization. Research says that this can take as long as 12 months to return to normal.
Toxins.
Nutrient deficiencies.
Elevated stress and anxiety.
Sleep disturbances.
Depression.
Age.
Overweight/obese.
Gut-related disorders and an imbalanced microbiome.
Radiation.
Tobacco, caffeine and alcohol use.
If you are struggling with infertility issues, Mothers2B recommends working with a functional and integrative practitioner to help you identify the causative issues underlying challenges to conceive and/or infertility and what you will need to do to support and correct those conditions.
Let us take a brief look at stress and how it can affect infertility.
The biological pathways linking stress to infertility involve disruptions in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), which regulates the secretion and balance of reproductive hormones. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland form a central control center for hormonal activity, influencing glands like the thyroid and adrenal glands. Psychological stressors, in particular, can significantly alter hormone levels.
Emotional stress affects libido and can lead to disturbances in the HPA axis, increasing the likelihood of miscarriages and impairing fetal development. Metabolic stress from conditions like obesity can contribute to infertility, menstrual irregularities, and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Oxidative stress caused by free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage DNA, reduce sperm motility, and cause hypoxia.
To counteract oxidative stress, antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione, and Vitamin C play a crucial role. Addressing preconception stress is also vital as it is common among both men and women attempting to conceive, impacting fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
Untreated stress can significantly affect overall health and contributes to approximately 10% of infertility cases.
There are many other factors associated with hormonal disruption and one of the leading culprits are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These are compounds and substances in the environment, food sources, personal care products and manufactured products that interfere with the endocrine system and the hormones that it produces. Some of these mimic hormones, while others block hormones from working, some increase or decrease hormone levels and how they are made, stored or metabolized in the body. These chemicals have been linked to alterations in fertility, abnormalities in sex organs, endometriosis and many other health conditions.
Some of these EDCs are listed below.
Pesticides such as Chlorpyrifos, Atrazine, Glyphosate, Atrazine
Metals such as lead, aluminum and cadmium
Industrial solvents or lubricants such as PCBs and Dioxins
Plastics and food storage materials such as Phenols, BPA and Phthalates
Building materials such as flame retardants
Personal care products such as Parabens, UV filters and phthalates
Antibacterials such as Triclosan
Clothing such as Perfluorochemicals
Avoid fluoride and chlorine in water as fluoride reduces thyroid function and chlorine reduces estrogen
Experts recommend avoiding microwaving food in plastic to avoid leaching EDCs into food, choosing personal care products that are natural and replacing nonstick cookware with stainless steel or ceramic coated. Choose organic food including meats, poultry, fish and fruit and vegetables (as non-organic can contain pesticide residues and other chemicals used in refining and food preservation), and preferably cook your own selected food at home.
Soy based products contain phytoestrogens which mimic estrogen so aim to not eat soy. Avoid plastic containers, reduce canned and processed foods, use glass porcelain or stainless-steel containers, use filtered water. Exercise away from high traffic areas, read labels and avoid products containing phthalates and select products labelled phthalate free, BPA free and paraben free. Avoid fragrances and opt for products scented with essential oils. Stop smoking and forbid smoking indoors.
This is why we all must identify what these chemicals are, where these chemicals exist (read labels especially) and how best to avoid them. Our body has no role for any chemical and even though it can do a wonderful job in detoxifying and excreting these chemicals, with time our bodies will be burdened and health consequences will occur.
Bottom line: you should avoid chemicals, detoxify yourself to remove as many stored toxins as possible from your body, and support detoxification moving forward.
Another crucial consideration is supporting the gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of microorganisms living in the gut. These beneficial bacteria play a pivotal role in health by enhancing the immune system, producing neurotransmitters and vitamins, aiding in digestion and food fermentation, and influencing brain function, among other functions.
In relation to hormones, these microbes interact with and metabolize estrogen, progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, insulin, and other hormones crucial to the reproductive endocrine system. An imbalance in the microbiome can lead to complications during pregnancy, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
The human microbiome also impacts ovarian follicle and egg maturation, fertilization, embryo migration, implantation, and overall pregnancy health. Disturbances in the microbiome can therefore affect reproductive hormone levels and outcomes. Supporting gut health, especially recognizing the microbiome as an important endocrine organ, is fundamental for maintaining overall health and ensuring favorable pregnancy outcomes.
Mothers2B has created the Diet, Lifestyle and Toxin Assessment (DLT). This assessment is important to help you identify what areas need work when it comes to your diet, lifestyle and toxin exposure. We have also provided our Nutrient Deficiency Symptom Assessment (NDSA) which will look at current health symptoms and any nutrient deficiencies you may have.
Diet, Lifestyle and Toxin Self Assessment
The Diet, Lifestyle and Toxin (DLT) Self Assessment aims to prepare your family for life’s greatest blessing: a successful conception, pregnancy, and birth, and ultimately a healthy baby. We believe that the greatest influencing factors on your health and the health of your baby involve your diet (D), lifestyle (L) and toxin (T) exposure, and we have created the DLT Self Assessment for you to assess these aspects of your life. There is no better time to adopt a healthier change!
Nutrient Deficiency Symptom Assessment
The Nutrient Deficiency Symptom Assessment (NDSA) helps you identify your deficient nutrients. This is very important as the nutrients in your body are essential to your and your baby's health. The NDSA provides three pages of the essential 29 nutrients the body requires, each with associated deficiency symptoms for you to work through carefully. Find out what nutrients you may be lacking and what you can do to reverse those deficiencies and support your symptoms for optimal health.
So, what do I need to focus on to support hormone balance?
Focus on a real-food, high-quality diet that provides the essential nutrients needed to produce these hormones, lower your refined sugar intake, and consume soluble and insoluble fiber from organic produce.
Optimize your gut health and restore a healthy microbiome.
Lose weight (if you are overweight) and establish a healthy lifestyle with low intensity exercise, relaxation and adequate sleep.
Manage stress levels and support your adrenal and thyroid glands. Utilize functional testing to assess status of the thyroid and work with a practitioner to resolve issues, if necessary.
Optimize your immune system.
Avoid toxins and detox prior to conceiving. Support your liver and kidney function and detoxification pathways.
Hormonal balance is critical and there are many factors that can disturb hormonal levels as mentioned above. It is important to work with a functional and integrative health professional to help you identify your hormone levels, imbalances and the causative factors influencing hormonal disturbances and to correct all the identified underlying conditions to enhance hormone production and balance.
Here is a list of supportive nutrients you may require to help support hormonal imbalances.
All essential amino acids including the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine.
Cholesterol but in limited quantities.
Iodine and selenium for sluggish thyroid function.
Herbs—ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, wild yam, black cohosh, chaste tree berry, and red clover extract—support hormonal balance, stress, and adrenal function and subsequently help to balance the HPA axis.
Magnesium—helps calm the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the adrenal stress hormone response. It also helps balance testosterone, estrogen and progesterone by supporting the liver to metabolize and excrete harmful hormone metabolites.
Vitamin D3 supports hormone balance, especially estrogen.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids are important to boost sensitivity of cellular hormone receptors and are needed to make estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. It is also a great anti-inflammatory nutrient which supports the ability of the body to manufacture hormones.
Zinc helps support the thyroid gland and helps balance cortisol, progesterone and estrogen.
Probiotics to support the colonization of the gut and restoring the microbiome. They also help optimize the metabolism of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
B vitamins, especially B12 (cobalamin), B6 (pyridoxine) and B3 (niacin).
Diindolylmethane (DIM) can increase the excretion of excessive estrogen.
Vitamin E supports estrogen/progesterone hormone balance.
Please refer to our “Understanding Nutrients’ book to help identify foods rich in these specific nutrients and the optimal daily allowance required.
Mothers2B has created a hormone supportive package, as well as three specific support packages for fine-tuning. These can be found in our Shop.
