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 signals made by various glands in your body, including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, and organs like the liver, pancreas, and ovaries. These glands together make up the endocrine system, which is responsible for producing, storing, and releasing hormones that are essential for your health and daily functions.
Hormones help regulate important body processes, like controlling metabolism, blood pressure, blood sugar, fluid balance, growth, and reproduction. They also help maintain homeostasis, which is your body’s way of staying balanced and stable.
Hormones communicate in two main ways: between different glands, where one hormone tells another gland to adjust its hormone levels, and between a gland and its target organ.
Once a hormone enters the bloodstream, it only affects cells that have specific receptors for it. These receptors can be on the cell’s surface or inside the cell. When a hormone binds to a receptor, it can trigger a variety of actions, such as making proteins, activating or deactivating enzymes, changing the cell's structure, or influencing other hormones. Hormone levels are constantly adjusted based on what the body needs at any given moment.
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 conditions.
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 it can take as long as 12 months to regulate.
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, Mothers2B recommends working with one of our functional and integrative practitioners to help you identify the causative factors and what you will need to do to heal.
Let us take a brief look at stress and how it can affect infertility.
Stress can negatively impact fertility by disrupting the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls the balance of reproductive hormones. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland act as the body's main control center for hormone regulation, influencing other glands like the thyroid and adrenal glands. Psychological stress, in particular, can cause significant hormonal changes.
Emotional stress can lower libido and interfere with the HPA axis, increasing the risk of miscarriages and harming fetal development. Metabolic stress, often from conditions like obesity, can lead to infertility, irregular periods, and disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Oxidative stress, caused by free radicals, can damage DNA, lower sperm motility, and cause low oxygen levels in reproductive cells.
Antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione, and Vitamin C help combat oxidative stress. Managing stress before conception is essential, as it is common among both men and women trying to conceive. Unaddressed stress can hurt fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
In fact, untreated stress contributes to around 10% of infertility cases.
Hormonal disruption can also be caused by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are harmful substances found in the environment, food, personal care products, and manufactured goods. These chemicals interfere with the endocrine system, which controls hormone production and balance. Some EDCs mimic natural hormones, while others block their action, or alter how hormones are produced, stored, or broken down in the body.
Exposure to EDCs has been linked to various health issues, including fertility problems, abnormalities in sexual organs, endometriosis, and other conditions.
Some of these EDCs are listed below.
Pesticides
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 try to avoid chemicals, detoxify yourself to remove as many stored toxins as possible from your body, and support detoxification moving forward.
Supporting the gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of beneficial bacteria, is crucial for overall health. These microorganisms play a vital role in boosting the immune system, producing neurotransmitters and vitamins, aiding digestion, and influencing brain function.
When it comes to hormones, the gut microbiome interacts with and helps process key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and insulin, which are important for reproductive health. An imbalance in the microbiome can lead to complications during pregnancy, as well as conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
The microbiome also affects the development of ovarian follicles, egg maturation, fertilization, embryo movement, implantation, and overall pregnancy health. Disruptions in the microbiome can impact reproductive hormone levels and pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is essential for supporting reproductive health and improving the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Mothers2B has developed the Diet, Lifestyle, and Toxin Assessment (DLT) to help you identify areas in your diet, lifestyle, and toxin exposure that may need improvement. Additionally, we've included the Nutrient Deficiency Symptom Assessment (NDSA) to evaluate any current health symptoms and potential nutrient deficiencies you might have. These tools are designed to support your journey toward better health and wellness.
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.
