2. Key hormones behind menopause.

Estrogens: The woman's ovaries make most estrogen hormones, although the adrenal glands and fat cells also make small amounts of the hormones. Estradiol (E2) is the primary estrogen and likened to a “womens" testosterone”. Estriol (E3) is very weak and elevates primarily during pregnancy. Estron (E1) is the primary estrogen in effect during menopause and is 10x weaker than Estradiol.

Progesterone is commonly produced by the adrenal cortex as well as the gonads, which consist of the ovaries and the testes. Progesterone is also secreted after ovulation from the breakdown of the follicle that held the egg. It has an anti-estrogenic effect. Progesterone plays a major role in body composition, mood and mentality during the menopause transition and the ratio between progesterone and estradiol changes in this time.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is made by your pituitary gland, a small gland located underneath the brain. It is the key to stimulating the growth of the ovarian follicle for ovulation and increases estradiol production.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is also made by your pituitary gland. It stimulates the ovaries to produce estradiol and surges just before ovulation in conjunction with estradiol and FSH. LH helps women to drop the egg and have ovulation.

Testosterone is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Together with estradiol it works to improve bone density, bone growth and sex drive. Testosterone slowly decreases with age. It is however not dictated by a change in ovarian function but rather age decline.

Estrogen Key Functions

Progesterone Key Functions

Estrogen vs Progesterone; a counter-balance