Lets first understand what each hormones function is;

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) – released from the pituitary gland, stimulates the ovarian follicles (fluid-filled sacs on the ovary containing an egg or ovum) to mature.

 

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) – also released from the pituitary gland at ovulation, and causes the rupture of the mature ovarian follicle, releasing the egg.

 

Estrogen – often referred to as the growing hormone because of its role in the body. Estrogen is responsible for growing and maturing the uterine lining (lining that is shed during menstruation) and also matures the egg prior to ovulation. Unfortunately, it also stimulates cancer to grow as well.

 

Estrogen is produced mostly by the ovaries but also in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and in fat tissue. It is most abundant in the first half of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase).

 

Progesterone – It works in the body to balance the effects of estrogen. Progesterone is produced after ovulation by the corpus luteum (sack that the egg comes from) and dominates the second half of the cycle (luteal phase). Progesterone¹s main job is to control the build up of the uterine lining and help mature and maintain the uterine lining if there is a pregnancy.

 

Testosterone – An important sex hormone for both women and men, although women have much lower levels. Is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands (right on top of the kidneys) and has a surge at time of ovulation and slight rise just before the menses. Testosterone helps women maintain muscle mass and bone strength, enhances sex drive.

 

Menstrual Overview

 

Each month during the years between puberty and menopause, a woman’s body goes through a number of changes to get it ready for a possible pregnancy. This series of hormone-driven events is called the menstrual cycle.

During each menstrual cycle, an egg develops and is released from the ovaries. The lining of the uterus builds up. If a pregnancy doesn’t happen, the uterine lining sheds during a menstrual period. Then the cycle starts again.

A woman’s menstrual cycle is divided into four phases:

• menstrual phase
• follicular phase
• ovulation phase
• luteal phase

The length of each phase can differ from woman to woman, and it can change over time.

Menstrual phase

The menstrual phase is the first stage of the menstrual cycle. It’s also when you get your period.

This phase starts when an egg from the previous cycle isn’t fertilized. Because pregnancy hasn’t taken place, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop.

The thickened lining of your uterus, which would support a pregnancy, is no longer needed, so it sheds through your vagina. During your period, you release a combination of blood, mucus, and tissue from your uterus.

You may have period symptoms like these:

• cramps
• tender breasts
• bloating
• mood swings
• irritability
• headaches
• tiredness
• low back pain

On average women are in the menstrual phase of their cycle for 3 to 7 days

Follicular phase

The follicular phase starts on the first day of your period (so there is some overlap with the menstrual phase) and ends when you ovulate. This means the Follicular phase starts the 1st day that you bleed.

When it starts, the hypothalamus sends a signal to your pituitary gland to release FSH. This hormone stimulates your ovaries to produce around 5 to 20 small sacs called follicles. Each follicle contains an immature egg.

Only the healthiest egg will eventually mature. (On rare occasions, a woman may have two eggs mature.) The rest of the follicles will be reabsorbed into your body.

The maturing follicle sets off a surge in estrogen that thickens the lining of your uterus. This creates a nutrient-rich environment for an embryo to grow.

The average follicular phase lasts for about 16 days. It can range from 11 to 27 days, depending on your cycle.

Ovulation phase

Rising estrogen levels during the follicular phase trigger your pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH). This is what starts the process of ovulation.

Ovulation is when your ovary releases a mature egg. The egg travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus to be fertilized by sperm.

The ovulation phase is the only time during your menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant. You can tell that you’re ovulating by symptoms like these:

• a slight rise in basal body temperature
• thicker discharge that has the texture of egg whites

Ovulation happens at around day 14 if you have a 28-day cycle — right in the middle of your menstrual cycle. It lasts about 24 hours. After a day, the egg will die or dissolve if it isn’t fertilized.

DID YOU KNOW?

Because sperm can live up to five days, pregnancy can occur if a woman has sex as much as five days prior to ovulation.

Luteal phase

After the follicle releases its egg, it changes into the corpus luteum. This structure releases hormones, mainly progesterone and some estrogen. The rise in hormones keeps your uterine lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg to implant.

If you do get pregnant, your body will produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is the hormone pregnancy tests detect. It helps maintain the corpus luteum and keeps the uterine lining thick.

If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum will shrink away and be resorbed. This leads to decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which causes the onset of your period. The uterine lining will shed during your period.

During this phase, if you don’t get pregnant, you may experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These include:

• bloating
• breast swelling, pain, or tenderness
• mood changes
• headache
• weight gain
• changes in sexual desire
• food cravings
• trouble sleeping

The luteal phase lasts for 11 to 17 days. The average length is 14 days.

PMS Remedies

PMS, premenstrual syndrome occurs when estrogen dominance is present. This means for whatever reason estrogens rises higher then progesterone. This is was causes the PMS symptoms.

From a nutritional standpoint, the minerals zinc and magnesium help regulate the imbalances that lead to the symptoms.

Vitamin B6 is important in helping these minerals to work but also has its own separate role in reducing PMS symptoms.

Vitamin B6 has natural diuretic properties that help relieve that swelling and water retention that occurs.

Any nutrient that would enhance progesterone or cause a reduction in estrogen would reduce PMS symptoms.

Bio-identical progesterone skin cremes that are derived from the Mexican wild yam are often used to reduce PMS symptoms by supporting Progesterone.

Thyroid function also important. Thyroid hormones help regulate the balance between Progesterone and Estrogen. Therefore, any supplement that helps insure proper thyroid function would also help reduce PMS.

PMS is essentially an inflammatory state. So, anything that acts as an anti-inflammatory would help reduce symptoms, but the closer we get to addressing the real cause the better and the easier the results would be.

Chaste Berry is an herb commonly used in PMS as it can elevate progesterone. It is also called Vitex. Evening primrose oil is recommended due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

When it comes to chronic PMS so bad that it sends one to the doctor for help, treating symptoms will not be enough! In this case one must get a full battery of hormone and nutrition testing to see the state of the hormones and to see if one lacks the nutrients to balance and control the hormones.

Lack of a menstrual cycle occurs in states of chronic fatigue syndrome where the adrenal, pituitary and ovary systems have exhausted. This is due to stress, drugs, poor diet, chronic infections etc.