Brain management of female hormones and the monthly cycle
These hormones, progesterone and estrogen form one-half of a feedback loop between the ovaries and the brain. The brain stimulates ovarian secretion of estrogen through the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. It stimulates the release of progesterone from the ovaries with luteinizing hormone (LH), also from the pituitary gland. These four hormones, originating from the ovaries and the brain via the pituitary gland, form a communication network that regulates the monthly cycle of reproduction. The rhythmic rise and fall of these hormone levels underlies the rhythm of the reproductive cycle.
Estrogen release at the beginning of each menstrual cycle, under the guidance of FSH, stimulates the build up of the lining of the uterus, in preparation for implantation of a fertilized egg. In the middle of the menstrual cycle a surge of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary stimulates release of an egg. LH also stimulates the secretion of progesterone which maintains the uterine lining.
Eventually the ovaries stop responding to the stimulation of the brain. The rhythmic dance between the brain and ovaries then comes to a halt, and the monthly cycle also stops. This change is gradual rather than abrupt. The ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone declines gradually over a period of years. During this transition period the brain does its best to keep estrogen and progesterone levels up by releasing more FSH and LH, respectively. The combination of lagging estrogen and progesterone and higher than normal FSH and LH are responsible for the symptoms of premenopause and perimenopause like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irritability, fatigue and more.
Why the monthly cycle stops
Every girl who is born has a fixed number of eggs in their ovaries. The number drops over the next decade and a half, to about three hundred thousand. Then each month a number of eggs mature and one is released. At the same time, many eggs deteriorate. So gradually the number of eggs continues to diminish.
Estrogen is secreted from the follicle that holds the egg while it matures. After the egg is released, the follicle is transformed and begins to secrete progesterone. Eventually the number of follicles that mature each month begins to drop. And so does the amount of estrogen and progesterone being released from the ovaries. When the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, the monthly cycle begins to falter and then stops altogether. That's menopause.
What causes menopause symptoms?
The sex hormones estrogen and progesterone impact many body organs other than the reproductive system (breasts, uterus, vagina). When the levels of these hormones begins to falter in perimenopause, one of the first symptoms is erratic menstrual periods, or lighter or heavier menstrual flows. Another very frequent complaint is hot flashes and sweats, which are experienced by 80-85% of American women as they transition through menopause. Hot flashes and night sweats are caused by a disruption of the brain center that monitors and regulates body temperature. Normally the brain monitors body temperature and keeps it within a specific range for our safety. Dropping estrogen and progesterone levels disrupt this system. The brain erroneously interprets normally safe variations in body temperature as dangerous, and makes heroic attempts to bring our temperature back to normal. Hot flashes and sweats are a strategy to cool the body down, bringing body temperature down. Remember when you were a kid and you had a fever? At some point the fever broke. It was when your brain decided you were too hot and stimulated the release of perspiration to cool you down. This is comparable to the sweats experienced after a hot flash.
Menopause complaints are largely the result of dropping estrogen levels. A good natural remedy is found in phytoestrogens. These are weakly estrogenic plant molecules found in food and herbs. Phytoestrogens provide a safe way to bridge the gap of dropping estrogen levels, to thereby relieve menopause related complaints.
To learn more about what causes menopause and natural remedies for menopause complaints such as hot flashes go to http://herbalmenopauseremedy.com/
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