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Better Eggs
How do our hormones work and what is their impact on preconception?
In episode 2, Carole explains to us how hormones work and why they are essential for our overall health.
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Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
What you will learn in this episode
How hormones work
- What is a hormone and why is it so powerful in my body
- What are The key hormones in my menstrual cycle
- How FSH, LH, Estrogens, and Progesterone Interact to Trigger Ovulation
- In what way these Hormones also influence my skin, my breasts, my mood
- To which At the time of the cycle, some hormones can be measured in a blood test.
- Why you should never interpret your biological results alone
Hormones, my body's messengers
A hormone is a messenger molecule: it carries information or an order in the body, and acts at very low doses, making it very powerful.
The hormonal (endocrine) system is present everywhere: some hormones are made by the brain, others by the ovaries, the thyroid or other glands, and all of them communicate constantly to regulate numerous functions.
As part of the menstrual cycle, Carole recalls four essential hormones:
- On the brain side: FSH and LH, the “gonadotropins” that stimulate the ovaries
- On the ovary side: estrogens and progesterone, that affect ovulation, the uterus, and many other tissues.
💡 Key figures
FSH, LH, estrogens, progesterone: the quartet of the cycle
FSH and LH are present in women and in men, but do not act on the same organs.
For women,FSH stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles at the beginning of the cycle, while LH plays a key role in the time of ovulation and in the transformation of the follicle into the corpus luteum.
She then describes the succession of events.
- FSH helps a follicle to grow gradually
- When it is ready, the estrogen level increases in the blood
- The The brain detects this level and triggers an LH surge that leads to ovulation
- The follicle becomes a corpus luteum that secretes mostly progesterone, while waiting to know if the oocyte has been fertilized or not.
A quick reminder of the impact of hormones on the cycle:
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How estrogens and progesterone work
Carole recalls that estrogens and progesterone appear at puberty and participate in secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts or hair.
They are essential to the menstrual cycle (endometrial preparation, ovulation, possible implantation) but their receptors are present throughout the body: breasts, bones, skin, mucous membranes, brain, etc.
Estrogens:
- Promote endometrial proliferation in the first part of the cycle;
- Participate in the “pulpy” side of the skin and mucous membranes;
- May promote water retention (tight breasts, heavy legs in some people).
Progesterone:
- Dominate the second half of the cycle
- Has a diuretic effect and a soothing effect (anxiolytic)
When progesterone is insufficient compared to estrogens, some may feel more irritable, tense, or in marked “premenstrual syndrome.”
How and when can hormones be dosed?
⚠️ Carole explains that in practice, hormonal assays are done at specific times in the cycle.
At the start of the cycle, around D3 (third day of free menstruation with red blood), You can dose certain hormones such as estrogens to get a picture of ovarian function and follicle growth dynamics.
She draws attention to the “ranges” indicated by the laboratories on the results:
- Most of the time, we just look to see if the value is “in the lab standard”
- But these standards reflect a global population, which does not necessarily have an optimal cycle.
Carole recalls that in functional medicine, tighter ranges are sometimes used to aim for an “optimal” cycle rather than simply “average”.
⚠️ You should never analyze your results alone, nor frighten each other without support, because a lot of parameters interact with each other.
AMH, prolactin: why is there so much talk about it?
AMH is the hormone that allows you to measure the ovarian quantity :
- AMH (antimullerian hormone) is secreted by growing follicles and is used in particular in PMA to estimate ovarian reserve
- This value has limitations: it should not be interpreted alone, varies during the cycle and should ideally be put into perspective with the ultrasound at the beginning of the cycle (count of the follicles on Day 3)
We hear a lot less about prolactin:
- It is a hormone controlled by the brain, known for its role in the rise of milk after delivery.
- When it's too high without anything to do with a postpartum, it can “turn off” the hormones in the cycle and contribute to a non-optimal cycle
- Stress can cause prolactin levels to rise slightly, which is why calm conditions are important at the time of sampling
Carole insists: as soon as prolactin is really very high, it is a purely medical subject (research of the cause, possible treatments).
👉 In all cases, it is up to the doctor to interpret the results and decide on possible additional examinations.
🔎 Useful definitions
FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) Hormone produced by the pituitary gland (in the brain) that stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovaries at the beginning of the cycle
___
LH (Luteinizing Hormone) An hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which, during its “peak”, triggers ovulation and participates in the formation of the corpus luteum, which will produce progesterone
🎯 Actions concrètes
- I remember that hormones are powerful messengers that work together, not each in its own corner: it is therefore necessary to understand and apprehend them in a global way;
- If I do a hormonal check, I note on which day of my cycle the blood was taken, to be able to discuss it again with my or my doctor;
- Ideally, I ask for a check-up at D+3, especially to check the function of the estrogen;
- I do not draw conclusions on my own from the “laboratory standards” on my results, I am accompanied by my doctor:
- If I don't feel listened to, I look for a professional who is more open to functional medicine;
- If some of my hormones are too high, I insist on being heard and above all, I ask for a check again a few months later, to see how things have evolved.
- If a report seems reassuring to me but my cycle does not seem optimal to me, I can ask to review the results with another health professional;
- If I am dosed with AMH, I keep in mind that it is one indicator among others, and not a final verdict on my fertility;
- If someone tells me about high prolactin, I make sure to be accompanied by a doctor to understand the cause and the possible consequences (and I have the dosage checked again later);
- I remember that it is always possible to optimize things (cycle, lifestyle, diet) with appropriate follow-up.
.png)
Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
What you will learn in this episode
How hormones work
- What is a hormone and why is it so powerful in my body
- What are The key hormones in my menstrual cycle
- How FSH, LH, Estrogens, and Progesterone Interact to Trigger Ovulation
- In what way these Hormones also influence my skin, my breasts, my mood
- To which At the time of the cycle, some hormones can be measured in a blood test.
- Why you should never interpret your biological results alone
Hormones, my body's messengers
A hormone is a messenger molecule: it carries information or an order in the body, and acts at very low doses, making it very powerful.
The hormonal (endocrine) system is present everywhere: some hormones are made by the brain, others by the ovaries, the thyroid or other glands, and all of them communicate constantly to regulate numerous functions.
As part of the menstrual cycle, Carole recalls four essential hormones:
- On the brain side: FSH and LH, the “gonadotropins” that stimulate the ovaries
- On the ovary side: estrogens and progesterone, that affect ovulation, the uterus, and many other tissues.
💡 Key figures
FSH, LH, estrogens, progesterone: the quartet of the cycle
FSH and LH are present in women and in men, but do not act on the same organs.
For women,FSH stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles at the beginning of the cycle, while LH plays a key role in the time of ovulation and in the transformation of the follicle into the corpus luteum.
She then describes the succession of events.
- FSH helps a follicle to grow gradually
- When it is ready, the estrogen level increases in the blood
- The The brain detects this level and triggers an LH surge that leads to ovulation
- The follicle becomes a corpus luteum that secretes mostly progesterone, while waiting to know if the oocyte has been fertilized or not.
A quick reminder of the impact of hormones on the cycle:
How estrogens and progesterone work
Carole recalls that estrogens and progesterone appear at puberty and participate in secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts or hair.
They are essential to the menstrual cycle (endometrial preparation, ovulation, possible implantation) but their receptors are present throughout the body: breasts, bones, skin, mucous membranes, brain, etc.
Estrogens:
- Promote endometrial proliferation in the first part of the cycle;
- Participate in the “pulpy” side of the skin and mucous membranes;
- May promote water retention (tight breasts, heavy legs in some people).
Progesterone:
- Dominate the second half of the cycle
- Has a diuretic effect and a soothing effect (anxiolytic)
When progesterone is insufficient compared to estrogens, some may feel more irritable, tense, or in marked “premenstrual syndrome.”
How and when can hormones be dosed?
⚠️ Carole explains that in practice, hormonal assays are done at specific times in the cycle.
At the start of the cycle, around D3 (third day of free menstruation with red blood), You can dose certain hormones such as estrogens to get a picture of ovarian function and follicle growth dynamics.
She draws attention to the “ranges” indicated by the laboratories on the results:
- Most of the time, we just look to see if the value is “in the lab standard”
- But these standards reflect a global population, which does not necessarily have an optimal cycle.
Carole recalls that in functional medicine, tighter ranges are sometimes used to aim for an “optimal” cycle rather than simply “average”.
⚠️ You should never analyze your results alone, nor frighten each other without support, because a lot of parameters interact with each other.
AMH, prolactin: why is there so much talk about it?
AMH is the hormone that allows you to measure the ovarian quantity :
- AMH (antimullerian hormone) is secreted by growing follicles and is used in particular in PMA to estimate ovarian reserve
- This value has limitations: it should not be interpreted alone, varies during the cycle and should ideally be put into perspective with the ultrasound at the beginning of the cycle (count of the follicles on Day 3)
We hear a lot less about prolactin:
- It is a hormone controlled by the brain, known for its role in the rise of milk after delivery.
- When it's too high without anything to do with a postpartum, it can “turn off” the hormones in the cycle and contribute to a non-optimal cycle
- Stress can cause prolactin levels to rise slightly, which is why calm conditions are important at the time of sampling
Carole insists: as soon as prolactin is really very high, it is a purely medical subject (research of the cause, possible treatments).
👉 In all cases, it is up to the doctor to interpret the results and decide on possible additional examinations.
🎯 Concrete actions
- I remember that hormones are powerful messengers that work together, not each in its own corner: it is therefore necessary to understand and apprehend them in a global way;
- If I do a hormonal check, I note on which day of my cycle the blood was taken, to be able to discuss it again with my or my doctor;
- Ideally, I ask for a check-up at D+3, especially to check the function of the estrogen;
- I do not draw conclusions on my own from the “laboratory standards” on my results, I am accompanied by my doctor:
- If I don't feel listened to, I look for a professional who is more open to functional medicine;
- If some of my hormones are too high, I insist on being heard and above all, I ask for a check again a few months later, to see how things have evolved.
- If a report seems reassuring to me but my cycle does not seem optimal to me, I can ask to review the results with another health professional;
- If I am dosed with AMH, I keep in mind that it is one indicator among others, and not a final verdict on my fertility;
- If someone tells me about high prolactin, I make sure to be accompanied by a doctor to understand the cause and the possible consequences (and I have the dosage checked again later);
- I remember that it is always possible to optimize things (cycle, lifestyle, diet) with appropriate follow-up.
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