How Stress Affects Your Hormones

The two main sex hormones in women are estrogen and progesterone (and testosterone to a lesser degree). It is very common for me in clinic to see the symptoms of an imbalance in these two hormones. I wanted to discuss some common symptoms experienced when progesterone levels are low, and explain how chronic stress can play a significant role in the decline of these levels.

Progesterone is made from pregnenolone, which is made from cholesterol. The production of progesterone occurs mostly in the ovaries just prior to ovulation and increases significantly after ovulation. It is also produced in the adrenal glands, which are endocrine glands found above the kidneys. The adrenal glands also produce adrenaline, aldosterone and cortisol, which all function to support mineral balance, glucose metabolism and the stress response.

Hormonal pathways are rather complex. Progesterone plays an important role in the pathway of hormone synthesis, being a precursor to DHEA, oestrogen, testosterone and cortisol. As pregnanolone is a primary precursor hormone, the body needs to decide whether it needs to make sex hormones like progesterone, or stress hormones such as cortisol.

This process is known as ‘progesterone steal’. During times of stress, our bodies will use pregnanolone to make cortisol instead of progesterone. This stress response may be triggered by work, a traumatic event, a lack of adequate sleep and rest and regularly over-exercising. This can lead to a whole range of symptoms and can affect your menstrual cycle and fertility in a range of different ways.

Progesterone is a vital hormone for bone strength and a healthy immune, nervous and cardiovascular system. Most significantly, it functions to cause the endometrium to secrete certain proteins during the second half of the menstrual cycle (Luteal Phase), preparing it to receive and support the growth of an implanted fertilised egg.

If progesterone levels are too low at this stage of growth, there is the potential that the fertilised egg will be unable to hold. This may then lead to an early miscarriage. After 12 weeks the placenta start making progesterone, but if the levels remain low before this time then the women may not be able to sustain the pregnancy.

Other progesterone deficiency symptoms may include low libido, headaches and migraines, hot flushes, abnormal uterine bleeding and irregular or shorter cycles. Often, when progesterone is deficient, the ratio between oestrogen and progesterone then becomes imbalanced, termed ‘oestrogen dominance’. Common symptoms of this include weight gain, low libido, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, breast tenderness and cystic breasts, heavy bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles and mood imbalances and depression.

There are a number of dietary and lifestyle influences that effect oestrogen and progesterone levels, with chronic stress playing a major role in these hormonal imbalances. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms during your menstrual cycle or are having problems falling or staying pregnant, I recommend that you book an appointment to come and see me. We can take a thorough look into your presenting symptoms and come up with a real strategy to begin addressing them. Coming up with some practical ways to reduce and manage your stress levels is a really important place for you to start today.