Gonads: The Structure Makers (Part 2)
Inclusivity: My intention is for this article to be inclusive of all people who want to learn more about how hormones support their bodies. While I use the words men and women or male and female, as you read, please insert the words that you relate to. I appreciate your patience and curiosity despite any language shortcomings.
Welcome back to Part 2 of "Gonads: The Structure Makers." Last week, we explored how testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone impact the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, and how these hormones are integral to your overall health—not just your reproductive system.
Today, we’ll dive into the lesser-known ways these hormones support other critical systems in the body, including the nervous, immune, and digestive systems. By the end of this series, you'll see why gonadal hormones are just as crucial as insulin or thyroid hormones in maintaining optimal health. Let's continue the journey!
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Estrogen protect, connects, and nurtures; progesterone calms, repairs, and helps us rest; testosterone problem-solves, motivates and protects.
ESTROGEN – is neuroprotective, meaning it protects neurons (brain cells) from damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation. It also promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and to form new neural connections (learning & memory) by enhancing the connections between nerve cells. Estrogen supports mood regulation as it increases levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin (contentment & well-being) and dopamine (pleasure & motivation).
PROGESTERONE – is the “calming hormone” because of its effects on GABA receptors in the brain it promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. Like estrogen, it is neuroprotective, repairing damaged brain cells and promoting the growth of myelin (the protective coating around our nerve cells). Myelin ensures fast and efficient communication between brain cells. It may even help with recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) through repair promotion and inflammation reduction.
TESTOSTERONE – supports cognitive performance, especially memory attention, and problem solving, as well as spatial awareness, such as navigating environment or gaging dimensions. Like estrogen, it also regulates mood and increases dopamine. Healthy testosterone levels promote feelings of confidence, motivation, and drive. Testosterone is also neuroprotective, and may protect against diseases like Alzheimer’s by reducing the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.
Imbalances in these hormones, such as during menstruation, menopause, or andropause can lead to mood swings, anxiety, cognitive decline, and even increase our risks of neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s. Staying creative, engaging your brain daily, and eating real food can support the health of your brain and mood.
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Estrogen enhances the immune system; testosterone suppresses it; progesterone modulates it.
ESTROGEN – is generally considered immune enhancing, helping the immune system respond to infections. It can be pro- or anti-inflammatory in different cases. Sometimes we need inflammation to mount a quick response, but then we also need to limit an excessive response. This is why women tend to fight infections (like the flu) more effectively than men, but also why they may be more prone to autoimmune conditions.
TESTOSTERONE – is typically considered immunosuppressive. It dampens inflammation, and helps protect men from autoimmune diseases, however, they might have higher rates of infection.
PROGESTERONE – is immune modulating, meaning it can enhance or suppress. It can help down-regulate pro-inflammatory chemicals (cytokines). Meaning it can help dampen excessive immune activity that could damage cells (it’s perhaps protective in autoimmune conditions). During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone make sure the body doesn’t have an immune response against the fetus.
Cortisol and progesterone come from the same upstream chemical: pregnenolone. When under stress, the body prioritize cortisol production, at the expense of progesterone. In chronic stress, this prioritization can lead to lower progesterone levels, which can lead to PMS, autoimmune flares, and even fertility issues. Plus, cortisol is immunosuppressive.
Another reason hormonal balance is key. Together, these hormones create a balanced immune system with estrogen boosting the immune response, testosterone acting as a break, and progesterone acting like the gear shift (if cortisol hasn’t burned out the clutch).
METABOLIC SYSTEM
The gonadal hormones also influence how & where fat is stored in the body.
ESTROGEN – tends to promote fat storage around the hips, thighs, & buttocks. This is actually protective when women go through menopause, as these fat cells start producing estrone to help women go through “the change.” Estrogen also increases the body’s ability to burn fat for fuel (lipolysis).
PROGESTERONE - tends to promote fat storage; especially during the luteal phase of menstruation & during pregnancy. During the luteal phase, progesterone can increase appetite & cravings for high-calorie foods, but may also slightly increase basal (resting) metabolic rate (in hopeful preparation for a pregnancy). Progesterone is a natural diuretic. It counteracts aldosterone (released from the adrenal glands) a hormone that causes sodium retention. This is why during the luteal phase, women can tend to gain weight or feel bloated (when progesterone drops right before menses).
TESTOSTERONE – influences fat distribution by reducing fat storage, especially in visceral fat (around the abdomen). Higher testosterone levels help reduce belly fat, which is a key for reducing metabolic diseases. Because testosterone promotes muscle growth (part 1), it also increases basal metabolic rate. This is one reason why men typically have a faster metabolism, and find it easier to maintain lower body fat compared to women.
Where are fat is stored can impact insulin resistance.
In men, testosterone plays a protective role in metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Low levels of T lead to metabolic dysfunction, fat gain (especially visceral fat), and insulin resistance (potentially type 2 diabetes).
In women, estrogen helps with insulin sensitivity, but in conditions like PCOS, high testosterone disrupts this. Elevated testosterone causes insulin resistance, which leads to more testosterone production. This cycle often causes weight gain, which makes insulin resistance and hormone imbalances even worse.
Of note, progesterone can cause mild insulin resistance during the luteal phase, leading to increased appetite and carb cravings. This effect is typically temporary and mild but can become more significant in conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
THE ESTROBOLOME
We briefly talked about the microbiome, another aspect of it is the estrobolome: the collection of gut bacteria that play a role in metabolizing and regulating estrogen levels. The estrobolome produces enzymes, particularly β-glucuronidase, which regulate estrogens that have been processed by the liver. Once estrogen is conjugated (inactivated) by the liver and sent to the gut via bile (from the gallbladder), the estrobolome can either: reactivate estrogen, allowing it to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream, or excrete estrogen through stool, thus reducing circulating estrogen levels.
A balanced gut microbiome is essential for maintaining the right amount of estrogen reabsorption vs. excretion. If the estrobolome becomes imbalanced (dysbiosis), it can lead to excess estrogen reabsorption, contributing to estrogen dominance, which is linked to conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and even hormone-sensitive cancers (e.g., breast cancer). And too little reabsorption can lead to estrogen deficiency.
There’s actually quite a bit of role overlap in this system as well. They all manage with motility, permeability, and inflammation.
ESTROGEN – affects how quickly food moves through the digestive tract. Higher estrogen levels, like during pregnancy or certain menstrual phases, can slow down digestion, causing constipation. Lower estrogen levels, such as after menopause, can speed up digestion, leading to looser stools or diarrhea. Estrogen also helps protect the gut lining, reducing the risk of leaky gut, and supports a healthy gut microbiome by promoting good bacteria. When estrogen levels drop, like during menopause, it can disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to digestive issues and possibly metabolic problems.
PROGESTERONE - relaxes smooth muscles, including those in the digestive tract, which can slow digestion and cause constipation. This is especially common during the luteal phase and pregnancy, when progesterone levels are high. It also has anti-inflammatory effects that can benefit the gut by reducing inflammation and helping protect against disorders like IBD or colitis.
TESTOSTERONE – like estrogen, helps maintain gut balance by promoting beneficial bacteria. Low testosterone can cause an imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis). It also has anti-inflammatory effects like progesterone and supports muscle strength, including the muscles in the digestive tract. Low testosterone can lead to weaker muscle contractions, which may slow digestion and cause constipation, though not as strongly as progesterone.
I hope I’ve thoroughly convinced you that your gonadal hormones do more than make you look more masculine or feminine. They’re integral to every aspect of our lives. Because we have so many endocrine interruptors in our modern world, it’s more important than ever to support the balance of these (and all) of your hormones. Eat real food, move your body daily, drink water, and hydrate. It really does make a difference.
PITUITARY GLAND: THE REGULATOR
THYROID GLAND: THE METABOLISM MANAGER
ADRENAL GLANDS: THE STRESS RESPONDER
PANCREAS (REVISITED): THE SUGAR REGULATOR
GONADS: THE MIRACLE & STRUCTURAL MAKERS
PINEAL GLAND: THE SLEEPER & HEALER
