Hormones play a vital role in a woman’s overall health, influencing everything from metabolism and mood to reproductive function and muscle mass. Understanding what constitutes normal hormone levels can help women identify imbalances that may be affecting their well-being.
Estrogen
In premenopausal women, estradiol is the main type of estrogen in their bodies. It ranges from 30-400 pg/mL or picograms per milliliter. A premenopausal female is between her first period and the time right before she enters perimenopause.
Ovarian follicles produce a form of estrogen called estradiol. Estradiol is the hormone that allows female characteristics to develop during puberty. It also participates in a woman’s sexual functioning and ensures that her bones and cardiovascular system are healthy.
In postmenopausal women, estrone is the main form of estrogen, and it is less than 30 pg/mL or picograms per milliliter.
Throughout a woman’s life, estrogen levels rise and fall. Estrogen increases considerably during puberty when it is needed to help the girl develop into a mature woman. At this time, estradiol helps her body appear more feminine with breasts and widening hips.
Estradiol levels also rise during the menstrual cycle. They increase when the body pops out an egg in a process known as ovulation and decrease after this occurs when the uterus sheds its blood. During perimenopause and throughout menopause, estrogen levels decrease again.
Functions of Estrogen
Regulates Reproductive Health
Along with regulating the menstrual cycle, estrogen also guides the female reproductive process. It stimulates the ovaries so that egg follicles can begin to grow. It also ensures that the vaginal walls are sufficiently thick and lubricated.
Estrogen keeps the mucous membrane in the uterus at a sustainable level and regulates uterine secretions so that they flow well and are sufficiently thick. Estrogen also stops the milk from flowing from a woman’s breast when it is time to do so.
Supports Skin, Nail, and Hair Health
Estrogen is the reason that the skin remains hydrated and plump, but when estrogen drops, so do the molecules that retain the skin’s moisture. Estrogen is also the reason that a woman’s hair is full and growing, so less estrogen leads the hair to become thinner. Estrogen also produces keratin, a protein that causes nails to be strong and hard. With less keratin, nails crack and split more easily.
Affects Mood and Cognition
Scientists believe that estrogen has anti-depressant effects on women. In addition to that, estrogens are involved in a woman’s fine motor skills, spatial ability, and verbal memory.
Progesterone
Follicular Phase – 0.1 – 0.89 ng/mL
Luteal Phase – 1.8 – 24 ng/mL
Functions
Prepares the Uterus for Pregnancy
After ovulation, progesterone levels rise. This causes the lining of the uterus to grow thick enough to sustain a fertilized egg. The levels remain high so that the uterus does not contract during pregnancy.
Regulates Menstrual Cycles
Progesterone regulates the menstrual cycle by helping the lining of the uterus to grow. Its levels drop if a fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus.
Supports Mood and Sleep
Progesterone causes the body to produce more GABA, a neurotransmitter that enhances sleep and promotes feelings of well-being.
Human Growth Hormone or HGH
This hormone ranges from 1 – 14 ng/mL throughout the day.
Functions
Supports Metabolism and Fat Burning
Lipolysis is a metabolic process in which fat cells are broken down into fatty acids. The body burns these fatty acids as a source of energy.
Promotes Muscle Growth and Bone Strength
After adults diagnosed with HGH deficiency receive HGH, they have increased bone strength with fewer fractures and increased muscle mass that allows them to engage in exercise for longer periods with more energy.
Aids in Skin Repair and Elasticity
HGH increases the production of collagen, which is responsible for wound healing and for keeping skin elastic.
Testosterone
Total testosterone is attached to other substances, so it does not work alone. Normal levels of total testosterone are between 15 and 70 ng/dL.
Free testosterone is testosterone that is not attached to any other substance, so it is free to do what it needs to do. Normal levels of free testosterone are between 0.3 and 1.9 ng/dL. This type of testosterone gets into the cells and has the most effects.
Testosterone is as important to a woman’s health as it is to a man’s health. The adrenal gland and the ovaries produce testosterone, which contributes to bone strength and the functioning of the ovaries. It may also contribute to maintaining a normal libido.
Functions
Supports Bone Density and Muscle Mass
Testosterone promotes bone formation and the production of proteins.
Affects Libido and Energy Levels
Testosterone plays a very important role in maintaining the sex drive. Testosterone also stimulates the body to produce red blood cells. Red blood cells are the entities that take oxygen to the body’s organs and muscles, and this increase in oxygenation helps improve your energy levels.
Plays a Role in Cognitive Function
Scientists believe that testosterone protects the nerve cells from inflammation, prevents nerve damage, promotes the regrowth of nerve cells after they receive damage, and delays the death of nerve cells. Human beings are known to experience cognitive decline as they grow older.
Understanding the normal levels of estrogen, progesterone, human growth hormone, total testosterone, and free testosterone in females can help identify potential imbalances and help you seek the appropriate medical guidance for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
