Brain Hormones Can Pop Out a Pimple and Mess with Your Period

Most women have heard of the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone, and that they are controlled by the pituitary gland hormones LH and FSH. Few women really know that it’s a higher brain center hormone, from the hypothalamus that secretes GNRH, or Gonadotropin releasing hormone to control LH and FSH. The secretion of these hormones is literally how stress and worry can affect your cycles!

We understand a lot about these higher brain center hormones, but they are produced in small amounts, released into a network of fine blood vessels in the inner brain, and are released in very short bursts called pulses. It makes these levels hard to study, which is why we mainly look at blood levels of the hormones they trigger, rather than the absolute levels of these brain hormones.

The hypothalamus in the brain controls the thyroid, the adrenal gland and the release of growth hormone.

The Adrenal gland control center for production of ACTH is called CRH or cortioctropin-releasing hormone.

Thyroid gland control is controlled in the brain center of the hypothalamus with the production of TRH or thyrotropin releasing hormone.

At Women’s Health Practice we can help you understand the interaction of these hormones. Through lifestyle changes, use of supplements, and hormone optimization, you can avoid the consequences of the disruption of your brain hormones and be your healthiest self. With or without pimples!