Hormones are chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that regulate various body functions, including metabolism, reproduction, and mood. They operate through a lock-and-key mechanism with specific receptors in target organs, and their balance is crucial for health, with imbalances potentially requiring medical intervention. Key glands include the pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, and testes, each producing hormones that affect numerous bodily processes.

1. HORMONES DEFINITION
Hormonesare chemical agents,transmittersamongdifferenttissuesof ourorganism.Hormonesare
producedbythe endocrine glands.Forexample,sex hormonesare producedmainlybyovariesandin
insignificantquantitybyadrenal glands.Hormonespenetrate inthe bloodandmake a targetedorgan
start itsfunctionactivityorstopits work.The bloodcontainsa large quantityof variousbiologically
active agentsat the same time,however,differenthormonesfindtheirtargetedorgans.How itisgoing
on?
There isa unique mode of actionforall hormones,allowingthemtoknow the targetedorgans:
hormonescommunicate withthe specificalbuminousmoleculesinthe tissues,thenpenetrateintocells,
and that meansthe processisstarted.It isinterestingthat eachhormone hasownspecificprotein-
receptor.
So,this systemworksonthe lock-and-keyprinciplewhere the hormonesare keys,andthe receptorsare
locks.It isevidentthatif anyhormonesare not producedinan organism, corresponding“locks”could
not be openedanymore andactivityof thishormone-dependable organwill be decreased.Forexample,
the estrogenreceptors(female sexhormones) are situatedpracticallyinall tissuesandorgans,including
the skinand the brain,thence,whensufficientquantityof estrogensisnotsynthesizednotonlygenitals
organs are changed,but otherbodies.Ovariesare responsiblefornormal functionof the female
reproductive system.
However,ovariesactivityissubordinatedtothe influenceof hypophysishormones, follicle-stimulating
hormones(FSH) andluteinizinghormones.The coordinatedworkof hypophysisandovariesisfulfilled
on the principle of negativefeedback,thatmeansthe low sex hormoneslevel leadstomakingovariesto
produce more hypophyseal hormones(follicle-stimulatingandluteinizinghormoneslevel isincreased).
Consequently,the sufficientestrogenlevel isaccompaniedbydecrease infollicle-stimulatingand
luteinizinghormones.
As we have alreadyknownthatovarianfailure leadstodeficiencyof estrogens,we canassume thatin
menopause level of thesehypophyseal hormoneswill be significantlyincreased.Thisfactforthe doctors
isimportantsince itallowstofindoutthat menstruationstopsbecause of lackof folliclesindicatingat
menopause,orcertaindiseases.We stopourexplanationatthispointbecause we donotstudydiseases
here.
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What Are Hormones,and What Do TheyDo?
Hormones are special chemical messengersinthe bodythatare createdinthe endocrine glands.These
messengerscontrol mostmajorbodilyfunctions,fromsimplebasicneedslike hungertocomplex
systemslike reproduction,andeventhe emotionsandmood.Understandingthe majorhormone
functionswill helppatientstake control of theirhealth.

2. These chemical messengershelporgans,tissues,andcellscommunicate withinthe body.
Hormonesare chemicalsproducedbythe bodytohelpone part of the body communicate with
another,bysendingsignalstocertainorgans,tissues,andcells.
Releaseddirectlyintothe bloodstreambyorgansknownasendocrine glands,hormonescirculate
throughthe bodyuntil theymake contact withtheirtargetareas.
The initial contacta hormone makeswitha cell startsa seriesof importantreactionscarriedoutwithin
that specificcell ortissue.
Some of the activitiesof hormonesinclude:
 Promptingcell ortissue growthanddevelopment
 Helpingwithfoodmetabolism
 Initiatingandmaintainingsexual developmentandreproduction
 Maintainingbodytemperature
 Controllingthirst
 Regulatingmoodandcognitive functioning
Hormonesare extremelypowerful chemicals — verysmall amountscanhave majoreffectsonthe body.
Humans,animals,andplants all produce hormonesthatplayimportantrolesinhelpingthese organisms
functionproperly.
Glandsand Hormones
The following areexamplesof endocrineglandsand someof the hormonesthey produce.
 Pineal gland:Locatednearthe back of the skull,thisglandproducesmelatonininresponseto
darkness,whichencouragessleep.
 Pancreas:Thisorgan playsa major role inregulatingbloodglucoselevelsbyproducingthe
hormonesinsulin,amylin,andglucagon.
 Pituitarygland:Nicknamedthe “mastergland,”this pea-size glandislocatedatthe base of the
brain.
Hormones producedby the pituitary gland include:
Growth hormone (GH),whichinfluencesdevelopmentandcell production
Prolactin,whichstimulatesmilkproductioninbreastfeedingwomenandhaswide-rangingeffectson
behavior,reproduction,andthe immune system
Follicle-stimulatinghormone(FSH),whichregulateseggreleaseinovariesandspermproductionin
testes

3. Luteinizinghormone (LH),whichregulatesthe femalemenstrualcycle andworkswithFSHto produce
sperminmen
Testes:Bestknownforproducingtestosterone(the “male hormone”),the testesactuallyrelease several
differenthormones,includingestrogen(the “femalehormone”).
Testosterone isresponsible forsex driveinmenandwomen,encouragingoil productioninthe skin,
increasingbone mass,andmale characteristicssuchasfacial hair,deepeningof the voice,andthe
developmentof male genitaliaduringpregnancy.
Ovaries:These organsproduce estrogen,whichhelpsregulate reproduction andisresponsible for
characteristicallyfemaletraitssuchas breastdevelopmentandincreasedfatstores.
The ovariesalsoproduce progesterone (the“pregnancyhormone”),whichregulatesboththe menstrual
cycle and the stagesof pregnancy.
Liver:Amongitsmanyfunctions,the liverreleasesinsulin-like growthfactor1 (IGF-1),a hormone
involvedincell growth.
Scientistsare studyinghowIGF-1maybe linkedtocancer andthe agingprocess.
Hormone Imbalances
Age,geneticdisorders,diseases,exposuretoenvironmentaltoxins,andevendisruptionof yourbody’s
natural rhythm(circadianrhythm) can harm the body’sabilitytoproduce hormonesinthe exactamount
needed.
Over- or underproductionof hormonescancause serioushealthproblems.
In these cases,doctorsmayprescribe hormonesorotherdrugsto helpmanage these conditionsand
restore balance toyour body’shormonal levels.
Examplesof hormone-relatedtreatmentsinclude:
Hormone replacementtherapy(HRT) forawomanwhohas eitherenteredorfinishedmenopause
ThyroidreplacementdrugssuchasLevoxyl orSynthroid(levothyroxine) totreatanunderactive thyroid
(hypothyroidism)
Cytomel (liothyronine) tohelpshrinktissue inanoveractive thyroid(hyperthyroidism)
Testosterone injectionsforaman witha greatlydiminishedsex drive,ora geneticsexual disorderlike
Klinefeltersyndrome
Melatoninsupplementstohelpinitiate asleepwhiletravelingacrosstime zones
Zemplar(paricalcitol) tomanage overactive parathyroid(hyperparathyroidism) causedbykidneyfailure

4.  Prostaglandins
 Adrenaline
 Aldosterone
 Calcitonin
 Cortisol
 Erythropoietin
 Glucagon
 Insulin
 Leptin
 Melatonin
 Oxytocin
 Progesterone
 Prolactin
 Prostaglandins
 Testosterone
 Thyroxine
 VitaminD
 Endocrine System
The bestway to answerthe question“whatare hormones?”istotake a lookat some of the major
hormonal systemsinthe body.Hormonesare createdbyglands,whichare part of the endocrine
system.The main hormone-producingglandsare:
Hypothalamus:The hypothalamusisresponsible forbodytemperature,hunger,moodsandthe release
of hormonesfromotherglands;andalsocontrolsthirst,sleepandsex drive.
Parathyroid:Thisglandcontrolsthe amountof calciumin the body.
Thymus:Thisglandplaysa role in the functionof the adaptive immune systemandthe maturityof the
thymus,andproducesT-cells.
Pancreas:Thisglandproducesthe insulinthathelpscontrol bloodsugarlevels.
Thyroid:The thyroidproduceshormonesassociatedwithcalorie burningandheartrate.
Adrenal:Adrenal glandsproduce the hormonesthatcontrol sex drive andcortisol,the stresshormone.
Pituitary:Consideredthe “mastercontrol gland,”the pituitaryglandcontrolsotherglandsandmakes
the hormonesthattriggergrowth.
Pineal:Alsocalledthe thalamus,thisglandproducesserotoninderivativesof melatonin,whichaffects
sleep.

5. Ovaries:Onlyinwomen,the ovariessecrete estrogen,testosteroneandprogesterone,the femalesex
hormones.
Testes:Onlyinmen,the testesproduce the male sex hormone,testosterone,andproduce sperm.
These glandsworktogethertocreate and manage the body’smajorhormones.
Types ofHormones
What do hormonesdo,exactly?The bodyhasmanydifferenthormones,butcertaintypeshave abigger
role to playinthe body’shealthandwell-being.Understandingthese rolesisimportantforthose
lookingtoprotectand manage theirhealth.
For women,estrogen(orestradiol) isthe mainsex hormone.Itcausespuberty,preparesthe bodyand
uterusforpregnancy,and regulatesthe menstrualcycle.Duringmenopause,estrogenlevel changes
cause many of the uncomfortable symptomswomenexperience.
Progesterone issimilartoestrogenbutisnotconsideredthe mainsex hormone.Like estrogen,itassists
withthe menstrual cycle andplaysa role inpregnancy.
Cortisol hasbeencalledthe “stresshormone”because of the wayitassiststhe bodyinrespondingto
stress.Thisisjustone of several functionsof thisimportanthormone.
Melatoninlevelschange throughoutthe day,increasingafterdarktotriggerthe responsesthatcause
sleep.
Testosterone isthe mainsex hormone inmen.Itcausespuberty,increasesbone density,triggersfacial
hair growth,andcausesmuscle massgrowthand strength.
Whentheyare inproperbalance,hormoneshelpthe bodythrive,butsmall problemswithhormones
can cause seriousandlife-alteringsymptoms.If youhave concernsaboutanyof yourhormones,talkto
a qualifiedendocrinologist.

6. Where are theysecretedfrom?
Hormonesare secretedfromthe endocrine glandsinthe body.The glandsare ductless,sohormones
are secreteddirectlyintothe bloodstreamratherthanbyway of ducts. Some of the major endocrine
glandsinthe body include:
 Pituitarygland
 Pineal gland
 Thymus
 Thyroid
 Adrenal glands
 Pancreas
 Testes
 Ovaries
These organssecrete hormone inmicroscopicamountsandittakesonlyverysmall amountstobring
aboutmajor changesinthe body.Evena veryslightexcessof hormone secretioncanleadtodisease
states,as can the slightestdeficiencyinahormone.
Hormonesanddiseases
Hormone disordersare diagnosedinthe laboratoryaswell asbyclinical appearance andfeatures.
Laboratory testscan be usedto testbodilyfluidssuchasthe blood,urine orsalivafor hormone
abnormalities.
In the case of hormone deficiency,asynthetichormone replacementtherapymaybe usedandincases
of excesshormone production,medicationsmaybe usedtocurb the effectsof the hormone.For
example,apersonwithanunderactive thyroidglandorhypothyroidismmaybe treatedwithsynthetic
thyroxine whichcanbe takeninthe form of a pill,while apersonwithanoveractive thyroidmaybe
administeredadrugsuch as propranolol tocounteractthe effectsof the excessthyroidhormone.
ABOUT HORMONE IMBALANCE
How Does My Hormone Cycle Work?
Hormone Imbalance &Hormone Harmony
Hormone imbalance isbestunderstoodbyknowinghow anormal menstrual cycle works.A menstrual
cycle isthe resultof a hormonal dance betweenthe pituitaryglandinthe brainandthe ovaries.Every
monththe female sex hormonespreparethe bodytosupporta pregnancy,andwithoutfertilization
there ismenstruation(aperiod).

7. Menstrual Cycle
A menstrual cycle isdeterminedbythe numberof daysfromthe first dayof one periodtothe firstday
of the next.Soday one of the menstrual cycle isthe firstof full bleedingdayof the period.A typical
cycle isapproximately24to 35 days (average 28 daysfor mostwomen).Itisnot abnormal fora
woman¹scycle tooccasionallybe shorterorlonger.
On Day 1 ofthe menstrual cycle,
estrogenandprogesterone levelsare low.Low levelsof estrogenandprogesterone signal the pituitary
glandto produce Follicle StimulatingHormone (FSH).FSHbeginsthe processof maturingafollicle(fluid-
filledsacinthe ovarycontaininganegg).
The follicle producesmore estrogentoprepare the uterusforpregnancy.Atovulation,usuallyaround
Day 12 – 14, increasedestrogenlevelstriggerasharprise in LuteinizingHormone (LH) fromthe pituitary
gland,causingrelease of the eggfromthe follicle.
The rupturedfollicle (corpusluteum) now secretesprogesteroneandestrogentocontinue toprepare
the uterusfor pregnancy.If the eggis notfertilized,estrogenandprogesterone levelsdropand,onDay
28, the mensesbegin.
The menstrual cycle occursin three phases:follicular,ovulatoryandluteal.The firsthalf of the cycle is
knownas the follicularphase andthe secondhalf of the cycle isconsideredthe luteal phase.Midway
throughthe cycle betweendays12 and 16 ovulationoccurs,knownasthe ovulatoryphase.
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