Ovaries: secrete sex hormones for use in the reproductive cycle. Pineal gland: produces melatonin to regulate the body clock. Thyroid: regulates heartbeat and how calories are used. Pancreas: produces insulin to help use food as energy. Pituitary: is the “Wizard of Oz” gland, controlling other glands behind the scenes. Hypothalamus: regulates body temperature, hunger, mood, thirst, sleep and libido Which hormones are responsible for what?Įach hormone-producing gland in the body makes a hormone with a very specialized purpose (6). This might explain why some people suffer from premenstrual syndrome (4) or postpartum depression (5), while others aren’t bothered at all by the hormonal changes of menstruation and pregnancy. Some people are more sensitive to hormones than others. Tiny but mighty, our bodies depend on hormones to function. Polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS) (2, 3). Hormonal imbalance can be caused by health conditions. Having too much of a hormone (also known as hyper-function) or not having enough of a hormone (known as hypo-function), can cause problems. When hormones aren’t balanced correctly, an endocrine disorder can be to blame. Your pineal gland works to produce the hormone melatonin to help you get restful sleep at night (1). As you slam on the brakes to avoid a car collision, your adrenal glands pump out the hormone adrenaline (epinephrine) to help you act quickly. When you eat a meal, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin to help regulate blood sugar. What do hormones do in my body?Īll bodies experience hormonal shifts constantly throughout the day. Hormones and hormone receptor sites work together like a lock and a key (1). Hormones flow through the whole body, but only affect certain cells designed to receive their messages.
They tell your body how to breathe and how to expend energy. Hormones are released from glands in your endocrine system. While hormones are essential to reproduction, they are fundamental to all the systems of your body. They help regulate your body’s processes, like hunger, blood pressure, and sexual desire. Hormones are molecules produced by the endocrine system that send messages to various parts of the body. Hormonal imbalance can be caused by conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, and PCOS If you have a menstrual cycle, your reproductive hormones are constantly shifting throughout your cycle-unless you take certain types of hormonal birth control Hormones tell your body how to breathe, grow, drink, and eat Here's everything you need to know about estrogen, progesterone, androgens, progestins, synthetic estrogen, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). So we’ve created a guide to aaaall of the hormones. Hormones are so much more interesting than what we’re taught in health class.
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