Apr2015_GET TO KNOW YOUR HEALTH: Sex Hormones

Sex Hormones

Its hypothesised, that due to the internet, Gen Y, smart phones and the general speed of life, our attention spans are getting shorter.  On that note,  we are about to embark on a topic that could take 5 months to cover, which places how successful this topic is, squarely on all of your attention spans!  However, to offset this, it does include attention grabbing buzz words like SEX, SEXual desire and SEX related ERECTILE dysfunction! (that’s right…I said it)  But seriously, lets talk more about  hormones, specifically SEX hormones.

SEX hormones are steroids (fat soluble compounds) that control sexual maturity and reproduction.  They actually include a whole host of different compounds, which fall into several major categories; Oestrogens (E1, E2, E3), Progesterone and Androgens (Testosterone, DHEA, DHT, Adiol, AE, AN).  Lastly, the odd one out of this bunch is Oxytocin, as its not a steroid but a peptide (amino acid group).  Often overlooked, oxytocin is an integral part of our reproductive system.  

Trust me when I say if I want to keep you conscious, I will skip over the biochemical process except to include the graphic which in VERY simple terms shows this process which starts with that little devil called cholesterol.  Among other reasons, this is why there is a lower limit to what medicine deems ideal for your cholesterol levels, because without some cholesterol in the blood for our SEX hormones to be made, to put it simply we go a bit “funky”…All SEX hormones are made within both men and women, it’s just the amounts produced that vary massively.  Women primarily produce theirs in the ovum, and men, in their testis.  Testosterone and oestrogen were thought for many years to be gender specific however they both play important roles in everyone.  The interplay between these hormones is where it get really confusing/interesting.  It is the ebb and flow of these compounds in relation to each other, that has overarching responsibility for our entire SEXual and reproductive life.  But they also affect weight, blood sugar, clotting, kidneys, muscle mass and fat stores, cancer, bones and last but not least, they (oxytocin included)  exert total control over our SEXual desire.

Well that’s all we have time for folks, remember to tune in next month for the top 10 ways to tell you’ve got low oestrogen (No.6 – Everyone’s head looks like an invitation to batting practice) Until then, if you want more information, as always just drop into the pharmacy for a chat or visit your local health care practitioner.

Written by Andrew Harvey

Dayboro Pharmacy, Phone 3425 1435, 

Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.30pm    Sat 8.30am – 12.30pm