Hormones are chemical messengers that send signals to the body’s organs and tissues. They play a role in growth and development, metabolism, sexual function, reproduction, mood, and sleep. A hormone specialist is a doctor who studies hormones and how they are affecting the body’s natural functions. Hormone specialists treat both men and women for hormone-related conditions such as low testosterone, thyroid hormone replacement, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Hormonal imbalances can cause changes in the cells or the whole body. Laboratory tests, such as a blood or urine sample, can detect if hormones are too high or too low.
Here is an overview of how hormones function in the body.
Growth And Development
The pituitary gland is responsible for secreting growth hormone, a hormone responsible for growth and development. It stimulates protein production and affects fat distribution. The hypothalamus is a gland that controls growth hormone release in the pituitary gland. Issues with the pituitary and hypothalamus can be responsible for growth delays.
Metabolism
The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormone, the main hormone responsible for energy metabolism. A hormone specialist can help manage an underactive or overactive thyroid. An underactive thyroid, called hypothyroidism, occurs when the body doesn’t create enough thyroid hormone. An overactive thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, happens when the body secretes too much thyroid hormone.
Sexual Function
The ovaries in females and testes in males are responsible for sexual function and development. The ovaries secrete estrogen, the main hormone responsible for uterine and breast development. The testes, or testicles, secrete testosterone, the hormone affecting male sexual characteristics. A hormone specialist can help men and women with underactive levels of sex hormones.
Reproduction
The ovaries secrete another hormone called progesterone, which is responsible for lining the uterus for fertilization and preparing the breasts for milk production. The pituitary gland releases oxytocin, which stimulates contraction of the uterus during labor and birth and the milk ducts during lactation. The pituitary also secretes prolactin, which initiates and maintains milk production in the breasts.
Mood
Sex hormones, in addition to their role in sexual development, also play a role in mood control. Estrogen plays a role in all areas of the body, including the brain, and can influence the body’s endorphins, or “feel-good” chemicals in the brain. Estrogen is also responsible for the mood swings that sometimes occur with premenstrual syndrome. Similarly, too much or too little testosterone in men can cause mood swings, irritability, or impaired judgment.
Sleep
The pineal gland is the major gland responsible for secreting melatonin, which is released during nighttime hours to help with sleep. Too much or too little melatonin can affect how much sleep you get each night. Too little sleep can affect your body’s stress hormone, called cortisol, by causing it to increase.
Hormone Specialist In Kennesaw, Georgia
