🔑 What Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers made by glands such as the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, testes, and pancreas. They travel through the blood and tell cells and organs what to do. Together they help regulate energy, mood, sleep, growth, metabolism, stress response, and reproductive health.

Hormones work as a team. When one changes, others can change too, which is why we usually look at the whole picture instead of a single number.

🧪 The Main Hormone Families

• Steroid hormones are made from cholesterol. This family includes pregnenolone, DHEA, cortisol, estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone.
• Thyroid hormones control metabolism and affect energy, temperature, weight, mood, and more.
• Metabolic hormones, such as insulin, help manage blood sugar and how your body uses and stores energy.
• Pituitary signaling hormones, such as TSH, FSH, and LH, are messages from the brain that tell other glands how much to make.

🔍 Why We Look at Each One

Which hormones your provider checks depends on your symptoms, age, history, and goals. Here are some of the ones you may hear about, why they matter, and symptoms that may be linked to changes in each. Symptoms can have many causes, so they are not a diagnosis.

Pregnenolone

Often called the “parent” steroid hormone, because the body makes it from cholesterol and then uses it to build other steroid hormones such as DHEA, progesterone, and cortisol. It is also made in the brain. We may look at it to understand the starting point of your steroid hormone pathway. You may hear about “pregnenolone steal,” the idea that stress pulls resources away from sex hormones. This is a popular theory but is not proven, and research on pregnenolone supplements is limited. There is no clear, well-defined set of symptoms for pregnenolone on its own.

Cortisol

Your main stress hormone, made by the adrenal glands. It follows a daily rhythm, usually higher in the morning and lower at night, and helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, inflammation, and alertness. We look at it when people have ongoing fatigue, trouble sleeping, or symptoms that suggest stress is affecting the body. Timing matters a lot, so your provider may use several samples across the day. Cortisol that is very high or very low can signal medical conditions that need evaluation. “Adrenal fatigue” is not a recognized medical diagnosis. Symptoms that may be linked: when higher than normal over time, weight gain around the middle, easy bruising, high blood pressure, mood changes, and trouble sleeping. When lower than normal, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure, and nausea. These can signal medical conditions, so please see your provider.

DHEA and DHEA-S

Made mostly by the adrenal glands, DHEA is a building block for sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. Levels are highest in early adulthood and decline with age. We look at it as part of the bigger adrenal and sex hormone picture. DHEA supplements can cause side effects such as acne or hair growth, so they should be used only with provider guidance. Symptoms that may be linked: lower levels may go along with low energy, low libido, and vaginal dryness. Higher levels may go along with acne, extra facial or body hair, and irregular periods.

Estrogens (Estradiol, Estrone, Estriol)

Estradiol is the main estrogen during the reproductive years. Estrogens affect the menstrual cycle, bone, skin, brain, and heart health. We look at them when someone has cycle changes, hot flashes, sleep trouble, vaginal dryness, or other symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. We also look at them in men, where small amounts matter too. Symptoms that may be linked: lower levels may cause hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and brain fog. Higher levels may cause breast tenderness, bloating, heavy periods, and mood swings.

Progesterone

Helps regulate the menstrual cycle, supports pregnancy, and has a calming effect on many people. It also protects the lining of the uterus for those taking estrogen who still have a uterus. We look at it when cycles, sleep, or mood are changing. Symptoms that may be linked: lower levels may go along with irregular or heavy periods, trouble sleeping, anxiety or irritability, and worse PMS.

Testosterone and SHBG

Testosterone supports muscle, bone, energy, mood, and libido in both men and women. SHBG is a protein that binds to sex hormones and affects how much is “free” and available to your body. Looking at total testosterone, free testosterone, and SHBG together gives a clearer picture than any one number. Symptoms that may be linked: lower testosterone may cause low libido, tiredness, less muscle strength, and mood changes, plus changes in erections in men. Higher testosterone in women may cause acne, extra facial or body hair, and irregular periods. SHBG alone does not cause symptoms.

FSH and LH

These pituitary hormones tell the ovaries or testes what to do. We look at them to help tell where a hormone change is coming from, such as the menopause transition or a possible problem with the signal from the brain. These are not usually felt directly. The symptoms people notice are the ones tied to the hormones they control, such as irregular periods, hot flashes, or low libido.

Thyroid: TSH, Free T4, Free T3

TSH is the brain’s signal to the thyroid, and T4 and T3 are the thyroid hormones themselves. The thyroid affects energy, temperature, weight, heart rate, mood, and digestion. We look at it when people have tiredness, weight changes, hair or skin changes, or cold or heat intolerance, because thyroid symptoms can overlap with many other conditions. Your provider may also check thyroid antibodies. Symptoms that may be linked: an underactive thyroid may cause tiredness, feeling cold, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, hair thinning, and low mood. An overactive thyroid may cause a fast heartbeat, anxiety, weight loss, feeling hot, shakiness, and trouble sleeping.

Insulin, Glucose, and A1c

Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into cells. We look at these markers because blood sugar and insulin affect energy, weight, hormones, and long-term health, including conditions like prediabetes, diabetes, and PCOS. Symptoms that may be linked: high blood sugar may cause increased thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, and blurry vision. Low blood sugar may cause shakiness, sweating, hunger, and irritability.

💬 Final Thoughts

Hormones are one part of your overall health, along with sleep, nutrition, stress, movement, and medical conditions. Knowing what each one does helps you ask better questions and make informed choices with your care team.

If you have questions about your own results or symptoms, let us know. We are glad to walk you through them.

To your health and well-being,
Your Lowcountry Wellness Team