“I feel like I’m on a runaway train of menopause and I can’t get a grip or back in control.
All the doctors say I’m normal and my bloods are normal, but I don’t feel right.
Just make it stop.
I want to feel like my old self again.”
We hear this quite a bit.
If you’ve been reading our articles or watching our webcasts, you’ve come to hear us speak about the HPA Axis.
Today, we want to introduce you the Neuroendocrine System and HPG Axis.
We’re going to hopefully help you identify the WHAT & WHY – by sharing a visual diagram with a point by point explanation and symptom connection.
Figuratively speaking, the Neuroendocrine System communicates up from the ovaries and down from the brain via hormones on the HPG Axis.
HPG Axis
H – Hypothalamus Gland
P – Pituitary Gland, and
G = Ovaries. Ovaries are also know as Gonads, hence the “G”.
The HPG recalibration is a normal and part of peri and post menopause.
The symptoms you experience are what makes it not normal.
The Neuroendocrine System, I feel also really helps explain Thyropause. One may even say that the onset for Thyropause is because of the dysruption in the hormones going from the pituitary gland telling the ovaries and thyroid what to do. OR from the ovaries slowly releasing less menstrual hormones.
You can gain control and stop symptoms, by addressing the symptoms coming from the NeuroEndocrine System.
So let’s get explain the Neuroendocrine System and HPG Axis and what its means to you:
1. Hypothalamus Gland:
The Switch (also the H in HPG Axis)
The Hypothalamus gland is a big deal because it stimulates the pituitary gland to make hormones. It monitors the entire nervous system and flags the pituitary gland when there is something to pay attention to.
2. Pituitary Gland:
The Manipulator (also the P in HPG Axis)
The Pituitary gland makes hormones that regulate the activity of all the other glands, the ovaries included.
It makes & is involved in several important hormones:
- TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone, needed to release T4 and T3
- LH & FSH, to prompt ovulation
- Oxytocin, the love and feel good hormone
- Growth hormones
3. Pineal Gland:
Sleep Well & Feel Balanced
This gland received and conveys information about the light and dark cycle and secretes the hormone melatonin. It plays a big part in helping us sleep at night.
The pineal gland plays a big part in our spiritual connections. It can be seen in studies highly stimulated by prayer, hypnotherapy, sun light, yoga, and meditation.
Common Symptoms to blame for the Pineal Gland responding to the HPG Axis as oestradiol decreases:
- Trouble Sleeping
- Depression or Sadness, especially after the lowering of oestrogen
If you ever wondered why brain fog, memory loss, or forgetfulness are connected to menopause or peri-menopause, these three glands explain quite a bit.
Both the Hypothalamus and Pituitary Glands are in constant communication with the Ovaries. There’s been studies showing the communication lines between ovaries and the brain and it looks like a map out of Heathrow Airport. Even after menopause.
4. Thyroid Gland:
The Super Influencer
We talk about the thyroid a lot.
The thyroid, as it pertains to the Neuroendocrine System is important component for regulating body temperature/circulation and metabolism.
Attached to the thyroid are four parathyroid glands. These tiny glands attend to calcium regulation.
The thyroid gland produces two hormones:T3 and T4, which convert into Active Free T3, which touches every cell in the body.
Common Symptoms to blame for the Thyroid Gland responding to the HPG Axis as oestradoil decreases:
- Hot flushes, night sweats, cold hands, cold feet.
- Weight Gain
- Fluid Retention
- Changes in Bone Density
- Fatigue and/or Low Energy
- Low Motivation
- Low Libido
- Hair Loss
- Fluid Retention
- Mood Changes
- Rapid Aging
5. Thymus Gland:
Immune System Regulator
The thymus gland is something we’re going to start to talk much deeper about in the coming weeks. Especially as it pertains to autoimmune conditions, histamines, and a lowering immune responses with aging. I’m really fascinated with why the thymus gland is so important during menopause and after menopause.
The thymus gland produces white blood cells to fight blood cells and give abnormal cells the boot.
Common Symptoms connected to the Thymus Gland responding to the HPG Axis as oestradoil decreases:
- Autoimmune Diagnosis
- Low Immune Function / Getting Sick all the time
- Food Reactions
- Histamine Reactions
- Skin Conditions
6. Pancreas:
Heart, Weight & Digestive Disruptor
This organ-gland complex acts as a liaison between the hormonal and the digestive systems. The pancreas produces enzymes to assist digestion while also making two essential hormones to control the amount of sugar in the blood sugar, like the famous insulin.
Common Symptoms to blame for the Pancreas responding to the HPG Axis as oestradoil decreases:
- Insulin Resistance
- Stubborn Weight Gain that won’t shift
- Cardiovascular changes, like increased cholesterol and/or changes in blood pressure
- Digestive problems like diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, reflux, indigestion
- Poor digestion
- Insatiable Hunger – feel hungry all the time
We keep an eye on the pancreas regularly, well after menopause. Because oestrogen continues to decrease after 60, just not as dramatically like 50-59 years of age.
7. Adrenal glands:
Shaking Things Up, can be a Bully
The adrenal glands produce hormones involved in regulating your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, and stress response. These glands are responsible for cortisol and adrenaline, responsible for fight or flight responses, but can also give you burnout.
The Adrenal system works in conjunction with the entire body.
Your adrenals become sensitive early on, during the the lowering of progesterone in your forties. This is a because progesterone is a calming hormone. Cortisol is the first to notice there is less of that and step in.
For instance, these mighty glands communicate with your pineal gland and nervous system to let you know that something is going on and this is a common cause for the poor sleep.
Virtually every symptom could be blamed for Cortisol! But the most common over amplified symptoms are:
- Awful Sleep: up every hour, can’t fall back asleep, wired and tired
- Excessive Weight Gain: like +6kg/year consistently from 50 to 57, creating a 30kg weight gain!)
- Anxiety
- Heart Palpitations
- Shakiness
I encourage you to examine your last ten years and see if something big happened to you like a job loss, divorce, a big move, a work place or family dispute that may have caused extra stress during this life change… This is a good starting place to identify if cortisol is making things worse.
8. Ovaries:
The Feminine Empress, but kept in check
In addition to to holding the egg cells necessary for production, the ovaries produce oestrogen and progesterone under the hypothalamus’s supervision. The ovaries also produce testosterone.
Between 40 and 49, your body adjusts to the lowering of progesterone. Between 50 and 67, your body adjusts to the lowering of oestradiol.
If you go into surgical menopause, the HPG Axis and Neuroendocrine System Calibration is accelerated (touched on in our Hysterectomies, Sterilisation & Tubes Tied article).
The HPG Axis is most affected by the changes in the release of progesterone and oestrodiol. Women are made to naturally have a decrease in these hormones. How you respond, as explained in the points above plays a big part into answering whether oestrogen or progesterone are the actual problem for you – or if it’s another part of your Neuroendocrine System.
In some cases, like surgical menopause or certain diagnosed conditions, medical doctors want their patients to go on HRT or oestrodiol and/or progesterone. We always work with your doctor or our doctors to ensure you are getting the best medical support if it’s clear that these hormones are needed. This is what these hormones have been designed for!
Hopefully you can see asking questions and perhaps pin-pointing what is happening for you can help you clarify the best investigation into how you can feel better than your old self again.
When symptoms arise, we began investigating with good annual blood tests (Medicare can provide most of these). We want a comprehensive picture of your metabolic, cardiovascular, bone, blood, and cellular health. And we’ve been trained to look deeper into standard blood work.
We may check for autoimmune markers, especially if we can see the thymus gland is firing.
We may check the digestive system, because typically the pancreas is responding to something under the surface.
We may need to check your genetics to see if you have a methylation problem OR absorption problem that is creating the Neuroendocrine System response at this particular point in your life.
We use functional naturopathic medicine. We test, investigate, build out a specific nutritional protocol, possibly supplementation if it’s needed. With the right kinds of micronutrients that work with your unique body.
If you would like to get a better understanding of how we will work with you, you can watch our webcast “Our Integrative Approach & Treatment Principles” here: https://naturalhormonebalance.co/private-body-quadrant-training/
If you would like to get started today, we offer a Free Introductory Consultation to talk you through how we can support you here: https://calendly.com/nz-naturopathy/intro-consult
Look forward to connecting with you again soon!
I hope you have a lovely Sunday.
Warmly,
Tiaan & Carrie
