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Hormones are tiny chemical messengers that travel through your bloodstream like little delivery trucks. Each one carries a special message to different parts of your body, like “Grow!” “Release an egg!” or “Chill out, it's bedtime.”
Think of them like puzzle pieces—they fit into matching “locks” (called receptors) on organs or tissues and trigger reactions. Hormones control all kinds of important stuff:
Sleep 😴
Energy ⚡
Mood 😡😊
Hunger and thirst 🍔💧
Fat storage 🍟
Sex drive 😳
...and so much more.
Keeping your hormones balanced is important for your health, but it’s not always easy. Hormone levels can shift because of stress, puberty, periods, illness, or even just growing up. And sometimes, things get a little out of whack.
A lot of "wellness" influencers try to tell you that all of your hormone issues are your fault and to take their supplements, but sometimes hormone shifts are natural and part of life and getting older. It's important to learn about hormones so you can understand if your hormone changes are natural or if there could be another problem.
Let’s meet the hormone squad that’s running the show behind the scenes:
Estrogen: The superstar of the female reproductive system.
Mostly made in the ovaries
Helps with the menstrual cycle, breast development, and keeping bones strong
Also protects your heart, brain, and vagina (yes, she does it all!)
Found in all bodies, but higher in people assigned female at birth
Progesterone: Estrogen’s hormonal bestie (and sometimes frenemy).
Helps prep your uterus for a possible pregnancy
Balances out estrogen like a hormonal see-saw
Rises after ovulation each month
Also used in some forms of birth control (called progestin when made synthetically)
Luteinizing Hormone (LH): The hormone that hits the "GO!" button.
Made in the pituitary gland (a tiny boss in your brain)
LH causes ovulation (that’s when an egg is released)
Helps regulate other hormones like progesterone too
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): FSH = follicle grower, period helper.
Also made in the pituitary gland
Helps grow follicles in the ovaries (little sacs that hold eggs)
Follicles make estrogen and help your menstrual cycle stay on track
Testosterone: Yup—everyone has some!
Higher levels in males, but still important in females
Helps with sex drive, bone strength, focus, and mood
Too much testosterone in females can cause things like extra hair, acne, or irregular periods
DHEA: The unsung hero hormone.
Full name: Dehydroepiandrosterone (say that five times fast!)
Made mostly in your adrenal glands (on top of your kidneys)
Helps regulate estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone
Supports your immune system, helps fight stress, and drops off as you get older
Thyroid Hormones: Tiny gland, big energy vibes.
Made by your thyroid gland (in your neck)
Control your metabolism (how your body uses energy)
Can be thrown off by hormone shifts, especially estrogen
When thyroid hormones are off, you may feel tired, jittery, cold, sweaty, or just “off”
Let’s be real—your body is like a full-time group chat of hormones constantly texting each other. And sometimes… things get messy. Hormone imbalances can cause mood swings, acne, irregular periods, tiredness, hair changes, and weight changes.
And even though imbalances are common, it doesn’t make them less frustrating. Some can work themselves out naturally, especially during puberty. Remember, during puberty, it is natural to feel all of these things because your body is trying to create the next phase of your life, but it needs a little practice. Please do not think you are automatically "broken." If you want to support your body better, the best things you can do include:
Better sleep
Balanced nutrition
Regular exercise
Talking to a trusted doctor or licensed medical professional
Your hormones will shift throughout your whole life, during puberty, periods, pregnancy (if you choose that path), stress, and aging. The key is to listen to your body, take care of yourself, and get help when something feels off.
You’re not expected to memorize all of these hormones, but knowing how powerful your hormones are gives you the tools to advocate for your health.
| 🧪 Hormone | 💬 Nickname | 📍 Made In | 💥 What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estrogen | "The Organizer" | Ovaries | Builds up the uterus lining, controls periods, supports bones and heart, boosts mood |
| Progesterone | "The Balancer" | Ovaries | Prepares the body for pregnancy, calms the cycle after ovulation, balances estrogen |
| LH (Luteinizing Hormone) | "The Egg Launcher" | Pituitary Gland | Triggers ovulation (egg release), helps control progesterone levels |
| FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) | "The Follicle Grower" | Pituitary Gland | Helps eggs mature, supports estrogen production, keeps the cycle going |
| Testosterone | "The Power Player" | Ovaries (small amounts) | Supports sex drive, muscle strength, and bone health; too much can cause acne or extra hair |
| DHEA | "The Hormone Helper" | Adrenal Glands | Supports hormone balance, immune system, and stress response; drops with age |
| Thyroid Hormones | "The Energy Manager" | Thyroid Gland | Controls how fast your body uses energy; helps with mood, sleep, and metabolism |
✅ Fact: Hormones do so much more. They help control your mood, sleep, energy, hunger, immune system, memory, and even your body temperature. Hormones are working behind the scenes 24/7. Puberty is just one chapter.
✅ Fact: Everyone has both! Girls just tend to have more estrogen, and boys have more testosterone. But both hormones play important roles in all bodies.
✅ Fact: Hormones matter your entire life. They affect your mental health, reproductive health, aging, bone strength, and metabolism. You never outgrow them; they just change over time.
✅ Fact: Hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol can cause emotional ups and downs, especially during puberty or menstruation. It’s a real chemical reaction—not just “being dramatic.”
✅ Fact: While sleep is important, thyroid hormone imbalances, low DHEA, or other hormone shifts can mess with your energy—even if you’re sleeping enough.
✅ Fact: Teens can absolutely have hormone imbalances, especially with things like irregular periods, acne, or mood changes. Puberty is a time of major hormonal shifts so you might notice these things, and that can be normal. But if they continue for many months, that could be a sign to talk to a doctor.
✅ Fact: Some people need hormone therapy (like thyroid meds or birth control hormones) to feel better. These treatments are usually safe when prescribed by a doctor and monitored correctly.
✅ Fact: Hormone levels fluctuate naturally. Many imbalances are temporary and can get better with rest, nutrition, stress reduction, or medical care. Bodies are good at adjusting!
✅ Fact: Hormones are biological, not mental. You can support them with healthy habits, but you can’t force them to change with attitude or mindset alone.
✅ Fact: Nope. Hormones shift because of things like puberty, genetics, stress, health conditions, or just life. It’s not your fault—and you’re not alone.
Answer: The vulva is what you see on the outside—like the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening. The vagina is the inside part—the muscular canal that connects to the cervix and uterus. Most people say “vagina” when they really mean “vulva,” but now you know the difference!
Answer: Totally normal! Pubic hair is a natural part of puberty. It helps protect the sensitive skin of your vulva from bacteria and irritation. Whether you keep it or remove it is your personal choice.
Answer: It’s totally normal! Hormones like estrogen can change the color and texture of the vulva during puberty. It’s kind of like how your underarms or nipples might get darker too—just your body growing up.
Answer: That line is called the raphe—a natural line or ridge that forms where different tissues fused together before birth. Everyone has them in various places on their body, and it’s nothing to worry about.
Answer: The clitoris is built for pleasure. That’s its only job. It has more nerve endings than any other part of your body. It’s one of the only organs in any body designed purely to feel good.
Answer: Yes—every vulva has a natural scent. It may change slightly with your cycle, exercise, or diet. A strong, fishy, or sour smell might mean something’s off (like an infection), but a mild scent is totally normal.
Pro tip: Skip scented soaps or douches—they can mess with your natural balance and sometimes make things more itchy and worse.
Answer: The labia help protect the vaginal and urethral openings from dirt, germs, and friction. They’re like soft shields! The outer labia also cushion the area, especially during physical activity or while sitting.
Answer: Yes! Vaginal discharge is a normal part of keeping your body clean. It can change during your cycle—sometimes clear, sometimes white, sometimes stretchy. It’s your body’s way of staying healthy.
Answer: Lots of things can cause this—tight clothes, scented soaps, or even too much friction. It usually isn’t serious, but if the itching doesn’t stop, it’s a good idea to talk to a trusted person like a doctor.
Answer: Your body will usually tell you. Things like pain, itching, burning, weird smells, or discharge that looks chunky, green, or gray might mean something’s off. It’s okay to ask a doctor or nurse—they’ve seen it all and are there to help.
Answer: Absolutely. A lot of images online are edited or only show one type of body. Real vulvas vary a lot—and there’s no one way they “should” look.
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