Whenever I have a skin problem, I don’t rush to change my skincare products.
Instead, the first thing I check is what’s happening inside my body.
Balancing female hormones is important if we want to age well.
And I don’t mean only our appearance. Female hormones are also connected to the menstrual cycle, sleep, mood, bone health, and many other aspects of our health.
But where are estrogen and progesterone produced? And why can stress affect our menstrual cycle?
I first gave a seminar on female hormone balance 11 years ago, and I’ve been studying this topic ever since.
I truly believe it is essential for women to age well—both beautifully and in good health.
My experience
I moved to Malaysia in October 2021 and lived there until 2024. Soon after I arrived, my period suddenly stopped for exactly three months. Before that, my menstrual cycle had been regular, usually around 28 days.
During that time, my skin also became much drier, duller, and more sensitive. It lost its firmness, elasticity, and natural glow.
Of course, I cannot say that stress was the only cause. Periods can change for many reasons, including age, weight changes, illness, pregnancy, and perimenopause.
However, moving to another country was a huge change for me. The climate, language, food, surroundings, and my daily routine were all completely different.
I believe these sudden changes may have affected my hormone balance.
Looking back, my body was under much more stress than I realized at the time.
When my menstrual cycle finally returned, my skin gradually became healthier as well.
I was so happy
This wasn’t the first time stress had affected my hormones.
I used to suffer from a luteal phase defect.
I got married in 2001, but I could not get pregnant until 2009.
I was later diagnosed with a luteal phase defect. My doctor recommended hormonal therapy, but I asked him to wait a couple of months because I was planning to quit my job.
After quitting my job, I had another checkup, and my hormone levels returned to normal.
This experience made me realize how strongly stress may have affected my body.
Because of the luteal phase defect, my progesterone levels were too low, which made it difficult for me to get pregnant.
I also often felt uncomfortable due to hormonal imbalance, which can affect fertility.
Looking back, this experience made me realize how much stress can affect our bodies.
Why Stress Can Affect Female Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone are mainly produced in the ovaries, although small amounts are also produced in the adrenal glands and fat tissue.
The brain and ovaries communicate with each other through the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
The process works like this:
1. The hypothalamus releases GnRH
First, the hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone, known as GnRH.
2. The pituitary gland releases FSH and LH
After receiving this signal, the pituitary gland releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
3. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone
FSH and LH then act on the ovaries, which produce estrogen and progesterone during different stages of the menstrual cycle.
This is how estrogen and progesterone are produced in the body.
Why Is the Hypothalamus Important?
The hypothalamus is a small area deep inside the brain, just above the pituitary gland.
It helps regulate the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. It is also involved in body temperature, appetite, sleep, blood pressure, fluid balance, and the body’s response to stress.
The hypothalamus is also closely connected to our emotions and mood.
Because it responds to both physical and emotional stress, stress can affect the hormonal signals involved in the menstrual cycle. This may be one reason why periods are sometimes delayed or even stop during times of stress.
Have you ever experienced a delayed or irregular period because of stress, a change in your environment, excessive dieting, or too much exercise?
I think many women have experienced this at least once.
Beauty Is Not Only About Skincare
When we want to improve our appearance, we tend to think about skincare products or treatments first.
But the skin and face are not separate from the rest of the body.
Sleep, stress, nutrition, breathing, and hormonal changes can all affect how we look and feel.
This is why I believe that beauty care should not focus only on the face.
Sometimes we don’t realize how much stress we are carrying. But our body may notice it before we do.
