The Culprit Behind the Chaos: Understanding Female Hormones in Teenage Bodies

The behind-the-scenes reason why your body and emotions are all over the place

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Have you ever wondered why, one minute you’re happy and the next you are crying over a TikTok? Here's a little secret: you are not going crazy. During the teenage years, natural chemicals called hormones are constantly active in a girl’s body. They control a variety of things, including mood, energy, growth, and periods. These hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone, are rising, falling, and adjusting constantly during teenage years. In this article, we will break down what hormones are and why they are responsible for all of the chaos many girls feel during adolescence. 

What Are Hormones Anyway?

Hormones are small chemical messengers that regulate various body systems. They are produced by the endocrine system, which is like the body’s messaging network. These hormones help the menstrual cycle move smoothly. Once these hormones are released from endocrine glands and into the bloodstream, they travel throughout the body to reach their target cells. When the hormones find their target cells, they attach like a key fitting into a lock, which triggers a reaction in the body. 

For example, the hypothalamus, a tiny part of the brain that acts like a control center, releases a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone tells the pituitary gland—another small but powerful gland in the brain—to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). 

FSH tells tiny sacs in the ovaries, called follicles, to start growing and trigger the production of estrogen. As estrogen levels rise, the lining of the uterus thickens to prepare for a possible pregnancy. The rise in estrogen also signals the pituitary gland to release more LH, which causes ovulation, the release of an egg.

Now, what about progesterone? Progesterone is released after ovulation and helps keep the uterine lining thick. This hormone can also affect mood and energy during the cycle. I there is no fertilization, menstruation occurs, and progesterone levels drop since they are no longer needed.

During the teenage years, these hormone levels rise and fall in unpredictable ways, which can make moods, periods, and energy levels feel all over the place.

The Teenage Hormone Rollercoaster

Puberty starts a wild ride of hormonal changes, making moods, energy, and even the body feel like a rollercoaster. Puberty is an important part of a teenage girl's life. It is the body's way of transitioning from a child to an adult. Hormones play a huge role in this process. When the body is ready to start the transition, the brain signals the body to start producing more hormones than before. The hormone production then ramps up and becomes very unpredictable, kind of like a music playlist on shuffle. You think you know what comes next, but then the song (or hormone levels) switch it up on you. While it may feel confusing and abnormal, this is exactly what is supposed to happen. The unpredictability calms down as the teen gets more into their adult years. The constant changing in hormone levels is just a girl's body's way of trying to regulate itself. This causes mood swings and the physical changes that come with puberty. 

Physical Changes That Come With the Hormone Rollercoaster

Besides mood swings, hormones also cause many physical changes. As hormones bounce around, they trigger many visible changes in a teen girl’s body. The most common during teenage years are breast development, growth spurts, acne, and changes in body shape. Rising amounts of Estrogen, a female sex hormone, are the main chemical responsible for these changes. These changes happen at different rates for everyone. Girls might start to notice these changes between the ages of 8 and 13. Studies show that black and Hispanic females tend to start puberty earlier than white females, at 7 ½ instead of 8. All these changes might feel strange at times, but they’re a normal and important part of growing up.

Emotional Ups and Downs

Hormones don’t just change the body; they also affect how girls feel emotionally. One minute, a teenage girl might feel on top of the world, and the next, it feels like everything is falling apart, for no obvious reason. The important thing to remember is that this is all normal. The mood swings experienced by teenage girls are all due to hormonal fluctuations. As these hormones influence the teen's body, the adolescent’s emotions, feelings, and moods are often a lot stronger. This is why something as small as a text from a friend or a bad grade on a quiz can feel way bigger than it really is. 

They may feel impulsive and want to take risks, which may lead to bad decisions that could create a negative impact on their future. That is why it is so important to make sure these teenagers have a support system they can rely on. It is also important to remember that these fluctuations won’t last forever. They will eventually regulate out and find a more stable rhythm as she grows. 

Learning to Work With Hormones, Not Against Them

Even though hormones can feel overwhelming, teenage girls can find healthy ways to care for their changing bodies. One of the ways to help manage these hormonal fluctuations is by prioritizing sleep. 8-10 hours of sleep every night is recommended to help regulate the hormones such as melatonin and cortisol, which are essential for mood and energy levels. But sleep isn't the only thing that affects hormones. Even a low amount of stress has been shown to activate a response by the endocrine system. Stress leads to an increase in adrenaline and cortisol levels, and if these levels are too high, they can result in mood changes. It might feel like exercise is the last thing anyone wants to do during this transition, but it can help with regulating hormone levels. Engaging in enjoyable activities can naturally improve mood. These changes are a normal part of growing up, and with time, the body will find its own balance.

Understanding the Chaos

Puberty brings a rollercoaster of changes, and hormones are the main reason behind the physical and emotional chaos many teenage girls experience. While these changes may feel overwhelming or even abnormal, they are completely normal and happen to everyone. Over time, the body will find its own pattern and learn to balance these hormones. Teen girls can help this process along by paying attention to their bodies and giving them what they need. Hormones may be complicated, but understanding them makes the chaos feel a little less scary.