If you’ve ever had lab work done and been told, “Your estrogen is low,” or “Your testosterone is high,” you might have thought, Great, that means I just need to fix that one hormone, right? Well… not exactly. Let me explain …

In my experience, so many people come to me hyper-focused on one hormone, trying to “fix” their estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, or thyroid levels in isolation. But the thing is, your hormones don’t operate in isolation, they’re constantly shifting and converting into one another in an internal process that’s happening around the clock.

Yup, testosterone can convert into estrogen, progesterone can turn into cortisol, and your thyroid hormones shift in response to stress levels. So, if you’ve ever wondered why hormone balance feels like a moving target, it’s because it is. And understanding how hormones convert into each other is the key to getting a big-picture view of your health, rather than chasing symptoms one hormone at a time.

🧬 Still trying to “fix” one hormone at a time? Your body doesn’t work in isolation—and neither should your hormone strategy. Let’s dig in together!

Testosterone to Estrogen ↪️ The Aromatase Effect

So, you probably think of testosterone as the male hormone, while estrogen is the female hormone, right? Wrong! In reality, both men and women have—and need—both. What’s important is the balance between them.

The body naturally converts testosterone into estrogen using an enzyme called aromatase. This process is necessary, but when aromatase activity becomes too high, it can lead to hormone imbalances. This can result from factors such as:

• ✔️ chronic unchecked stress
• ✔️ alcohol and sugar consumption
• ✔️ inflammation
• ✔️ and insulin resistance
• ✔️ excess body fat or adipose tissue especially around organs (belly fat)

In women, excess aromatization can contribute to estrogen dominance, which often leads to symptoms such as:

• ✔️ Heavy or painful periods
• ✔️ Bloating and water retention
• ✔️ Breast tenderness
• ✔️ Weight gain, especially @ hips and thighs
• ✔️ Mood swings and irritability

Whereas in men, too much testosterone-to-estrogen conversion can result in:

• ✔️ Fatigue and low motivation
• ✔️ Loss of muscle & increased body fat
• ✔️ Low libido
• ✔️ Mood changes, including increased irritability

Dig in further here: PMID: 29573619

Hormones don’t “just get out of balance.” They respond to deeper disruptors—stress, blood sugar swings, inflammation, and more.

Progesterone to Cortisol ↪️ When Stress Steals Your Hormones

Progesterone is known for its calming and balancing effects, helping to regulate the menstrual cycle, promote relaxation, and counteract the effects of excess estrogen. But when the body is under chronic stress, it often redirects progesterone to make cortisol, your primary stress hormone.

This is known as the “pregnenolone steal”, a process where the body prioritizes cortisol production over reproductive hormone balance. Over time, this leads to low progesterone levels, resulting in:

• ✔️ Shortened or irregular cycles
• ✔️ Difficulty sleeping
• ✔️ Anxiety, mood swings
• ✔️ Increased PMS symptoms
• ✔️ Increased belly fat due to high cortisol levels

Because progesterone and cortisol share the same precursor hormone, high stress levels will always take priority. The body sees survival as more important than reproductive health, so it diverts hormone production accordingly. This is why stress management is crucial for hormone balance! Without addressing cortisol levels, supplementing with progesterone or attempting to “boost” it naturally will have limited results.

Read more here: PMID: 27981182

Before you reach for another supplement or start another protocol—check this first. 📋 The Hormone Disruptor Audit helps you spot the hidden patterns behind stubborn symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog. 👉 [ Download here ]

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Thyroid Hormones ↪️ and the Stress Response

Your thyroid controls metabolism, energy, digestion, and temperature regulation. It produces T4 (inactive thyroid hormone), which must be converted into T3 (active thyroid hormone) for your body to use it efficiently.

Under chronic stress, cortisol inhibits the conversion of T4 to T3, which slows metabolism and energy production. Instead of producing more T3, the body converts T4 into reverse T3 (rT3), an inactive form that essentially “slows down” metabolism as a protective mechanism. Signs that stress is interfering with thyroid function include:

• ✔️ Persistent fatigue, even after sleeping
• ✔️ Cold hands and feet
• ✔️ Feeling cold often
• ✔️ Slow digestion and bloating
• ✔️ Constipation
• ✔️ Hair thinning and dry skin
• ✔️ Unexplained weight gain, despite a healthy diet and exercise

This process explains why many thyroid issues are actually stress-related, and why focusing solely on thyroid medication or iodine supplementation often fails to fully resolve symptoms.

Your hormones are only as balanced as the systems supporting them.

💪Support Healthy Hormone Conversion

Instead of focusing on a single hormone, the best approach is to support your body’s natural hormone conversion pathways, so they function optimally.

1️⃣ Reduce Aromatase Activity to Prevent Excess Estrogen

If you want to keep testosterone from going rogue and morphing into excess estrogen, a few simple tweaks can help:

• ✔️ Prioritize protein and fiber at each meal to support estrogen detoxification through the liver.
• ✔️ Increase zinc intake (found in oysters, grass-fed beef, pumpkin seeds) to slow down aromatase.
• ✔️ Limit alcohol and sugar, which can stimulate aromatase and increase estrogen levels.
• ✔️ Incorporate strength training, which naturally supports healthy testosterone levels in both men and women.
• ✔️ Test estrogen and testosterone pathways via the DUTCH test

2️⃣ Support Progesterone Levels by Managing Stress

If stress is eating your progesterone alive, it’s time to fight back:

• ✔️ Practice stress-reducing activities like deep breathing, meditative prayer or gentle movement.
• ✔️ Get enough healthy fats (avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds), which are necessary for progesterone production.
• ✔️ Limit excessive high-intensity workouts, which can further elevate cortisol and reduce progesterone levels.
• ✔️ Test for magnesium and vitamin B6 levels, both of which are essential for progesterone balance.
• ✔️ Consider comprehensive hormone and adrenal testing for a deeper understanding

3️⃣ Protect Thyroid Function by Controlling Cortisol

If you’re feeling sluggish, cold all the time, or gaining weight despite eating “right,” your thyroid might need some extra love:

• ✔️ Maintain stable blood sugar by eating balanced meals with protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
• ✔️ Avoid prolonged fasting or extreme calorie restriction, which can signal the body to slow down metabolism.
• ✔️ Prioritize selenium and iodine-rich foods (Brazil nuts, seaweed, wild-caught fish) to support thyroid conversion.
• ✔️ Get enough sleep, as thyroid hormone production is directly tied to your circadian rhythm.
• ✔️ Consider a FULL thyroid panel including reverse T3 for the right answers

Remember that by giving a little more attention to overall hormone balance rather than trying to fix one number on a lab test, you’ll be able to restore better energy, mood, metabolism, and hormone health in a more sustainable way, which is always the goal.

📝 The Hormone Disruptor Audit reveals 7 root-level stressors that can throw your entire hormone network out of sync—without showing up on standard labs. 👉 [ Download here. ]

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Conclusion

If you’ve been frustrated with hormone symptoms and haven’t seen lasting results, it’s time to take a big-picture approach. Focusing on a single hormone in isolation will never lead to lasting balance, because hormones work together in a network, not in straight lines.

Looking for a personalized plan to support your hormones? Schedule a complimentary discovery call with me to get to the root of your symptoms.  I would love to get to know you and discuss how I best help!