Autoimmune Influence on Male and Female Hormones
Autoimmune disorders are more prevalent now than ever. They can be a root cause of many issues, including chronic infections, fatigue, pain, mood disorders, and digestive ailments. Whether it’s ulcerative colitis, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, asthma, eczema, or the dozens of other increasingly common autoimmune disorders, the underlying inflammatory response they have in common can directly and indirectly influence male and female hormones, affecting fertility and other endocrinological functions. If you are looking to improve your hormonal or reproductive health, this brief overview may help you consider holistic, and often overlooked methods, of identifying and addressing these issues.
Speaking of male and female hormones, it is of note that as high as 80% of autoimmune cases are women. This may be due to the fact that molecules encoded on the X chromosome can lead to abnormal RNA, DNA and protein clumps, allowing more opportunity for mutation leading to development of an autoimmune disorder. Also, frequent and drastic hormonal fluctuations occurring throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle and over the span of her lifetime, as well as the overall higher amount of estrogen, can contribute to antibody production which may trigger an autoimmune response. This could be the underlying cause of issues like irregular menstrual cycle, ovulatory problems, endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS and reoccurring miscarriage. This can also affect fertility in cases where the female reproductive system or other bodily systems exhibits an allergic reaction to the proteins in semen.
Testosterone, and other androgens that males have in higher amounts, decrease autoimmune triggering antibody levels. However, there is an increasing number of men who have underlying infectious and inflammatory autoimmune factors, leading to the development of antisperm antibodies that negatively affect the production and motility of sperm. These factors also cause many other adverse affects in the male urogenital tract.
Autoimmune issues can be traced to internal or external environmental causes. These factors can be genetic, emotional, dietary or environmental. All of these factors are often present to a certain degree, and the presence of one for long enough can lower the body’s tolerance to the others. Testing for inflammatory markers is a general way to identify autoimmune disorders. Since dietary factors are often involved, it may be helpful to have a functional lab determine specific food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. Some other overlooked triggers that can be tested include heavy metals, as well as assessing the presence of mold in your environment.
Two major causes and effects of autoimmune complications are chronic infection and inflammation. It is often obvious if you have an acute infection due to severity and specificity of symptoms. For the more difficult to identify lingering and chronic, systemic infections that often lead to autoimmune issues via molecular mimicry, a GI-Map stool test may be helpful. Molecular mimicry takes place when infectious pathogens produce proteins that mimic cells in the body, confusing your body into attack its own cells even after the pathogen is gone. This pathogen induced autoimmune response can cause the body to attack the proteins that produce eggs and sperm. A GI-map may be especially useful in identifying pathogens that affect the GI-tract, and thus the metabolic ability of the body to effectively use nutrients in the production, circulation and elimination of hormones. This test can also determine the presence of beneficial bacteria that aid in overall immune and hormone balance.
Aside from the aforementioned inflammatory marker tests, another way to test for inflammation is to monitor a major cause of it – cortisol, the stress hormone – in a DUTCH test, which can measure cortisol level fluctuations throughout several points of the day. Cortisol not only directly causes inflammation, but can affect the regulation of other hormones, therefore having many ways of influence reproductive disorders. While all of these factors reveal how much systemic inflammation is a factor in many chronic symptoms, localized inflammation can be just as important, if not more so, in identifying causes of autoimmune and reproductive dysfunction.
Localized inflammation can be a cause or effect of scar tissue. Poor circulation in an area of chronic, localized inflammation, due to internal issues or poor posture from chronic overexertion, lack of adequate exercise, and repetitive daily habits, can lead to adhesions in the fascia, which is essentially scar tissue. Acute formation of scar tissue due to blunt trauma or surgery, can lead to localized inflammation. These factors can have a detrimental influence on reproductive health, relating to such issues as fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and fallopian tube blockages in women. In the case of men, urogenital issues like varicocele – an enlargement in the veins of the scrotum – can cause infertility, testicular atrophy and hormone imbalance due to poor circulation. Addressing these issues with surgery can be complicated, because surgery itself may provoke the formation of post-surgical scar tissue and inflammation.
Once revealed through testing, there are many ways of addressing the above factors in a targeted, yet holistic, way. There are also general approaches to addressing autoimmune and related reproductive issues before, during or instead of undergoing an extensive testing process by simply: 1. equipping your immune system to be smart enough to differentiate pathogens from your bodies own proteins and 2. addressing systemic and/or localized inflammation.
By starting with an easy to follow elimination diet, like Whole30, or by simply avoiding dairy and gluten if you currently do not have any specific dietary restrictions, you can establish a foundation of inflammatory reduction to layer other therapies and habits onto. Therapeutic doses of herbs and supplements can address acute infectious and inflammatory factors. They may be especially helpful if you have had chronic reoccurring infections after taking multiple rounds of antibiotics, leading to pathogens in your body developing antibiotic resistance and no longer responding to that form of therapy, while also depleting your healthy microbiome. Adaptogenic herbs and superfoods can be helpful in addressing chronic infection and inflammation on a level of prevention and maintenance . Another excellent way of enhancing immunity, reducing inflammation and promoting overall wellbeing is to incorporate breathing and meditation into your lifestyle, whether you set time aside to do them alone, incorporate them into your exercise routine, or find ways to perform them during other daily tasks.
Acupuncture can be helpful in several ways. By regulating cortisol, boosting healthy immune function and increasing microcirculation, it can address all of the above issues. Dry needling in the lower abdominal, back and hip regions can help break down scar tissue in the reproductive, pelvic and abdominal regions. Cupping combined with acupuncture can stimulate the lymphatic system, promoting microcirculation and detoxification, which allows self-regulation in the endocrine and metabolic systems, automatically correcting many immune and hormone related issues.
Whether undergoing extensive testing to target specific causes, or simply taking a holistic review of your health history and generally addressing pathogenic and inflammatory factors, you can take immediate steps to balance your immune and endocrine system. Establishing a healthy relationship between your immune and endocrine systems may be the missing link in addressing complicated hormone and fertility issues.