Stress is universal and does not discriminate – everyone experiences stressors, which are factors that create or elevate perception of stress.
Women tend to experience stress differently than men. In general, they are more acutely aware of and engage in emotional responses to events and thoughts that generate stress. According to a review in Psychology Today, women showed higher responses in the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center, leading to intensified emotional responses. Researchers have found that in women, the hippocampus is less involved in adaptive responses than in men.
How Stress Impacts Women
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic unmanaged stress can lead to the following symptoms in women including headaches, insomnia or disrupted sleep, changes in appetite , skin breakouts, flagging energy, apathy towards previously enjoyed activities, and a reduced sex drive. Further, it can cause irregular menstrual cycles, digestive issues such as acid reflux, and hair loss.
Research shows that women are more likely than men to experience stress-based disorders. Neurological studies show that women have more enduring and quicker stress responses.
In one study, researchers found that in women, neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) – a key stress regulating center in the brain -, “fire” more rapidly than in men. In female rats, researchers found definitive differences in how the brain reacts to stress – the females were found to have more receptors for stress-related neurotransmitters and their neurotransmitters were cleared from synapses more slowly than those of males.
The HPA Axis Difference
Stress is largely controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which controls the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands into the bloodstream. Earlier studies in humans suggested that adult men exhibit stronger acute HPA and autonomic responses compared to adult women.
However, more recent rodent research in rodents has found that females exhibit higher and “robust” stress-related HPA responses. In another study, when rodents had their adrenal glands removed, females continued to show stress-related behaviors while the males did not.
The Hormonal Impact
A review of studies exploring the sex differences in how stress impacts health finds that women may experience more anxiety because of higher estrogen levels, that reduce brain sensitivity to gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) – a neurotransmitter is known to exert relaxation and promote even mood.
As with men, women’s hormonal levels are significantly affected in response to stress. Increased endorphin activity inhibits luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), leading to lowered levels of LH,which is essential for ovulation. Additionally, Cortisol blocks the anterior pituitary from releasing LH further disrupting the balance of FSH, prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone levels. These hormonal imbalances not only lead to an irregular ovulatory cycle but also create an environment that makes fertilization and implantation of the egg into the uterine wall more difficult.
Both men and women produce FSH, LH, testosterone, and estrogen, although in different amounts. However, chronic stress affects the concentration of all sex hormones because the body prioritizes the production of stress hormones such as cortisol over sex hormones like testosterone. To fight stress, the body shuts down sex mechanisms so that we’re better able to deal with more urgent and immediate needs. This change, called the stress-shift in hormone production, helps the body respond to life-threatening situations by focusing on hormone production for survival rather than procreation. As a results, stress lowers sex drive and can interfere with ovulation, sperm count, and fertility.
Ashwagandha’s Role in Stress Control
A new meta-analysis of the efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in managing stress and anxiety – claimed by the authors to be the first comprehensive analysis yielded a positive conclusion. The authors concluded that their findings “demonstrate statistically significant improvements in overall stress and anxiety, with a notable reduction in serum cortisol levels. These results suggest that Ashwagandha may be a promising natural intervention for stress and anxiety management.”
An earlier 2021 systematic review examined the relationship between ashwagandha supplementation for 6 to 8 weeks and stress/anxiety reduction in 491 participants. The pooled analysis found significant reductions in subjective measures of stress and anxiety, improved sleep, reduced fatigue and decreased serum cortisol levels compared to the participants in the placebo groups.
In one clinical study, 130 healthy men and women age 20 to 55 years with self-reported stress consumed either a sustained-released ashwagandha root extract (300 mg Prolanza™ with 15 mg withanolides once daily) or placebo for 90 days. Compared to the placebo group, those supplemented with ashwagandha reported a 930% reduction in stress, improved sleep quality (as measured by validated rating scales, and a 166% greater reduction in serum cortisol levels. In addition, the Prolanza™ group reported improvements in psychological well-being, memory, and focus.
Even at doses as low as 150 mg Prolanza delivers adaptogenic benefits!
About Prolanza™
Nutriventia’s patented Prolanza™ ashwagandha root extract is made with a proprietary technology that contains a high concentration of 10 USP standardized withanolides (4 – 5%) plus 10 other active withanolides. Prolanza™ — which is self-affirmed GRAS — is encapsulated into a matrix that provides sustained release for over 8 hours, with clinically substantiated plasma presence lasting upto 24 hours.
Consumers only need one dose of 150 mg Prolanza™ to achieve the adaptogenic stress-relief benefits, including improved sleep and focus, through reduced cortisol.
Designed for convenience, Prolanza™ offers women an effective, long-term stress-management solution that fits effortlessly in their daily routine – so they can focus on making the most of every moment.
