Good hormone health is essential for all women as they go through menopause, periods, and other life changes. Knowing the basics about how hormones work and how to take care of them can make a huge difference in a woman’s quality of life. In this blog post, we will discuss what every woman needs to know about hormone health and how to ensure she is maintaining optimal levels.
The basics of hormone health
Hormones play a major role in the physical and emotional health of both men and women. In women, hormones are particularly important as they regulate the menstrual cycle, menopause, fertility, and many other aspects of a woman’s life. Understanding the basics of hormone health is key to keeping your body in balance and optimizing your overall wellbeing.
The menstrual cycle is the body’s natural process for producing hormones and maintaining reproductive health. During this cycle, hormones called estrogen and progesterone fluctuate at different levels throughout the month to help with ovulation, fertilization, and menstruation. When these hormones are balanced and functioning properly, women have regular periods and regular cycles.
Menopause occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop releasing eggs and the production of estrogen and progesterone decline. During this transition period, many women experience hormonal imbalances that can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood swings.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, understanding the basics of hormone health is essential to promoting physical and emotional wellbeing. If you have any questions or concerns about your hormone levels, it’s best to consult a doctor or healthcare professional for guidance and advice.
The link between hormones and mood
For many women, their menstrual cycle and menopause can be a time of intense hormonal changes that can affect mood. Hormones are the chemical messengers in our bodies, and they’re responsible for controlling a range of processes like metabolism, digestion, sleep, and emotion. During the menstrual cycle, hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate. These fluctuations can cause mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
During menopause, a woman’s ovaries stop producing hormones. This hormone imbalance can also lead to emotional changes like depression, irritability, and fatigue. Women need to be aware of how their hormones are impacting their emotions so that they can seek help if needed. There are natural treatments, such as lifestyle changes or herbal supplements, that can help balance hormones. If these methods don’t help, it is important to speak to a doctor about your options. However, most Doctors suggest hormone therapy and many women have side effects with this option. Women who experience the effects of menopause and are considering hormone therapy should be aware of the potential side effects, such as irregular menstrual periods, weight gain, hot flashes, and insomnia. It is important to do your research and talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of hormone therapy before you make a decision. With the right information and support, women can make informed decisions about their hormone health during the menstrual cycle, menopause, and beyond.
The link between hormones and weight
Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of changing hormones. This is especially true for women during perimenopause and menopause when estrogen levels drop off dramatically. Estrogen plays a role in metabolism and other aspects of health, and its decline can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Other hormones that can affect your weight include testosterone and thyroid hormones. Low testosterone can cause muscle loss, which reduces your metabolism and makes it harder to lose weight. And an underactive thyroid can make it difficult to lose weight, as well.
Weight gain during menopause isn’t just due to hormone levels—other lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress can also contribute to weight gain. That’s why it’s important to focus on making healthy lifestyle changes, in addition to monitoring your hormone levels, to get your weight under control.
How to get your hormone levels checked
Knowing your hormone levels is an important part of managing your health as a woman. There are several ways to get your hormone levels checked, including blood tests and saliva tests.
A blood test can measure levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid, and cortisol. Blood tests are typically recommended for women who are pregnant or experiencing issues related to the menstrual cycle or menopause.
Saliva tests are useful for measuring hormone levels over time. They can be used to measure levels of cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Saliva tests are also useful for identifying imbalances in hormones that can affect sleep and stress levels.
If you’re concerned about your hormone levels, it’s important to speak with your doctor about which test is right for you. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes and supplements that can help balance your hormones naturally. I have just found something that helps women who still have a menstrual cycle or in menopause.
Natural ways to balance hormone levels
Menstrual and menopausal hormone imbalances can be managed with lifestyle changes. Here are some of the natural ways to help balance your hormones:
• Eat a balanced diet: Eating a variety of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, will provide your body with the nutrition it needs to maintain healthy hormone levels.
• Get adequate sleep: Aim for at least 8 hours of quality sleep each night to help keep your hormones in check.
• Reduce stress: Stress has a huge impact on your hormones, so take time to relax and practice calming activities like yoga or meditation.
• Exercise regularly: Physical activity helps regulate hormones and can help improve your mood and overall health.
• Supplement your diet: Herbs such as black cohosh, chasteberry, and dong quai may be helpful in managing menopausal symptoms.
• Avoid environmental toxins: Exposure to pesticides and other pollutants can disrupt your hormones, so try to limit your exposure to chemicals as much as possible.
By following these natural tips, you’ll be taking steps to support your hormone health and reduce the risk of hormone imbalance. Remember to speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your hormone levels.
When to see a doctor about hormone imbalances
Menstrual cycles and menopause are two times in a woman’s life when hormone levels can drastically change. If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with these hormonal shifts, such as irregular or painful menstrual cycles, changes in mood or sleep patterns, hot flashes, night sweats, and weight changes, then it might be time to see a doctor about your hormone levels.
Your doctor may recommend getting your hormone levels tested via a blood test or saliva test. These tests will allow your doctor to get a better understanding of your hormone levels, and if there is an imbalance, they can make recommendations for how to bring them back into balance.
If you’re approaching menopause or are already post-menopausal, your doctor may also recommend additional testing to ensure that your hormone levels are within normal ranges. This could include testing your thyroid hormones, estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone.
If any of the tests come back with abnormal results, your doctor may recommend different treatments such as hormone replacement therapy or medications(with risks) to help balance your hormones. They may also suggest lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly to help keep your hormones in check.
No matter what your age or stage in life, it’s important to be mindful of your body and any changes you experience in your hormones. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, or other concerning symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor for advice.
Common Symptoms Of A Menstrual Cycle and Menopause
Most women experience physical and emotional changes during their menstrual cycle. Menstrual symptoms can vary from woman to woman and may range from mild to severe. It is important to be aware of the common symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle so that if anything appears abnormal, it can be addressed early on.
The most common symptoms of a menstrual cycle include abdominal cramping, breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, headaches, back pain, fatigue, and acne. Some women also experience irregular periods or amenorrhea (the absence of a period) during their menstrual cycle. This can be caused by stress, excessive exercise, an eating disorder, or hormonal imbalances.
Menopause is the natural transition out of a woman’s reproductive years and usually occurs between the ages of 45-55. Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and changes in libido. It is important to discuss any concerns regarding menopausal symptoms with your doctor as they can have a major effect on your quality of life.
Treating Hormones Without Hormones
Yes, most people believe this is just a myth because in the past it hasn’t been done to a great extent. So many of my friends have daughters, nieces, cousins, and moms that all have difficulty with either their menstrual cycle or menopause. Now there is help! It is new to the market and hasn’t officially launched yet ( at the time of this post) but is coming out in the middle of March 2023. Here is a little information:
No hormones. No soy isoflavones. Introducing a patent-pending first-of-its-kind approach to intuitive nutrition for optimal hormonal health.
Sync your supplements to your unique cycle. The patent-pending women’s health formula delivers 3 proprietary formulas for your period, pre-ovulation and post-ovulation with ingredients shown to help:
Relieve menstrual cramps*†
Support healthy blood flow*
Support urinary tract health*
Support healthy libido*
Support hormones leading up to ovulation*
Support thyroid health*
Promote clear looking skin*
Relieve symptoms of PMS*†
Reduce occasional stress*
Balance mood*
And more!
Proprietary Estro-OS™ Complex in the menopausal formula targets perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause with a potent blend of ingredients shown to be more effective at improving normal menopausal symptoms and vaginal dryness than soy isoflavones1 and shown to help:
Reduce hot flashes*†
Reduce night sweats*
Reduce vaginal dryness*
Support libido*
Improve sleep health*
Support cognitive health*
Support cardiovascular health*
Protect cells from oxidative stress*
Support energy levels*
Support mood*
In conclusion, do your research and ask for help. Hormone issues are common but not normal! There is no need to suffer. Read a little more about this new hormone health supplement here.
** Affiliate link Disclaimer** This article contains affiliate links to products that you may find useful. If you click these links and you decide to purchase any of the products, I will make a commission for the sale of the product.