You may not have given your hormones a second’s thought before but, given the rollercoaster you are on right now, it’s worth having some understanding of what’s going on and its not just all about sex hormones.
Progesterone meet the calming and relaxing hormone whose levels fall rapidly during menopause as you stop ovulating as regularly.
Oestrogen is the hormone linked to brain, bone, skin and heart health is likely decreasing, too, it’s falling at a slower rate, meaning you can end up being oestrogen dominant (that’s a ratio of too much oestrogen to progesterone). This is usually what’s behind many typical symptoms experienced during the transition into menopause.
Testosterone You might think of testosterone as the male hormone and, while men do produce much higher levels, every woman needs testosterone, too. Testosterone can increase sexual desire and libido, make bones and muscles strong, and have you feeling assertive and confident.
Cortisol the stress hormone can also increase (particularly if you’re used to spinning too many plates), making sleep more difficult and can lead to weight gain. Your body will not prioritise sex hormones under stressful conditions so further contributing to hormonal imbalances.
Thyroid the hormone which supports your metabolism comes under increased pressure, and low levels of thyroid hormones can bring mood changes, weight increases, constipation, brittle nails, hair loss, high cholesterol and a sluggish feeling.
Insulin your fat storage hormone declining oestrogen levels have a role to play in insulin sensitivity (that means how sensitive or not the cells in your body are to insulin). In fact, a lack of sensitivity to insulin (or even being resistant to the effects of insulin) can lurk behind many of the common menopause symptoms, like hot flushes, fatigue and weight gain as well as symptoms of low mood, heavy periods, brain fog, anxiety and depression.
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