As a woman, your body is always going through changes right from teenagehood to adulthood. You start to experience puberty, and as time flies you become pregnant and then perimenopause and menopause hits! And to top it off, your hormones start to change. All these things can have a big impact on how you feel as a woman (yeah, it’s a lot).

A big change in these hormones may cause us to feel tired, irritable or unlike our normal selves. Even though it may seem like simple stress or growing older, there’s usually something more happening. 

Let’s take a look.

Older woman walking in the snow with hiking poles.

Why Hormones Matter

Hormones relay information from one part of the body to another, making sure it knows what to do. Estrogen and progesterone are major, yet testosterone and others also matter. Yes, testosterone is present in women as well, and while it is low it affects your libido (sex drive), bone and muscle health, mood, and even your menstrual cycle.

During and after menopause, women may start to have lower hormone levels. As a result, this may cause issues such as:

  • Feeling tired all the time
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Mood swings
  • Loss of muscle tone
  • Brain fog
  • Low libido

While these symptoms are common, that doesn’t mean you must live with them. There are a few things you can do to alleviate these symptoms.

Move Your Body

Frequent exercise can assist in keeping hormones under control by bringing down insulin levels and increasing its response to insulin. Exercising can be useful in regulating stress which may have a big effect on hormones in the body.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping well helps your body keep hormones in balance. Not getting enough sleep can cause changes in brain hormones such as cortisol, insulin and sex hormones. To get ahead of this, try and sleep in early and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep (that beauty sleep is rewarding).

Lower Your Stress 

Too much stress can throw your hormones out of balance which raises a hormone called cortisol (a common cause for problems).  While some situations can cause you stress, there are some things you can do to lower your stress levels. Start doing some deep breathing exercises, going for long walks, throw in some yoga, or do something you really enjoy.

Get Professional Help

Let’s be honest: there’s no one-size-fits-all fix. Some women find that small lifestyle changes (like the ones above) can help. Others need a little more support, like therapy, to get by.

You have probably heard or googled about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause, but what you may not know is that testosterone therapy for women is also quite popular and effective today. Going to therapy will help you restore balance so your body and mind feel more like you again.

If you are struggling with symptoms that don’t seem to go away (no matter how healthy you try to live) it might be time to talk to a health professional. A simple test can show if your hormones are out of balance. From there, you can work with someone to figure out what path makes sense for you.

Final Thoughts

Mood changes happen from time to time and don’t always mean something is wrong with you. It just means your body needs some extra support, maybe from some little tweaks to your lifestyle, or therapy. And with these small (but effective) changes, you can begin to feel as strong as you did in the past. So, take all the time you need and do what’s right by you (and your hormones).