Welcome to the A-Z of Menopause. This is H for Hormones.
If you’re wondering what the hell is going on with your hormones now that you’re perimenopausal…listen up!
The “Need To Know” Information About Female Hormones
Did you know that women have 7 hormones? We tend to only talk about 3! And most people only talk about 2.
Here are the important 3 that affect us during menopause:
First up is oestrogen, which is mainly created by the ovaries. It makes sure that our uterus thickens before we ovulate. And it’s high in the first 14 days of our cycle.
During perimenopause, your oestrogen goes up and down frantically, sometimes day to day or even hour to hour.
This is what drives us crazy.
And after menopause, it’s depleted to almost nothing which also affects our health.
Then we have progesterone, the ovarian hormone. This peaks in the second half of our cycle and it helps form the placenta.
Also going up and down stupendously during perimenopause and depleting as we get older.
One thing you need to know about progesterone is that if you are on HRT and you still have a womb you must have progesterone prescribed as well to protect it.
The other important hormone that’s not often talked about for women, is testosterone.
Yes, women have testosterone it’s not just men! We need it too!
It predominantly helps with sex drive but gives us energy as well and again it depletes during perimenopause and menopause.
There are 4 more hormones that women have!
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), is produced during pregnancy,
Follicle-stimulating hormone, which is responsible for ovulation,
The Luteinizing hormone, which triggers ovulation
And finally, DHEA(Dehydroepiandrosterone), which helps in the production of testosterone
The most important thing you can do if you’re struggling is to talk to somebody, talk to your partner, talk to your friend, talk to a doctor, talk to a menopause specialist, talk to someone.
And if you’ve got no one to talk to, have a look at the link in my TikTok bio for my community, because that can help you too.
It’s called Bossing Midlife.
If you are struggling with menopause, please visit your doctor to get help and support.
Want more advice?
Follow my TokTok here. Or read my other menopause blogs here.
Kate Beavis is Fearless at 50 – supporting women to be visible and fearless in midlife. This includes understanding your health, and well-being, building confidence, and more.
