19/08/2025
🌿Be Honest With Me Here…
How often do you think about your hormones, and how bloody amazing they are on a daily, weekly, monthly basis?
🌀Ever give them much thought?
Thought so ….
You might think oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are the only hormones pulling the strings of your monthly cycle.
But here’s the thing: your body is running a full-blown hormonal orchestra — and every instrument matters.
🎵 Let’s break it down.
🌻Oestrogen — the builder, the shaper, the glow-giver
Oestrogen steps onto the stage at the start of your cycle, building up the uterine lining and helping a follicle (that little egg-in-waiting) mature. Around day 12, oestrogen hits its peak, sending the all-important signal to your ovaries: “release the egg.”
But it doesn’t stop there. Oestrogen is also the reason your skin looks fresher, your hair shinier, and thicker and — evolution at its finest — why you often feel more attractive mid-cycle. It keeps mucous membranes lubricated (yep, everywhere!), supports bone health, sharpens memory, and even gives your mood a lift.
Without it? Things get dry, achy, and a bit foggy upstairs.
🌸 Progesterone — the calmer, the soother, the steady hand
After ovulation, progesterone takes the baton. On average It peaks around day 21, ( depending on your cycle) creating the perfect environment in case that egg meets s***m. If fertilisation doesn’t happen, progesterone drops, the uterine lining breaks down, and hello, period.
But beyond reproduction, progesterone is the chill hormone. It soothes the nervous system, promotes better sleep, and can keep anxiety in check. When levels dip too low? Cue mood swings, restless nights, and that familiar “everything is annoying me” vibe.
🪻Testosterone — yes, women need it too
Contrary to popular belief, testosterone isn’t just a “male” hormone. Women produce it too, and it’s a big deal. It drives libido, motivation, muscle strength, and energy.
When it’s low? You might feel flat, unmotivated, or notice your s*x drive has gone AWOL. Add in muscle weakness and that creeping loss of confidence, and suddenly you’re seeing why testosterone matters far more than most women ever realise.
🌹Oxytocin — the connector
Known as the “love hormone,” oxytocin strengthens bonds, helps us feel connected, and even plays a role in labour and breastfeeding. But beyond the clichés, it’s a reminder that our hormones aren’t just about fertility — they’re about how we relate to the world and people around us.
🪷 Cortisol — the stress driver
Cortisol is vital in small doses (it keeps us alert and responsive), but when stress becomes chronic, cortisol steals the spotlight — throwing other hormones completely off-balance. Too much, too often, and you’re looking at belly fat, anxiety, poor sleep, and blood sugar chaos.
🌾 Insulin — the energy regulator
Every carb you eat is handled by insulin. When this system works well, energy flows. When it doesn’t (thanks to stress, diet, or genetics), blood sugar rollercoasters can disrupt ovulation, fuel cravings, and set the stage for PCOS or weight gain.
🥀 DHEA — the backbone
DHEA is a lesser-known hormone, but think of it as the raw material your body uses to make oestrogen and testosterone. Levels naturally decline with age, which is one of the reasons energy, libido, and resilience dip as we head into midlife.
💐Why does all this matter?
Because hormones aren’t villains to curse once a month. They’re the messengers that keep our bodies — and minds — functioning. When they’re in balance, we thrive. When they’re not, every system feels it: mood, memory, s*x drive, sleep, weight, immunity, the lot.
And here’s the big kicker: no one taught us any of this. Not in school. Not from our doctors, and probably not from our own mums ( because for the most part they weren’t aware either!)
Most of us only start paying attention once symptoms knock us flat and cause disarray with fertility difficulties or in perimenopause
Imagine if we had this knowledge, and gave our girls this knowledge upfront? How different their journeys could be.
