HORMONES
What Are Hormones?
Hormones guide the rhythm of how we live, influencing mood, sleep, metabolism, memory, skin, energy and much more. When they are in balance, the body tends to function smoothly. When out of balance, we often feel it — sometimes as a subtle shift, sometimes more dramatically.
Hormones are produced by glands in the endocrine system. Once released, they travel through the bloodstream to tissues and organs, delivering instructions that help regulate key processes. These chemical messengers do not stay in one place — they move throughout the entire body. Whether reaching the brain, heart, gut, bones or muscles, hormones help ensure each part knows what to do and when to do it.
Oestrogen supports brain health, bone strength, the heart and vaginal tissue. Progesterone promotes sleep, eases the nervous system, and helps regulate the menstrual cycle. Testosterone influences libido, muscle tone and vitality. Cortisol prepares the body to respond to stress, while thyroid hormones regulate how fast or slow the body’s systems run.
Hormone levels shift across our lifetime — rising during puberty, changing in pregnancy, and declining through menopause. Sleep, diet, stress, chronic illness and medications can also influence hormone balance. Symptoms like anxiety, low energy, or brain fog are often linked to these changes, even when they are mild.
When we understand how hormones work and how far-reaching they are, we can begin to recognise their role in our overall wellbeing. They are not just about reproduction — they are essential to the health of every part of us.
Why Do They Matter?
Hormones do much more than regulate fertility. They guide the rhythm of our everyday lives – affecting how we sleep, think, feel, and function. When hormone levels are balanced, we often feel well without realising it. When they fall out of balance, the impact can ripple through our whole system.
Oestrogen supports brain function, bone strength, heart health, and vaginal tissue. Progesterone helps regulate the menstrual cycle, soothes the brain, and promotes deep sleep. Testosterone supports muscle tone, libido, and overall energy. Other key hormones include cortisol, which helps us respond to stress, and the thyroid hormones, which control how fast or slow the body runs.
Hormonal shifts happen throughout life. They rise during puberty, change dramatically during pregnancy, and shift again after birth. In perimenopause and menopause, hormone production naturally declines. Diet, stress, lack of sleep, chronic illness, and some medications can also affect hormone levels. These changes are often subtle at first, but signs like anxiety, poor sleep, brain fog, or weight gain can signal something deeper.
Symptoms are frequently dismissed as ageing or stress, but hormones may be at the root. Understanding what each hormone does allows us to take an informed approach to care. Whether we explore hormone therapy or focus on lifestyle changes, the foundation is knowledge.
Hormones aren’t just about cycles or symptoms. They are central to long-term health. The more we learn about them, the more empowered we become in supporting our wellbeing at every life stage.