Estrogen
The protector- What it does
- Runs your cycle, and protects your bones, heart, brain, skin and vaginal health.
- When it changes
- Hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog, low mood, joint aches and dryness.
Women's health hub
Hormones explained
Your hormones are tiny messengers that shape how you feel every day, from your energy and mood to your sleep, weight and periods. Here's a plain English guide to the six that matter most, and how they work together.
Reviewed by our medical team8 minute readUpdated month 2026
- EstrogenThe protector
- ProgesteroneThe calmer
- TestosteroneThe energiser
- ThyroidThe thermostat
- InsulinThe fuel manager
- CortisolThe alarm
Meet your hormones
Most guides only talk about estrogen. But how you feel depends on a whole team of hormones, including the ones that manage your energy, blood sugar and stress.
Progesterone
The calmer- What it does
- Rises after ovulation, prepares the womb lining, and has a calming effect on mood and sleep.
- When it changes
- Poor sleep, anxiety, heavier or irregular periods, and worse PMS.
Testosterone
The energiser- What it does
- Yes, women make it too. It supports desire, energy, motivation, muscle strength and focus.
- When it changes
- Low libido, tiredness, low motivation and brain fog.
Thyroid hormones
The thermostat- What it does
- Set the speed of your metabolism, affecting energy, weight, temperature and heart rate.
- When it changes
- Tiredness, weight changes, feeling cold or hot, low mood and hair changes.
Insulin
The fuel manager- What it does
- Moves sugar from your blood into your cells for energy, and affects how you store fat.
- When it changes
- Sugar cravings, energy crashes, weight around the middle, and PCOS symptoms.
Cortisol
The alarm- What it does
- Your stress hormone. It wakes you up, gives you energy in a crisis, and should settle by night.
- When it changes
- Feeling wired but tired, poor sleep, cravings and feeling overwhelmed.
Your hormones through life
Your hormones don't stay the same. Understanding the stages helps you make sense of what you're feeling now.
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
Teens to 30s
Your cycle
Hormones rise and fall in a monthly rhythm. PMS, PCOS and missing periods often show up now.
Pregnancy and after
After birth
Hormones are high in pregnancy, then drop sharply after birth, which can affect mood.
Late 30s to 40s
Perimenopause
Progesterone falls first, and estrogen swings up and down. For some, menopause comes early, before 40.
Around 51
Menopause
12 months without a period. Estrogen settles at a low level.
After menopause
Postmenopause
A key time to protect your bones, heart and brain for the decades ahead.
How your hormones work together
Your hormones don't work alone. When one changes, others respond. That's why we never look at just one, and why your plan covers hormones, nutrition, movement, sleep and stress together. You're part of every decision, so your plan fits your life and your goals.
You
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Thyroid
- Insulin
- Cortisol
- Testosterone
Stress and blood sugar
When cortisol stays high, it can push blood sugar up and disturb sleep, which makes cravings and tiredness worse.
Insulin and testosterone
In PCOS, high insulin can make the ovaries produce more testosterone, causing skin, hair and period changes.
Estrogen and blood sugar
As estrogen falls in midlife, many women find blood sugar and weight around the middle harder to manage.
Stress and progesterone
Ongoing stress can affect your cycle, and falling progesterone in perimenopause can make stress harder to cope with.
Why some women feel hormone changes more
Some women's brains are more sensitive to the rise and fall of hormones. It isn't about having "wrong" hormone levels. It's about how strongly your body reacts to normal changes. This sensitivity often shows up at the same key moments across life:
Before your period
PMS and PMDD
After having a baby
Low mood after birth
In perimenopause
Mood swings, anxiety, low mood
If you've struggled at one of these times, you may be more likely to notice changes at the others. Telling us about it helps us plan your care, and the good news is that it's very treatable.
Food and your hormones
What you eat gives your body the building blocks it needs to make and balance hormones. These are officially approved UK health claims, so you can trust them:
- B6 Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity.
- Zinc Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood.
- Iodine Iodine contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones.
- Selenium Selenium contributes to normal thyroid function.
- Iron Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Vit D Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
Approved UK health claims
Personalised to you
Your hormone friendly eating plan
There's no one size fits all. Our nutritionist builds your plan around your hormones, your symptoms, your test results and the foods you enjoy.
Myth or fact?
Myth
"I'm too young for perimenopause in my late 30s."
Fact
Perimenopause can start in your late 30s. If you're noticing changes, it's worth talking about.
Myth
"A blood test will always show if I'm in menopause."
Fact
Over 45, it's usually recognised from your symptoms, because hormone levels change from day to day.
Myth
"Hormone changes are just part of getting older."
Fact
They're natural, but you don't have to put up with symptoms. There's a lot that can help.
Myth
"Testosterone is only a male hormone."
Fact
Women make testosterone too, and it matters for energy, mood, focus and desire.
Myth
"Saliva or urine hormone tests give the full picture."
Fact
These home tests aren't recommended in UK guidance. When tests are useful, we use blood tests and always look at your symptoms too.
Myth
"Hormone problems only start in menopause."
Fact
Hormones can affect you from your first period onwards, including PMS, PCOS and after having a baby.
Hormone words, explained
Seen these on a blood test result? Here's what they mean.
Estradiol
The main type of estrogen your body makes before menopause.
FSH
A brain hormone that tells your ovaries to work. It often rises around menopause.
SHBG
A protein that carries hormones like testosterone around your blood.
TSH
The main thyroid screening test. A high level can mean an underactive thyroid.
Free T4
The level of thyroid hormone in your blood.
HbA1c
Your average blood sugar over the last two to three months.
Ferritin
Your iron stores. Low levels can leave you tired.
Vitamin D
Important for bones, mood and immunity. Often low in the UK.
Ask our team
Got a question about your hormones? Send it in, and each month our team answers a reader question in the Women's health hub.