Hormonal Changes in Perimenopause (My tips and tricks for balance)
(This is Part 1 of a 3-part series focused on hormone health during perimenopause)
Part 1: What on earth is happening to my body?
Part 2: What “unbalanced” feels and looks like
Part 3: Foods & habits to balance your hormones
What do Saved by the Bell, sweaty gym socks, tinted Clearasil, and the (intoxicating) smell of Drakkar Noir sprayed into a baseball hat all remind you of? Ah, hormones, they were all the rage in the ’80s. But seriously? I definitely thought hormone drama was in the rearview of my 1990 Honda Accord.
Then, I hit 42, and my body must’ve felt nostalgic. Suddenly, I’m crying at dog food commercials and yelling at tourists in the grocery store with beads of sweat glimmering in my lady mustache, which appeared like NKOTB on a reunion tour.
The Hormone Wake-Up Call
Looking back further, the signs were everywhere, but hindsight is 20/20 (in 2020). The afternoon energy depletion that no amount of cold brew could fix. The belly bulges in all of my go-to dresses. The inferno inside my body when I would drink wine. It was three doctors later and a Google search when I came across the word perimenopause.
I was so relieved that I didn’t have early-onset Alzheimer’s until I realized:
Perimenopause could last for a decade
No one really knows anything about perimenopause or menopause (or women’s health in general)
It’s frowned upon to talk about women growing older.
I knew absolutely nothing about hormone wellness or hormone balance.
Someone said that your hormones are like a group chat in your body, and I cannot stress how much I love that analogy. Because each hormone has an individual identity but also relies on the information passed to them by the other hormones. So, what is a hormone? The Cleveland Clinic defines hormones as chemicals that coordinate different functions in the body by carrying messages through the blood to organs, skin, muscles, and other tissues.
There are over 50 human hormones but I’m just going to focus on the key players in perimenopause.
Meet your Hormone Squad: the Key Players
Estrogen Eleanor: This is your GIRL, the Thelma to your Louise. When she puts in for retirement, she can take a lot of your favorite things with her.
Progesterone Priya: She’s your super chill, zen-like yoga instructor, promoting peace and calm as well as restful sleep.
Insulin Iris: She keeps your energy steady, but sometimes declining estrogen leads to insulin resistance, and she likes to store everything as belly fat.
Cortisol Carla: She’s your stress hormone who protects you from quicksand but will also keep you up worrying. She means well, but she’s a bit extra.
Thyroid Theresa: She’s in charge of your metabolism and decides if you are then energizer bunny or a sloth. A slight funk can throw everything off.
Dopamine Darlene: She’s got her pom poms on to cheer you through your to-do list, but when she’s feeling low, she’s a total drag.
Serotonin Stacey: She’s your happiness hormone, your mood stabilizer who oddly resides in your gut. When she’s balanced, all feels right in the world.
GABA Gabby: She’s your internal Xanax, soothing you to sleep with lullabies and spa vibes. She’s complicated and has many layers (like an onion).
When your hormone health is on point, you barely notice any of these “ladies” doing their thang, but when they are out of whack, everything from your energy levels to your working memory is affected. It’s like each part of your body chose a different playlist on Spotify and played them all at once.
The Perimenopause Plot Twist
I can’t speak for all of us, but I know that I basically sailed through my 20s and 30s with predictable hormone patterns, periods like clockwork, and even PMS symptoms that arrived on an organized schedule. My hormones had a Filofax and used it!
Then perimenopause arrived, and now my hormones have main character energy. The truth is that we are woefully undereducated about this. While we’ve all been busy focusing on getting pregnant and also avoiding pregnancy, we never thought about what happens next.
The Reality Check: What to Expect
Duration: This can last anywhere between 4 and 10 years. Yup, a freaking DECADE
Unpredictability: Your hormones are having a Karen-sized meltdown at the cafeteria in Ikea
Individual Experience: No two women experience hormonal changes in the same way. Get you a peri bestie stat!
Daily fluctuations: Peri does not take the weekends off or close at 5 pm. Your hormone levels can fluctuate dramatically from day to day, sometimes even from hour to hour.
Why This Matters & Why It's Hard
This all sucks. I will never gaslight you into thinking anything else.
But, truly, I'm feeling pretty damn good lately. I’m not quite “there” yet, but I’m starting to see how perimenopause could have some positive results. I was very happy before my hormones got on the tilt-a-whirl, so I say this begrudgingly, but I swear, something almost feels healing.
What I want you to know is that understanding my hormones and eating with intent right now isn’t just my attempt at damage control.
It’s a chance to take back a wee bit of control during what will be the most transformative time of my (and your) lives, whether we like it or not. You can quote me on that one.
What's Coming Next in This Series?
In Part 2, I’m talking about what actually happens when your hormones go haywire during perimenopause. Not to spoil the surprise but those daily mood swings aren’t in your head, and there’s a scientific reason why you can’t sleep but somehow gained 10 pounds while eating the same foods you always have.
And in Part 3? I’m sharing the game-changing hormone balancing health foods that helped me feel human again—plus the simple daily habits that can help stabilize and support your hormones.
Feeling like a stranger in your own body? Understanding hormone health is the first step to taking back control. Even if you have to Google ‘is this normal’ approximately 47 times a week.
Drop a comment below 👇🏽
What’s your biggest hormone health question?
I’m reading every single one and using your questions to shape the following posts in this series. Seriously, ask me anything—I’ve probably googled it at 2 am too.
Coming up in this hormone health series: deep dives into cortisol management, insulin resistance in perimenopause, thyroid health optimization, and so much more. Because once you understand the players, you can start calling the shots.