Reasons Your Hormones Might Feel "Off" | Marla Ahlgrimm

As women, our bodies experience a flood of hormone fluctuations at pretty much every stage of life. According to self-help author and hormone expert Marla Ahlgrimm, this ever-changing wave of different hormones doesn't always feel the same. However, aside from just a natural ebb and flow of these chemical messengers, there are many reasons your hormones might make you feel a bit off. We'll explore a few of those in today's brief post.

Menstrual Cycle Fluctuations

Marla Ahlgrimm says that a woman's menstrual cycle consists of the rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone. This can lead to a noticeable and sometimes swift shift in energy levels, mood, food cravings, and physical sensations. This is, for the most part, natural and to be expected.

Perimenopause and Menopause

As a woman approaches her 45th birthday, estrogen and progesterone levels begin to decline and fluctuate wildly. This can also trigger many symptoms similar to menstrual cycle fluctuations. However, during perimenopause and menopause, Marla Ahlgrimm says it's more common for women to also experience sleep disturbances, more significant mood changes, and hot flashes.

Pregnancy

Throughout pregnancy and the postpartum months, a dramatic hormone shift occurs. This is at first to support fetal development and then as the body acclimates to no longer serving as a vessel for human life. Marla Ahlgrimm says this doesn't always go according to a biological plan, and some women experience extreme emotional and physical changes that can lead to short-term postnatal depression. The "baby blues" is reasonably common, but Marla Ahlgrimm encourages new mothers to reach out to a mental health provider if they feel apathy or anger toward their newborn.

Stress

We all know that stress affects our cortisol levels, but many people don't know that cortisol affects the other hormones flowing through your veins. Estrogen and progesterone are two of these that are indirectly affected by stress and its related cortisol output.

Thyroid Issues

Marla Ahlgrimm notes that the thyroid is the gland responsible for producing hormones that regulate many of the body's important functions, including metabolism. Women who begin to experience fatigue, weight changes, and unusual mood swings may find they have a thyroid imbalance in the form of either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. This is a medical condition that requires care.

Lifestyle Factors

The way we live can also affect our hormones, says Marla Ahlgrimm. What we eat, our physical activity, and even the amount of physical affection that we give and receive can change our hormone levels. Similarly, a lack of sleep or significant weight gain or weight loss can change your hormones.

Normal Aging

Marla Ahlgrimm emphasizes again that hormone levels change throughout a lifetime. Unfortunately, many women around the age of menopause are sensitive to the subtle hormone shifts, especially when they begin to affect her ability to maintain her weight or appearance. Once you are past 50, some of these changes are expected. Marla Ahlgrimm says to speak with your primary healthcare provider if you have concerns.

Ultimately, a woman's body changes from the inside out from birth until death, and our hormones direct most of that. Marla Ahlgrimm says that hormone changes are natural and normal, but she also stresses that there are many things that might affect a woman's hormone levels. For more information, she recommends scheduling an appointment with your doctor or endocrinologist.