Maria Katrina Paras

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What Affects Women's Hormones

<p>Hormones. How many times have I blamed my hormones for weight gain, adult acne, fatigue, insomnia, and monstrous mood swings? Sometimes, they are part of the problem. But &ldquo;hormonal imbalance&rdquo; is not a diagnosis by itself. <strong>Hormones naturally go up and down throughout the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause.</strong></p><div><br></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width: 700px; display: block;" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17883328366001.png" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"><span class="fr-inner">Women have several key hormones, with estrogen and progesterone acting as the primary female sex hormones.<br></span></span></span></strong></div><p>The real concern is a lasting change that affects how you feel or how your body functions. I was in my 20s when I was diagnosed with <strong>polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)</strong>, and it&rsquo;s a condition that&rsquo;s part of this conversation. Also, <strong>thyroid disease and premature ovarian insufficiency are increasingly part of conversations about women&rsquo;s health,</strong> and they deserve more than a quick fix or a supplement recommended online.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>Signs that something may be off</strong></div><p><strong>The menstrual cycle often provides the first clue.</strong> When I finally decided to have a checkup, it was because my cycles were so unpredictable! <strong>Periods that frequently disappear, arrive unpredictably, or become unusually heavy should not be brushed asid</strong>e, especially when paired with acne, facial hair growth, scalp hair thinning, fertility problems, or sudden weight changes.&nbsp;</p><p>Other warning signs include <strong>hot flashes at a younger age, vaginal dryness, low sex drive, ongoing fatigue, disrupted sleep, heart palpitations, and dark, velvety skin around the neck or underarms.</strong></p><p>These symptoms do not automatically point to a hormone disorder. Pregnancy, anemia, stress, certain medications, and other health conditions can look similar. This is why <strong>testing should be guided by a doctor</strong> rather than a home hormone kit. &ldquo;If your menstrual cycles are disrupted or if you&rsquo;re going through menopause, you should definitely come in to be seen,&rdquo; Cleveland Clinic OB-GYN Dr. Pelin Batur advises in its <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/hormone-testing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">guidance on hormone testing</a>.</p><div><br></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width: 700px; display: block;" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788594355984Women's Hormones.jpg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"><span class="fr-inner">Your body always has warning signs. Addressing them early may decrease the risk of hormonal disorders</span></span></span></div><p>These symptoms do not automatically point to a hormone disorder. Pregnancy, anemia, stress, certain medications, and other health conditions can look similar. This is why <strong>testing should be guided by a doctor</strong> rather than a home hormone kit. &ldquo;If your menstrual cycles are disrupted or if you&rsquo;re going through menopause, you should definitely come in to be seen,&rdquo; Cleveland Clinic OB-GYN Dr. Pelin Batur advises in its <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/hormone-testing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">guidance on hormone testing.</a></p><p><strong>PCOS&nbsp;</strong>is one of the most common hormone-related conditions. The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World Health Organization estimates that it affects 10 to 13 percent of women of reproductive age</a>, yet many remain undiagnosed. Possible signs include irregular periods, difficulty getting pregnant, persistent acne, excess facial or body hair, and thinning hair on the scalp. Despite its name, a woman does not need to have ovarian cysts to be diagnosed with PCOS.</p><p><strong>Early menopause</strong> is another issue women should know about. <strong>Menopause before 45 is considered early, while the loss of normal ovarian function before 40 is called premature ovarian insufficiency or POI</strong>. A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10022589/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2023 medical review reported that POI may affect around 3.7 percent of women</a>, higher than earlier estimates.</p><p>POI can be linked to genetics, autoimmune conditions, ovarian surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. In many women, however, doctors never find one clear cause. Diet and stress should not be blamed for every case.</p><div><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></div><div><strong>What may be disrupting hormone health<br></strong></div><p>Genes and age are contributing factors, but <strong>daily habits can affect the way hormones work&mdash;especially ones that revolve around nutrition</strong>. When I was finally diagnosed with PCOS after not having my period for eight months, one of the things I had to reassess was my diet. This led to me understanding the benefits of the ketogenic diet.<br id="isPasted"><br>A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10484165/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2023 review of clinical studies</a> found that following keto for at least 45 days was linked to better insulin control, lower testosterone, and improvements in weight. A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11610292/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2024 randomized trial</a> also found that <strong>keto improved several metabolic and reproductive hormone markers in women with PCOS who were overweight or obese.</strong><br><br>This is especially important because in PCOS, i<strong>nsulin resistance is common, even among women who are not overweight.</strong> When the body stops responding well to insulin, it produces more of it. Higher insulin levels can then push the ovaries to make more androgens, the hormones connected to irregular ovulation, acne, and unwanted hair growth. As for me, my facial hair grew thick.</p><p>Constantly eating <strong>refined carbs, sugar, processed and junk foods&nbsp;</strong>can make blood sugar harder to manage. These foods are not forbidden, but problems do arise when they regularly replace protein, vegetables, fruit and other wholesome foods. Poor sleep, long periods of stress and little physical activity can add to the strain. At the other extreme, severe calorie restriction and excessive exercise may cause periods to stop because the body no longer feels it has enough energy to support ovulation.</p><div><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></div><div><strong>Food is Medicine</strong></div><p>There is no special cleanse or perfect &ldquo;hormone-balancing&rdquo; menu. The <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2024/221/7/summary-2023-international-evidence-based-guideline-assessment-and-management" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2023 international PCOS guideline</a> recommends <strong>healthy eating and regular movement</strong>, but it does not identify one diet as superior. <strong>Benefits can also appear even when the number on the scale does not change.</strong></p><p>A practical place to begin is with protein. Include fish, chicken, eggs, beef, beans, or unsweetened yogurt at every main meal. Add vegetables for fiber, with a moderate portion of fruits. Stick to single-ingredient foods, if possible. <strong>Wholesome eating will help slow digestion, keeping blood sugar steadier after a meal.</strong></p><p>Research is also exploring whether <strong>diet may influence when menopause begins</strong>.<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6204950/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;In a 2018 study that followed more than 14,000 women</a>, oily fish and fresh legumes were associated with later menopause, while higher intakes of refined pasta and rice were linked to earlier menopause. The study found an association, not proof that particular foods caused or prevented menopause. Still, it supports a varied diet built around whole foods.</p><p><strong>Food storage matters as well</strong>. <a href="https://www.endocrine.org/advocacy/priorities-and-positions/edc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Endocrine Society reports that chemicals found in some plastics and food packaging</a> <strong>can interfere with hormone activity</strong>. It is impossible to avoid every exposure, but not heating food in plastic, rethinking coffee pods (<a href="https://biodynamic.coffee/blogs/lifestyle/do-coffee-pods-release-microplastics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hot water passing through plastic pods releases microplastics</a>), and using glass or stainless-steel containers when possible are sensible steps.</p><div><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width: 700px; display: block;" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17883334841573.png" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"><span class="fr-inner">Take care of your habits and your body will take care of yourself</span></span></span></div><div><br></div><div><strong>Listen when your body changes</strong></div><p>Keep a simple record of your periods (Flo app is a game-changer), sleep, skin changes, and other symptoms. Bring it to an OB-GYN, primary-care doctor, or endocrinologist. Hormone health is not about reaching a perfect set of numbers. <strong>It is about understanding what has changed and treating the actual cause</strong>.</p><p><strong>Good food, regular movement, enough sleep, and stress care create a stronger foundation, but persistent symptoms still deserve a proper medical conversation.</strong> As for me, I was able to reverse my PCOS after making a solid commitment to my health. And it goes to show that <strong>better things happen when we become good stewards of our bodies.</strong></p>

<p>How many times have you blamed your hormones for weight gain, adult acne, fatigue, insomnia, and monstrous mood swings?</p>

How many times have you blamed your hormones for weight gain, adult acne, fatigue, insomnia, and monstrous mood swings?

What's Affecting Women's Hormones? Common Causes and How to Help

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What's Affecting Women's Hormones? Common Causes and How to Help

Danah Gutierrez

Published September 05, 2026 03:00 PM PHT

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Updated September 05, 2026 03:46 PM PHT

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