Menopause isn’t just about estrogen — several key hormones affect everything from your mood to your waistline.

Understanding how your hormones work can help you better respond to the changes in your body — and give you a path forward that doesn’t rely on guesswork.

1. Estrogen

Estrogen is your primary reproductive hormone, but it does more than regulate your cycle. It helps maintain bone density, keeps skin elastic, supports vaginal health, and even influences brain chemistry. When estrogen drops, hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness often follow.

2. Progesterone

Known as the “calming hormone,” progesterone helps you relax, sleep, and feel emotionally balanced. As levels fall during perimenopause, women often report insomnia, anxiety, and feeling emotionally “raw.”

3. Cortisol

Cortisol is your stress hormone. During menopause, cortisol tends to rise — partly due to sleep disruption, and partly due to how your adrenal system tries to pick up the slack from declining ovarian hormone production. High cortisol makes it harder to lose weight, stay calm, or sleep soundly.

4. Insulin

Insulin regulates your blood sugar. As estrogen declines, many women become more insulin resistant — which means your body stores more fat, particularly around the middle. That’s why midlife weight gain happens, even if your eating habits haven’t changed.

Support Strategy:

• Eat protein with every meal to reduce insulin spikes
• Walk after meals to aid digestion
• Limit sugar and refined carbs
• Practice daily stress reduction (meditation, journaling, movement)

You can also try Health & Her Mind+ for hormone-targeted support with key nutrients like B6, magnesium, and sage extract.

Remember: knowledge is power. When you understand the hormonal puzzle, it becomes easier to piece together your best path forward.