Understanding the Hormonal Health Impact on Menopause

As women enter perimenopause and post-menopause, their bodies undergo significant transformations due to hormone decline and fluctuation. The hormonal health impact can influence  everything from bone health and brain function to heart health, weight management, central nervous system health, urogenital and sexual health, reproductive health, metabolic health, digestive health, skin and hair health, and thyroid and adrenal health. These shifts aren’t just minor inconveniences—they can lead to serious health concerns if left unaddressed. By understanding these hormonal changes, you can take proactive steps to maintain your well-being and vitality. Dive in, discover how your body is changing, and learn how to regain hormone balance and control.

As women enter perimenopause and post-menopause, their bodies undergo significant transformations due to fluctuating and declining hormones, impacting everything from bone health and brain function to heart health, weight management, central nervous system health, urogenital and sexual health, reproductive health, metabolic health, digestive health, skin and hair health, and thyroid and adrenal health. These shifts aren’t just minor inconveniences—they can lead to serious health concerns if left unaddressed. By understanding these hormonal changes, you can take proactive steps to maintain your well-being and vitality. Dive in, discover how your body is changing, and learn how to regain hormone balance and control.

• hormone decline of estrogen and loss of muscle can lead to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

.• With declining estrogen, bones break down faster than they can build back up.

• As much as 20% of bone loss occurs within the first 5 years of menopause.

• 40 to 50%  of all post-menopausal women will experience fractures.• Bone fractures can lead to a host of other health issues.

• As hormone decline occurs in the brain, women may begin to develop amyloid plaques, increasing their susceptibility to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

• Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients are women.

• Estrogen is a master regulator of women’s brains, akin to how fuel powers a car.

• Estrogen increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, enhances the growth and interconnectedness of neuron dendrites, boosts neuro-protection, stimulates overall brain plasticity and resiliency, and activates brain neurons to burn glucose.

• As estrogen declines, women experience issues with memory and cognition, often described as “brain fog.”

• Hormone decline and fluctuations can lead to uncomfortable vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.

• Mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, and irritability

• Sleep disturbances and sleep deprivation. 

• Migraine headaches.

• Increased cardiovascular risk of both heart attack and stroke due to hormone decline in estrogen.  Estrogen is a heart protective hormone, which is why, prior to menopause, women are less likely to have heart issues than men of similar age 

.• Decrease in estrogen may lead to heart palpitations (rapid, irregular, and skipped beats).

• Increased inflammation due to diminishing hormones can lead to arterial dysfunction and loss of elasticity in blood vessels. • Hot flashes and night sweats are linked to a greater risk of  higher blood pressure.

• Depression during menopause is also linked to greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

 • Women who go through menopause later in life have a decreased risk of developing heart disease than women who enter menopause at a younger age.

• Research suggests that hormone therapy is protective of cardiovascular health when started within 10 years of menopause. 

• Hormone decline can lead to thinning of the vaginal walls leads to vaginal dryness and atrophy.

• The hormone decline of estrogen can also lead to urinary frequency, urinary urgency, frequent bladder and yeast infections, painful sex.and loss of libido.

• It can also lead to an increased risk of pelvic floor dysfunction.

• The hormone decline of progesterone, alongside fluctuating estrogen during peri-menopause, often leads to symptoms of estrogen dominance.

• As the amount of eggs begin to decrease during perimenopause, an increased FSH is required for them to receive the signal they need. 

.• Follicle count continues to go down and eventually ovulation stops and menopause commences.

• Decreasing estrogen in late perimenopause and post-menopause.

• Increased breast tenderness and changes in shape and elasticity.

• Possible increased risk of breast cancer.

• Irregular and painful periods.Muscle and Joint Health

• Reduced hormones can adversely affect the ability to maintain and build muscle mass, leading sarcopenia.

• Functional issues regarding stability and strength. 

• Increase in inflammation, which can lead to joint pain and issues.

• Hormone decline that creates weight gain and overall change in body composition, leading to more fat and less muscle

.• Hormone decline that changes glucose metabolism and the body’s ability to maintain insulin sensitivity.

• Hormone decline that creates an increase in HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, adipose fat and body circumference.

• Hormone decline that decreases ability to move easily between burning fat and burning sugar (carbs) for energy, feeling full, and an increase in food intake.  

• Hormone decline creates changes in digestion,  which can lead to issues with gastric function, constipation, new food intolerances, indigestion, and heartburn.

• It can also create changes in the microbiome,  which can increase risk of auto-immune disease. 

 • Increased insulin and decrease in sex hormones can lead to impaired thyroid and adrenal health.

• Thyroid and adrenal issues can, in turn, adversely affect sex hormones and insulin levels. 

• Decrease in thyroid hormones can cause  hundreds of symptoms including fatigue, dry skin, constipation, cold extremities, depression. and hair loss.

• Increased cortisol starting in peri-menopause can lead to impaired sleep, emotional inflexibility,  heightened stress response, mood dysregulation, increased inflammation, and increased risk for chronic disease.

• Hormone decline can reduce skin elasticity and skin thickness, increase wrinkles, dry hair and skin. as well as create thin hair with hair loss.