Inside your body there is a complex system of regulation that takes care of keeping everything under control without you having to make much effort. Your body works in an orderly way thanks to the hormonal balance. If these hormones are in normal ranges, everything will be fine. On the contrary, when this balance is lost, you could present a series of complications that can alter your health. 

Join us to learn what hormonal balance is all about and how its variations affect you during menopause.

What do we call hormonal balance? 

Hormones are chemicals that coordinate multiple functions in the body by transmitting messages that tell your organs what activity to perform. That makes them essential to your life and health.  

The human body requires the correct and coordinated functioning of at least 50 different hormones (1). Among the different functions controlled by hormones in the human body we can mention the following (1): 

• Metabolism. 

• Homeostasis (internal balance of the body). 

• Sexual function. 

• Reproduction. 

• Growth and development. 

• Sleep cycle. 

• Mood states. 

Loss of hormonal balance 

Alterations can occur when you have too much or too little of a specific hormone because they completely change the signals or the effect they produce in your body. Therefore, it is necessary, in some cases, to start treatment to improve the imbalance (1). 

Women naturally experience this loss of hormonal balance at certain stages of their lives (2): 

• Puberty. 

• Menstruation. 

• Pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. 

• Perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. 

On the other hand, there are other conditions and unnatural factors in which the woman will also show hormonal imbalance. For example (2):  

• Polycystic ovary syndrome. 

• Use of contraceptives. 

• Primary ovarian insufficiency. 

• Ovarian cancer. 

Changes around menopause 

Hormonal changes begin years before menopause. For this reason, you must take a moment to ask yourself: what is perimenopause? 

Since, at this stage, middle-aged women present fluctuations in their hormone levels. It can occur at approximately 30 years of age in a woman who goes through early menopause (3). 

During this stage, hormone levels, such as progesterone and oestrogen, fluctuate. In addition, alterations can be found secondary to this, for example (3):  

• Hot flushes. 

• Humor changes. 

• Weight gain. 

• Night sweats. 

• Irregular periods (periods that are shortened or lengthened, abundant or scarce). 

• Sleep disorders. 

• Changes in breast size. 

When a woman has not experienced menstruation for 12 consecutive months, she is considered to have entered the menopausal stage. In this period, the ovaries completely cease the production of hormones. As a result of the deprivation of these hormones, there may be new alterations in the body. So, while many symptoms of menopause may disappear over time, other adverse conditions will emerge, for example, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or bone disease (3). 

Practical tips for coping with these changes 

Menopause is still a natural stage of life. Even if it comes earlier than expected, like menopause at 40. Therefore, the best way to deal with its manifestations is to make positive changes in your lifestyle. This way you will feel good, full, and have the best quality of life possible.  

Here are some tips on how to deal with this stage (4): 

• Eat enough protein: protein provides the amino acids your body needs to produce hormones. 

• Keep moving: physical activity increases your body's sensitivity to hormones, so it is more receptive to their signal even when there are fewer of them than usual. 

• Regulate your weight: excess weight and fat accumulation can create hormonal imbalance by itself; in addition, it is related to alterations in the normal function of the ovaries that can even lead to infertility in early stages of life. 

• Decrease your sugar intake: minimize added sugar. This, in addition to optimizing the effect of your hormones, will prevent problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, among others. 

• Practice relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises for stress: these can help prevent the loss of hormonal balance due to alterations secondary to stress. 

• Get a good night's sleep: not sleeping well directly affects your hormone levels and, also, decreases your body's sensitivity to hormones.

Take care of your hormonal balance 

As you can see, hormonal balance is critical to maintaining your overall health and well-being. Although menopause can affect hormone levels, there are natural methods that can help you maintain balance and cope with the changes more comfortably. It is important to keep in mind that if you experience significant discomfort, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if hormone replacement therapy is an appropriate option for you. Don't give up on your quest for balance, you deserve to feel good. 

Bibliographic references 

1. Cleveland Clinic. Hormonal imbalance: causes, symptoms & treatment [Internet]. USA: Cleveland Clinic; 2022 [cited 2024 Mar 4]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22673-hormonal-imbalance 
2. Huizen J. What to know about hormonal imbalances [Internet]. USA: Medical News Today; 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 4]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321486#treatment 
3. Endocrine Society. Menopause [Internet]. Washington: 3. Endocrine Society; 2022 [cited 2024 Mar 4]. Available from: https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/menopause‌  
4. Lang A. 10 Natural ways to balance your hormones [Internet]. USA: Healthline Media; 2023 [cited 2024 Mar 4]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/balance-hormones#protein