Hormones Gone Wild: When your body starts acting like a teenager again

Hormones Gone Wild: When Your Body Starts Acting Like a Teenager Again

Welcome to perimenopause—the time in life when your hormones decide to throw a rager without your permission. If you're between 35 and 45, you might have noticed some, let’s say, unpredictable changes. One moment, you're fine; the next, you're yelling at a poor fast-food worker because they forgot your extra sauce. Who was that person? Oh yeah, it was you—blame the hormones.

Perimenopause is like puberty in reverse. Instead of gearing up for the great reproductive adventure, your body is slowly winding things down, but not without some serious drama. One day, your period is MIA; the next, it’s a full-blown crime scene (someone get the caution tape). Heavy bleeding, mood swings, brain fog, joint pain, anxiety, panic attacks, and a sudden drop in confidence can make you feel like a stranger in your own skin. And when we don’t understand what’s happening, we start to think something is really wrong.

This rollercoaster phase doesn’t just affect you—it can ripple into your family life, workplace, and relationships. If you feel like an emotional tornado, you’re not alone, and more importantly, you’re not broken.

Should I Get Bloodwork?

Here’s the tricky part: hormone levels during perimenopause fluctuate so wildly that one day your labs might look perfectly normal, and the next, they’re all over the place. So instead of chasing numbers, we focus on symptoms and treating those.

• Can’t sleep? Let’s talk about adding some micronized progesterone—it can work wonders.

• No energy, no libido, feeling down? Testosterone might be a game-changer for you. (Yes, there’s solid research supporting testosterone use in perimenopause. While estrogen and progesterone take a nosedive, testosterone gradually declines from your mid-20s onward.)

Where to Start?

Before diving into medications, let’s look at the Four Pillars of Life:

1. Nutrition – Fuel your body wisely. Blood sugar crashes = mood crashes.

2. Exercise – Even a short daily walk can help with hormone balance.

3. Sleep – If you’re tossing and turning, let’s focus on fixing that (hello, progesterone!).

4. Stress Management – Your hormones are already doing their best impression of a soap opera; no need to add extra drama.

Starting hormone therapy (HT) is a great conversation to have with your provider. Sometimes, just a trial of HT can make a big difference in how you feel.

Perimenopause isn’t forever, and you don’t have to suffer through it in silence. There are ways to feel better, regain control, and get back to being you—just with a little extra wisdom (and maybe a backup stash of chocolate).

Got questions? Let’s talk about them—drop your topic suggestions, and let’s navigate this wild ride together