The hypothalamus is your body’s internal thermostat. As estrogen and progesterone levels shift, the range your body considers normal temperature gets smaller.
Hormones have a huge impact on your body. Just to name a few: metabolism; appetite; muscle mass; insulin sensitivity and fat storage.
Sleep is a whole-body production. When any of these are out of sync, so are your nights: cortisol; hormones; body temperature, mood and metabolism.
This can look different for everyone, but can include: difficulty concentrating; slower processing; forgetfulness or mental fatigue. Shifts in estrogen can impact your hippocampus — the part of your brain involved in learning and memory.
Is stress suddenly harder to shake? It's because your nervous system is working overtime. When hormone levels fluctuate, your brain has to work harder to find a new emotional baseline.
Estrogen keeps the skin of the vagina, vulva, and bladder lubricated and strong. So when it naturally declines at midlife the skin in all these areas can become thinner and more vulnerable. This hormonal shift can lead to vaginal dryness, irritation, painful sex, urinary urgency, frequency, and UTIs.
Ovulation sets the schedule and when it starts happening later — or not at all — progesterone patterns change. Those changes can make your period: arrive early or late; disappear for a month; or return with a heavier or longer flow.
