If you’re a woman, you’re probably aware that hormones like progesterone and estrogen affect your mood and appetite, but did you know they play a key role in the amount and quality of sleep you get? Insomnia, or restlessness, occurs much more commonly in women than in men.
The team at Happy Hormone Cottage is here to help women achieve healthy and balanced hormone levels as they navigate different cycles of life. What your body needs depends on a range of factors that our team of specialists can assess. Don’t settle for feeling ‘okay’. Take the first step toward balancing hormones and living a happier, healthier life!
Click here to learn more about your Hormone Therapy Journey at HHC
The two dominant female hormones are estrogen and progesterone, each with an important function in the female body
While estrogen’s main role as the dominant female sex hormone is to develop female physical characteristics and regulate menstruation, progesterone also aids in menstruation and helps maintain pregnancy. Both estrogen and progesterone are produced mainly in the ovaries, while the adrenal glands, fatty tissue, and placenta also provide hormones.
Depending on a woman’s age and stage of life, these two female hormones constantly fluctuate, impacting the quality and quantity of your sleep. High levels of estrogen can increase deep, restful sleep, called rapid eye movement or REM sleep. Meanwhile, low levels can lead to insomnia and fitful nights. Estrogen also regulates body temperature, and high levels can mean waking up drenched in sweat.
Progesterone is sometimes called the ‘relaxing hormone’ because it helps you fall asleep quickly and stay asleep. When progesterone levels drop, it can make for very poor sleep quality.
Women’s lifelong hormonal cycle can directly affect their sleep. The beginning of puberty is often the first indication of sleep differences between boys and girls.
In the luteal phase, about a week before menstruation, progesterone levels peak to prepare for pregnancy and can make a woman’s sleep quite restful. But if there is no pregnancy, progesterone dramatically drops to stimulate the start of a period. Many women find that this hormone drop makes it very challenging to get good quality sleep.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that causes notoriously irregular periods, higher levels of androgens, and abnormally low baseline levels of progesterone, which can seriously impact sleep.
As a woman nears menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including hot flashes that can prevent deep sleep. In addition, menopause signals the lowering of progesterone levels, making some women more irritable and unable to relax.
Other sleep disorders become more common during perimenopause, such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia. Given that perimenopause can last for up to a decade or more, getting a handle on good, restful sleep is essential. For women facing these challenges, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may help them to sleep more soundly and provide a host of other health and well-being benefits.
While high-quality sleep is important, achieving a balanced and healthy hormone profile offers many incredible benefits to a woman’s well-being. As we mentioned in the beginning, hormones are the control system for many of the body’s internal systems, and having them in check can make a world of difference.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) identifies your deficiencies, locates the cause or source of the deficiency, and provides you with supplemented hormones to help restore a healthier, more natural balance.
We like to refer to it as a journey. We have outlined the steps, which you can read by clicking here. The first step is to schedule a consultation so we can begin building a relationship with you and better understand your health profile. At Happy Hormone Cottage, part of our therapy involves raising awareness of lifestyle factors that may contribute to hormonal imbalances and helping you address them.
While every woman is different and has a unique starting and ending point, HRT can help you achieve a better overall quality of life. The goal is to improve sleep quality, regulate mood, reduce menopausal symptoms, and ease transitions between life stages.
If you have questions or concerns about HRT, hormone imbalances, and the associated symptoms, reach out to the team at Happy Hormone Cottage today! Our team is happy to answer any and all questions you may have.
Call our office at (513) 444-6343, Option 1 to speak with a member of our team, or schedule a consultation online today!
