When it comes to hormones, there’s no such thing as ‘one size fits all’. Almost every woman you meet will have a different hormonal experience, whether they struggle with a hormonal condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), deal with intense PMS or don’t deal with any symptoms at all.

Because your hormones play such a pivotal role in how you think and feel, the hormonal hand you’re dealt can have a knock-on effect on many other areas of your life. The stigma attached to women who appear ‘hormonal’ can also make living with symptoms harder to deal with.

But why do some people have such a hard time with their hormones, when others seem to pass through the menstrual cycle without a care in the world? Are there really people who are simply more ‘hormonal’ than others? And if so, what does that mean?  

The human body is home to over 50 hormones – but here we’re talking specifically about the symptoms caused by women’s reproductive hormones: oestrogen and progesterone.

If you struggle with severe PMS, you might think that you have ‘stronger’ oestrogen than someone else. But that’s not entirely the case; your symptoms might be more pronounced, but that’s caused by a hormonal imbalance rather than the hormone itself.

Throughout the menstrual cycle (which usually lasts around a month) the levels of oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate to facilitate ovulation, the thickening of the womb lining and eventually a period. These natural fluctuations can lead to mild symptoms or changes in behaviour, such as increased sex drive, mood swings and craving high-calorie foods. However, there are cases when these fluctuations can be driven even further out of balance, leading to more severe symptoms. 

Stress, for example, can act as a driving force for these imbalances. “The balance of hormones is often impacted by stress,” explains Dr Haleema Sheikh, a GP and women’s health expert from The Marion Gluck Clinic. “Stress puts the body into survival mode, and it will focus on producing stress hormones such as cortisol rather than the reproductive hormones – particularly progesterone.” 

Poor sleep and poor nutrition can also have a similar effect, leading to the body becoming oestrogen dominant. This can act as a direct trigger for hormonal symptoms, including worsened PMS.

“Progesterone is our soothing, calming hormone, and without its balancing effect in the second half of the cycle, women can experience more premenstrual symptoms and find that they have heavier, more painful cramps and bleeding,” Dr Sheikh says.

On the flipside, the gut microbiome can contribute to oestrogen dominance due to the role it plays in hormonal detoxification. That’s a technical way of saying the gut helps to get rid of excess oestrogen in the body; an imbalance of the microbial species which are responsible for this detoxification process (known as the estrobolome) can lead oestrogen to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. In turn, this can trigger ‘hormonal’ symptoms such as worsened PMS; irregular, heavy or painful periods; bloating; mood changes and breast tenderness.

“Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome – which causes many women to not ovulate regularly – can also lead to disrupted hormonal balance, which manifests in symptoms including weight gain, acne, facial hair growth and infertility,” Dr Sheikh adds. 

On the other end of the spectrum, some people experience little to no symptoms linked to their menstrual cycle. That might seem like the ideal situation, but it raises the question: does that mean your hormones aren’t fluctuating enough?

Not quite. While more than 80% of women say they experience some form of PMS, having crashing mood swings and endless chocolate cravings isn’t par for the course for a healthy menstrual cycle – so if you’re not experiencing these ‘normal’ symptoms, that’s typically a good thing.

“Periods should not be painful and problematic,” Dr Sheikh says. “When hormones are balanced, the transition between the first half of the cycle, ovulation and second half of the cycle is smooth.”

That doesn’t mean those with good hormonal health shouldn’t experience any changes, though. During the follicular phase, which starts on the first day of your period and usually lasts between 10-14 days, rising oestrogen levels lead many women to feel more energised than usual and experience increased sex drive. On the flip side, as the body enters the luteal phase, low levels of progesterone can leave you feeling low on energy and easily irritated.  

These subtle fluctuations are a sign that your hormones are functioning in a healthy way, which is why one of the key symptoms of hypothalamic amenorrhea (when periods stop due to a disruption in hormone production) can simply be having consistent energy levels throughout the month.

It’s also important to note that not having a period at all is not a good thing – regular ovulation and periods are an important biomarker of wellbeing, so if your periods are irregular or have stopped altogether, you should talk to your GP.

Those with disrupted cycles or concerns about their hormonal health should also seek professional advice. “Hormone replacement and support with natural bioidentical progesterone can be very helpful to support women’s cycles when they are disrupted and help manage issues associated with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis and perimenopause,” Dr Sheikh adds. 

Images: Getty