For many women, menopause brings a frustrating combination of symptoms that can affect everything from digestion and sleep to energy, mood and brain function. And while hormones are an important part of the conversation, they may not tell the whole story.
When it comes to feeling your best during menopause, we need to look beyond hormones.
During conversations with women from across the country at the National Menopause Show, I noticed a common theme. Many women were already doing what they believed were all the right things: eating well, exercising, prioritizing sleep and, in some cases, taking hormone therapy. Yet they were still struggling with persistent symptoms.
This highlights an important piece of the menopause conversation: sometimes, the underlying factors contributing to how we feel go much deeper than hormonal changes alone.
Why Menopause Can Bring Underlying Imbalances to the Surface
I’m so grateful for the growing awareness, research and education surrounding menopause and hormone therapy. However, when women continue to experience symptoms despite addressing their hormones, it’s worth taking a closer look at what else might be happening in the body.
In my 25 years of working with clients using a root-cause approach, I’ve observed that menopause can amplify imbalances that may have been developing quietly for years.
These can include:
- Nutritional deficiencies: Low levels of essential nutrients can influence energy, metabolism and overall health.
- Gut imbalances: Changes in the gut microbiome can affect digestion, inflammation and hormone regulation.
- Liver function: The liver plays an important role in processing and metabolizing hormones.
- Thyroid imbalances: Changes in thyroid function can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes and brain fog.
Rather than assuming every symptom is simply part of menopause, looking at these underlying factors can help women better understand what their bodies need.
The Gut-Hormone Connection
I will always come back to talking about the importance of gut health.
The gut microbiome plays an important role in digestion, immune function, inflammation and hormone metabolism. During perimenopause and menopause, changes in estrogen levels can also influence the composition of the gut microbiome. There’s essentially a renovation of the gut’s internal ecosystem. These changes can influence how women feel, how their digestive systems function and even aspects of brain health.
Understanding digestion, gut health and potential food sensitivities can be an important part of a more comprehensive menopause assessment.
Looking Beyond Estrogen to Understand Inflammation
Estrogen plays an important role in regulating inflammation in the body. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, changes in inflammatory processes can occur.
However, estrogen isn’t the only factor influencing inflammation.
Other contributing factors can include dietary patterns and the balance of essential fatty acids.
There are two tools that I often use with my clients to get a deeper, more measurable look at what’s happening in their bodies:
- Food sensitivity testing: Identifying potential food-related triggers may help provide additional insight into digestive concerns and inflammatory symptoms.
- Omega-6 to omega-3 ratio testing: Essential fatty acids play important roles in regulating inflammatory processes. Understanding the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can provide useful information when developing an individualized nutrition plan.
Supporting Your Body Through Menopause
Taking a wholistic approach to menopause care means looking at the bigger picture: supporting digestion, identifying potential nutritional gaps, nourishing the microbiome and addressing factors that may contribute to inflammation.
The goal isn’t to add an endless list of supplements or treatments. It’s to understand what may be happening beneath the surface and choose the right tools to support your individual needs.
There’s So Much Hope for Women in Menopause
The biggest thing I want women to remember is that menopause doesn’t have to mean accepting a gradual decline in how you feel.
Throughout my years of working with women, I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when women are supported through this stage of life.
Menopause is a significant transition, but it can also be an opportunity to better understand your health, address underlying imbalances and build a foundation for healthy aging.
You don’t have to accept feeling unwell simply because you’re going through menopause.
If you’re doing all the right things but still aren’t feeling like yourself, it may be time to look beyond hormones and explore what else your body might be telling you.
Be sure to check out the interview
In this interview with Healthy Living, I shared what I learned from women at the National Menopause Show and why a root-cause approach to menopause can make such an important difference.
