Yesterday I went to the doctor’s office for a physical checkup. As usual, they put me on a weight scale. When the nurse announced my weight, I almost jumped off the floor – I was 5 pounds heavier! How could it be? I have been the same weight for 15 years. And honestly I feel the same – in fact I am always more concerned about losing weight than gaining weight. “Is your scale accurate?” I asked with suspicion. The nurse smiled – perhaps at my denial – and said, “Yes it is.”

Later, my doctor asked me various questions about my energy level, menstrual cycles and sex drive. He gave me an education about hormone changes, as women get older. Ok, that’s good to know. But I’m still in my thirties. Isn’t it too early? He must have read my face because he quickly qualified, “In the next 15 years, if we decide, we could use some bio-identical hormones to give you a boost.” Then he ordered some blood tests. Well, we’ll see how it goes.

This is good news. It gives me a reason to understand this potential issue earlier, so that I may be better prepared for the changes to come. According to Dr. Geoffrey Redmond, a recognized authority in women’s hormones, a majority of the 42 million American women between the ages of 35 and 55 suffer from vulnerability to their hormones. Appearance, emotions – and even sex drive – may be affected. Symptoms include thinning hair, persistent acne, mood swings, low energy, the loss of pleasure in sex, weight gain, irregular periods, and pain. Dr. Redmond explains that all too many women experience hormones miseries even in their thirties – way before menopause.

The interesting thing is that the problem is not the hormones themselves, because lab tests on hormones are often normal, but how a woman reacts to them. It may be unfair, but some women are simply more sensitive to the normal jobs hormones perform – to regulate bodily functions and rhythms. If you are a hormonally sensitive woman, you probably know it. Below is a list of symptoms, provided by Dr. Redmond, for self-awareness and understanding. If these symptoms become persistent or severe enough to interfere with your life then you may want to consult your doctor for medical attention.

Changes in thoughts and feelings

Mood swings, whether they are premenstrual or not

Crying for no reason

Irritability – flying off handle easily

Fatigue/lack of energy

Sluggishness

Decreased memory

Trouble concentrating

Dizziness, light-headedness

Anxiety

Feeling anxious or “wiped out” an hour or two after eating

Hot flashes and night sweats

Loss of interest in sex

Weight problems

Difficulty losing weight

Food cravings

Change in skin and hair

Dull complexion, loss of feminine glow

Increased oiliness

Acne

Redness on nose and “butterfly area”

Thinning of hair on the scalp

Increased hair on face or body

Bodily discomforts

Headaches

Breast fullness or pain

Pain or discomfort when combing hair

Unpleasant sensation when touched

Cramps

Excessive fluid retention

Aches in muscles or joints

Generally feeling terrible

Changes in menstrual cycles

Infrequent periods (usually more than five and a half weeks apart)

Too frequent periods (usually less than three and a half weeks apart)

Spotting

Very heavy periods

Prolonged bleeding

Cramps that are more than mild

Difficulty becoming pregnant

Changes in the pelvic region and vagina

Loss of pleasure with sex

Dryness

Chronic pain or pain with intercourse

Vaginal infection that never quite goes away

Do you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above – or a combination of them? If you do, don’t feel bad because it is not fair to blame yourself when hormones have made being cheerful impossible. Luckily there are ways to protect ourselves from the roller coaster rides of hormones. The first step to understanding and healing is awareness. The more we are aware and prepared, the better we are equipped to handle the situation.