Women's Hormones: What They Control, Why They Get Out of Balance, and How You Can Clearly Recognize It

Why Hormones Affect  Women So Strongly

• They regulate how your menstrual cycle proceeds.
• They influence whether energy remains stable or drops.
• They affect skin, hair, sleep, libido, and mood.
• They change faster than one notices in everyday life.
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Typical Patterns Indicating Hormonal Imbalance

• Cycle becomes shorter, longer, or unpredictable.
• PMS intensifies.
• Mood swings without an obvious trigger.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Energy drops, concentration fluctuates.
• Skin reactions (acne, dryness).
• Changes in libido.
• Weight responds more sensitively to stress or diet.

Individual points are normal. Multiple symptoms appearing together may indicate possible hormonal changes.

The Central Hormones – Understandable Without Biochemistry

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Estradiol

Regluates the cycle, mood, skin, and temperature regulation. 

Low: mood swings, hot flashes, dry skin. 

High: Breast tenderness, water retention, heavy bleeding.

Progesterone

Can have a calming effect on the nervous system, supports the second half of the cycle. 

When its Low: PMS, sleep problems, nervousness.

FSH & LH

Regulate follicle maturation and ovulation. 

Altered levels may indicate irregularities in the menstrual cycle. In combination with other findings, they may provide insights into hormonal patterns, such as those seen in PCOS, and can be associated with absent ovulation.

Testosterone, DHEA-S, SHBG

Influences energy, libido, muscle strength, skin, and hair. 

When it’s imbalance: Exhaustion, acne, hair loss, loss of libido.

Prolactin

Elevated levels can influence ovulation and cycle regulation

‍To note: These hormones are not a "detail." They determine functional everyday life.

Why Symptoms Without Diagnostics Can Be Misleading

• PMS can be influenced hormonally or by stress. 
• Cycle irregularities may have various causes.
• Energy problems can be hormonal or metabolic.

Making decisions based purely on guessing symptoms leads to errors. Blood tests can help to better classify possible hormonal connections.

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How to Have Hormones Measured Correctly

Venous blood is drawn in a medical laboratory, and not finger pricked or home kits.

Why:

• Exact androgen measurement
• Distinction between free/bound testosterone
• Valid overview of LH/FSH patterns
• Cycle phase assignment

Cycle phase: Day 2–5 is ideal. Anytime if the cycle is irregular.

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The Practical Way: Hormone Test for Women by Aware

The Aware Hormone Test measures:

• Estradiol
• Progesterone
• LH
• FSH
• Prolactin
• Testosterone
• DHEA-S
• SHBG
• Free Androgen Index

Result: Clear classification, understandable interpretation, medical relevance instead of table values.

For a broader overview across different health-related areas: the All Marker Female Panel.

It includes hormone markers as well as parameters related to metabolism, nutrients, inflammation, thyroid function, and cardiometabolic health.

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Typical Patterns That a Blood Test Makes Visible

• Low Progesterone → PMS, sleep problems, irritability
• Estradiol Low → Mood swings, skin changes
• High LH/FSH Ratio → Possible indications of PCOS
• Elevated Prolactin → Missed ovulation
• Low SHBG → High free testosterone → Acne, hair changes
• Low Testosterone → Lack of energy, loss of libido

Result: You recognize whether a symptom is a follicle problem, stress problem, androgen problem, or cycle phase problem.

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What You Can Realistically Influence

• Reduce stress → may positively affect DHEA-S and cortisol
• Sufficient energy intake → may stabilize LH and FSH
• Moderate strength training → may support androgens
• Stable sleep → influences the progesterone axis
• Medical options → Hormone therapy, PCOS management, thyroid

But: Without lab values, every intervention is flying blind.

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FAQ

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When to test? Day 2–5, anytime if the cycle is irregular. 

What if there is no cycle? A test is still meaningful. 

Are home tests sufficient? No. Capillary samples provide unreliable hormone values. 

How fast are results available? Approx. 48 hours. 

Can you test only hormones? Yes. Or completely in the All Marker Female.