Tired, foggy, or gaining weight for no clear reason? You’re not alone. Hormonal shifts in your 40s and 50s can affect everything from sleep, and mood to metabolism and energy. We offer evidence-based support to help you feel at home in your body again.
Hormonal changes in your 40s and 50s can affect almost every part of how you feel. Yet many women don’t realize that symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, or weight gain could be connected to shifting hormones.
This transition, known as perimenopause, can last several years before and after your final period. And even though it’s completely natural, it often arrives with surprise, frustration, or confusion.
Common hormone-related symptoms include:
Sleep disruption or night sweats
Mood changes, anxiety, or irritability
Difficulty concentrating (a.k.a. “brain fog”)
Unexplained weight gain
Fatigue or loss of energy
Changes in libido or vaginal dryness
Irregular or heavy periods
This list is far from complete. If you’ve felt like something’s “off” — but you can’t quite explain it — you’re not alone. Hemma exists to help you understand what’s going on and explore evidence-based ways to feel better.
Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They travel through your bloodstream to tissues and organs, helping regulate essential functions like energy, sleep, mood, memory, metabolism, and sexual health.
For women, three hormones are especially important in midlife:
Estrogen (specifically estradiol)
Progesterone
Testosterone
These hormones don’t just affect periods or fertility — they play key roles in brain health, heart protection, bone density, and emotional balance.
Bioidentical hormones (also called body-identical) are molecularly identical to the hormones your body produces naturally.
At Hemma, we work with licensed providers who prescribe FDA-approved, bioidentical hormone therapy — such as estradiol and micronized progesterone.
These hormones are derived from plant sources but formulated to match your body’s own chemistry, offering a gentle, science-backed way to restore balance.
Estrogen — especially estradiol — affects more than your reproductive system.
It supports:
Brain function (memory, focus, mood regulation)
Heart and blood vessel health
Bone strength
Skin elasticity and collagen
Temperature control and sleep rhythms
As estrogen levels decline in perimenopause, symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, and anxiety often increase.
Progesterone helps balance the effects of estrogen.
It supports:
Calmer sleep
Mood stability
Reduced anxiety and irritability
Healthy uterine lining (especially if you still have a uterus)
Micronized progesterone (the bioidentical form) is often used in BHRT to support both emotional well-being and physical safety.
Testosterone, although often associated with men, is vital for women too — just in lower amounts.
It plays a role in:
Libido and sexual function
Motivation and drive
Muscle tone
Cognitive sharpness
Some women may benefit from small amounts of testosterone as part of their personalized BHRT plan, especially after surgical menopause or long-standing fatigue and low libido.
How long does it take for BHRT to take effect?
It varies by person, but many women begin to feel some improvement within 2–6 weeks.
Sleep and anxiety often respond fastest
Hot flashes and mood swings improve gradually
Cognitive clarity and energy may take a bit longer
Full benefits can take up to 3 months as your body adjusts and your provider fine-tunes your dosage. At Hemma, we support you through the process — adjusting based on your experience, not just labs.
Hemma Wellness Group
16220 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Serving all 50 states, based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Disclaimer
Hemma Wellness Group provides educational resources, digital tools, and access to licensed healthcare professionals through affiliated U.S. platforms. We do not provide medical care, and the information on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always consult your physician or a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek emergency care immediately.
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