Stress and your hormones

Why stress can make hormonal symptoms worse:

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands (which sit just above your kidneys). It plays a vital role in your energy, alertness, and how your body responds to stress.

Cortisol, oestrogen and progesterone are made from the same building block: cholesterol.

During times of stress, your body prioritises cortisol over the production of oestrogen, which can disrupt hormonal balance — especially during perimenopause.

Too much cortisol over time can lead to symptoms like anxiety, irritability, fatigue, hot flushes, and brain fog

Cortisol naturally follows a daily rhythm — highest in the morning to help you wake up, and gradually decreasing throughout the day to support restful sleep. But if you’re constantly stressed, not sleeping well, or eating a diet that causes frequent blood sugar spikes, this rhythm can get out of sync — with big consequences for your hormones and overall energy.

Image to show how stress impacts on the production of oestrogens

If you are interested to run an adrenal stress profile to look see what your cortisol levels are doing over the day. During May and June I am doing a special offer, the Adrenal Stress Profile test, plus two online consultations & a nutrition report for £245 (usual price £310).