Author: Kennesaw Gynecology

Everyone feels tired from time to time. But if you’re constantly exhausted no matter how much sleep you get, it may be a sign that something deeper is going on. One of the most overlooked causes of chronic fatigue in women is a hormonal imbalance.

Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that regulate everything from energy and mood to sleep, metabolism, and even body temperature. When they’re even slightly out of balance, it can leave you dragging through the day, wondering why your usual healthy habits aren’t making a difference.

Let’s look at how hormones influence your energy — and what you can do if fatigue has become your “new normal.”

Common Hormones That Impact Energy Levels

Several hormones directly affect how energized—or drained—you feel:

• Thyroid hormones: An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) slows your metabolism, often causing fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog.
• Cortisol: Known as the “stress hormone,” cortisol helps regulate energy throughout the day. Chronic stress or adrenal dysfunction can throw levels off balance, leaving you feeling wired one moment and depleted the next.
• Estrogen & progesterone: These reproductive hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and menopause, impacting sleep quality, stamina, and mood.
• Insulin: Poor blood sugar regulation and insulin resistance can trigger midday crashes, cravings, and energy swings.

Signs Your Fatigue Could Be Hormone-Related

Hormonal fatigue rarely comes alone. You may notice additional signs such as:

• Feeling exhausted despite 7-8 hours of sleep
• Low motivation, brain fog, or difficulty concentrating
• Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
• Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Irregular periods or worsening PMS
• Sensitivity to cold, hair thinning, or low libido

If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s worth exploring whether your hormones could be playing a role.

How Hormones Affect You at Different Life Stages

Hormonal shifts look different at each stage of a woman’s life:

• Young adults: Conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) or thyroid disorders may cause persistent fatigue early in adulthood.
• Midlife women: Perimenopause brings fluctuating estrogen and progesterone, which can disrupt sleep, mood, and energy.
• Postpartum: After childbirth, estrogen levels drop dramatically, and thyroid changes are common. Fatigue may last beyond the typical “new mom tiredness.”
• Menopause: Declining estrogen often contributes to poor sleep, hot flashes, joint discomfort, and brain fog.

How a GYN Expert Can Help

If fatigue feels chronic, unexplained, or disruptive, a women’s health specialist can help uncover the root cause. At your visit, your provider may recommend:

• Hormone bloodwork to check thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol levels
• Thyroid and metabolic panels to look for imbalances
• A detailed review of your symptoms in the context of your menstrual history, stress levels, and lifestyle
• Additional testing to rule out other common causes of fatigue, such as anemia, vitamin deficiencies, or autoimmune conditions

Treatment Options for Hormonal Imbalances

The encouraging news? Hormonal imbalances are treatable. Depending on your needs, treatment may include:

• Lifestyle adjustments: nutrition support, exercise, stress reduction, and better sleep hygiene
• Hormone therapy: such as hormone replacement for menopause or thyroid medication for hypothyroidism
• Supplements or targeted therapies: recommended by your provider for adrenal support or menstrual cycle regulation
• Ongoing monitoring: to adjust treatment as your body and hormones change over time

Every plan should be personalized. What works for one woman may not work for another, which is why working with a knowledgeable provider is so important.

A Whole-Person Approach to Your Health

If you’re tired of feeling tired, don’t ignore the signals. Extreme fatigue isn’t a normal part of getting older or being busy, so it may be your body’s way of telling you something is out of balance.

At Kennesaw Gynecology  we take a whole-person approach to women’s health. That means looking at your hormones, lifestyle, and overall wellness together. With the right testing, treatment, and support, it’s absolutely possible to restore your energy and feel like yourself again.

Schedule a consultation with us today at (470) 308-3365 to take the first step toward better energy, balance, and health.

Menopause doesn’t happen overnight. For most women, it’s a gradual transition known as perimenopause, which can begin in your 40s or even earlier. During this time, hormone levels begin to fluctuate, leading to a range of physical and emotional symptoms.

Many women suffer silently during perimenopause and menopause, and it’s not always obvious that symptoms are due to rollercoaster hormones. Many simply feel tired, defeated, foggy, and moody. The good news? Knowing the root of your symptoms can help you address them and start to feel more like your old self again.

While every woman’s experience is different, here are 10 common signs that may signal you’re entering this next chapter.

1. Irregular Periods

One of the first signs of perimenopause is a change in your menstrual cycle. Periods may become less predictable, shorter or longer, heavier or lighter—or they may skip a month altogether.

2. Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are sudden waves of heat, often starting in the chest or face and spreading through the body. They may be accompanied by sweating, flushed skin, or a racing heart, and they can happen at any time of day.

3. Night Sweats

Similar to hot flashes but occurring during sleep, night sweats can disrupt your rest and leave you waking up drenched. They’re a key reason many women struggle with sleep during perimenopause.

4. Mood Swings

Fluctuating hormones can affect your emotional balance. If you’ve been feeling more irritable, anxious, or tearful than usual, it may be related to the hormonal changes of perimenopause.

5. Sleep Problems

Difficulty falling asleep or staying that way is common. Hormonal shifts, night sweats, and increased stress can all contribute to poor sleep quality, even in women who previously slept well.

6. Vaginal Dryness

As estrogen levels decline, vaginal tissues may become thinner and less lubricated, leading to dryness, irritation, or discomfort during intimacy.

7. Low Libido

A decrease in estrogen and testosterone can lead to reduced sexual desire. Vaginal dryness and mood changes can also play a role in lowering libido during this phase.

8. Weight Gain

Many women notice weight gain, especially around the abdomen, during perimenopause. This can be influenced by hormonal changes, slower metabolism, and shifts in activity or diet.

9. Thinning Hair

Hormonal imbalances may cause hair to thin and fall out more easily. You might also notice changes in hair texture or overall volume.

10. Memory Issues

Many women experience brain fog, forgetfulness, or difficulty concentrating during perimenopause. While frustrating, these cognitive changes are common and usually temporary.

Menopause Is Natural, And So Is Getting Support

While these changes are a normal part of aging, they don’t have to disrupt your life. There are many effective treatment options—including hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, and supportive care—to help you feel like yourself again. Remember: It’s not unusual to feel sad or depressed, and you don’t have to go through this season alone.

If you’re noticing symptoms of perimenopause, talk to your doctor or call  Kennesaw Gynecology at (470) 308-3365 today. The right care can make all the difference in this new phase of health and well-being.

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Continue reading “12 Effective Tips for Managing Overactive Bladder” →

As the cold days of winter approach, many women can’t remember why they dread that time of year so much. Then it all comes back to them. Winter is one of those seasons when their menstrual cycle goes haywire. Their irritability is off the charts, their menstrual pain seems to be worse than normal, and their periods seem longer. In fact there are similar issues when the weather turns warmer. There are some physical reasons why this occurs. Let’s take a deeper dive into seasonal changes and their impact on gynecological health.

Continue reading “Seasonal Changes and Their Impact on Gynecological Health” →