Your Hormone Balance

Estrogen doesn’t just regulate your cycle. It also plays an essential role in maintaining and sustaining the functioning of your brain, heart, skin bone structure and metabolism.

That’s why the transition through perimenopause and menopause can feel like so much more than changes to your period or the occasional hot flash. As estrogen levels fluctuate and decline, the effects can show up across multiple systems in your body.

This is exactly why this stage of life deserves more TLC, attention, understanding and support than it usually receives.

Swipe through to see what may be happening beneath the surface. 💬

Which one of these surprised you most?

Sometimes, low libido is less about lack of desire, and more about everything else competing for your energy.

Stress, mental load, exhaustion, and relationship tension can make it harder to feel interested or connected. These swaps aren’t a quick fix, but they can create more room for rest, connection, and pleasure, without pressure to turn any of it into s*x.

You don’t need to tackle all six. Start with whichever feels most supportive right now. 🤍

Save this for a busy week. Which swap would help you most?

If your migraines show up at the same point in your cycle, or have worsened during perimenopause or menopause, your hormones may be part of the pattern.

Estrogen and progesterone naturally shift throughout the month, and for some women, headaches or migraines appear when estrogen drops. Menstrual migraines often occur in the days leading up to or at the start of a period. Estrogen also drops around ovulation, which is why some women notice headaches halfway through their cycle.

During perimenopause, hormone levels can become more unpredictable, creating bigger fluctuations and more opportunities for hormonally triggered headaches. Hormones can still be part of the picture after menopause, when ovarian estrogen and progesterone production has dramatically declined. While many women see migraines improve once monthly fluctuations settle, others continue experiencing them postmenopause.

Hormone testing can provide another useful piece of the puzzle. At YHB, testing is timed based on your cycle and life stage and interpreted alongside your symptoms. The goal isn’t to say one hormone result caused your migraine, but to identify potential imbalances that may be contributing and give you more information about what to support.

If lower estrogen or an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone is identified, your personalized plan may include nutrition and lifestyle strategies, targeted nutrients, herbs and other natural hormone-support techniques.
Depending on your life stage and symptoms, bioidentical hormone options may also be suggested for you to consider with your healthcare team.

But hormones aren’t the only potential trigger. Sleep, stress, dehydration, skipped meals, alcohol, caffeine, nutrient status, mold exposure and other factors can contribute. That’s why we look at the whole picture rather than the headache in isolation.

Wondering if your hormones could be contributing to your headaches or migraines?

Comment DECODE and we’ll send you more information about our Decode Your Hormones testing + custom guide approach.👇

This helps you understand your hormone patterns, symptoms and rebalancing priorities.

As the days get shorter, your body isn’t just reacting to the vibe of fall—it’s responding to changes in light exposure.

Daylight helps regulate your circadian rhythm, which influences the timing of melatonin and cortisol, along with your sleep, energy, mood, and appetite signals.

That’s why you may feel more tired, struggle to wake up, crave more carbs, or feel slightly “off” as the seasons change, even when nothing else seems different.

Morning sunlight, consistent sleep and wake times, regular movement, and getting outside during the day can all help support your internal clock through the transition.

How many of these are you already noticing? 👀

Save this for the seasonal shift—and send it to someone who starts hibernating the second fall arrives. 😂

Your skin is a protective barrier, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely impermeable. Ingredients in personal-care products are absorbed to varying degrees, and some chemicals can pass through the skin and enter the body.

Absorption itself isn’t the problem. The concern is that certain chemicals used in personal-care products, including some phthalates and parabens, may interfere with hormone signaling.

The encouraging part? Product choices can make a difference. Research has found that switching to products without certain chemicals can lower markers of exposure in just a few days.

That doesn’t mean panicking or throwing out your entire bathroom cabinet. Start with something you’re already running low on or a product you apply frequently, such as lotion, deodorant or makeup. You already need to replace it, making this an easy opportunity to choose more intentionally without wasting money or product.

Not sure how a product measures up? Google “EWG’s Skin Deep® database” and use that to review a product’s rating and individual ingredients. It’s a helpful starting point, but not the sole measure of whether a product is right for you.

And remember, “natural” or “clean” on the label isn’t a guarantee of safety. Look beyond the marketing and check the ingredients.

Small, informed changes, not a perfect routine.

Save this for your next product restock.

Collagen doesn’t just support skin elasticity—it also provides structural support for your joints and bones, which becomes increasingly important as collagen production slows with age.

Estrogen helps support collagen production, so this decline may accelerate during perimenopause and menopause.

This smoothie combines collagen peptides with vitamin C-rich fruit, which provides a nutrient your body needs to produce collagen. Spinach adds folate, fiber & antioxidants, while avocado or almond butter makes it more filling and satisfying.

A simple smoothie for supporting skin, joints, bones & healthy aging from the inside out. 🥤

Save this for your next smoothie day!

Salmon and avocado get all the attention, but they’re not the only hormone-supportive foods worth knowing about!

Swipe through for 5 unique recipes featuring ingredients you probably haven’t thought to reach for, each one tied to a different hormonal health benefit: gut health, thyroid function, liver detox, and more!

Save and share with anyone who needs the inspo!

Which one would you try?👇

Were any of these albums your middle or high school soundtrack? If so, you miiiight be heading towards (or already in) perimenopause. And here’s why you should take notes:

This transition toward menopause commonly begins in your 40s, sometimes as early as your late 30s (usually when hormonal symptoms are more severe), and often lasts 8-10 years.

During this time, estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, and the signs aren’t always hot flashes. Changes in your cycle (irregular, heavy, lighter), disrupted sleep, mood shifts, brain fog, and vaginal dryness can all be part of the picture.

Menopause itself is the milestone reached after 12 consecutive months without a period.

This isn’t a diagnosis—but new symptoms are worth paying attention to, rather than brushing off as “just aging.” You deserve to understand what’s changing and explore your options for support. 🤍

Want more personalized insights into your symptoms and where to start? Comment QUIZ for our hormone quiz link.

And tell us: what was your go-to album during these years!?

B-vitamin-rich foods like leafy greens, beans, eggs, fish, poultry & whole grains help provide the nutrients your body needs for energy metabolism, nervous system function, and healthy cells.

But busy schedules, limited food variety, or certain dietary restrictions can make it harder to consistently meet your needs through food alone.

This is when a high-quality B complex (containing 8 different B vitamins that help turn other nutrients into energy), OR a prenatal or multivitamin containing this full spectrum of B vitamins—can help fill the gaps. Look for appropriate doses and thoughtfully selected forms—not simply the highest numbers on the label.

Some of our favorites include:

✔️ A prenatal/multivitamin like WeNatal (if a prenatal fits your individual needs—even if you’re not currently trying to conceive)

✔️ A standalone B complex like drjolenebrighten ‘s B-Active Plus. Both include forms such as methylfolate and methylcobalamin (B12).

⚠️ Already taking a prenatal or multivitamin? Check with your healthcare provider before adding a B complex, as it may not be necessary if your formula already provides enough. Doubling up isn’t necessarily better, especially with B6.

Save this guide for your next grocery or supplement restock! ✨

If you’ve been dealing with hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, low libido, or sleep issues, you’ve probably heard that hormone replacement can help.

It can! But not all HRT is the same, and the differences between hormone types and formulations often get lost in the conversation.

Bioidentical hormones (BHRT) have the same molecular structure as hormones your body naturally produces. And something many women don’t realize: bioidentical doesn’t automatically mean “alternative” or compounded. There are FDA-approved bioidentical options, including estradiol and micronized progesterone.

Non-bioidentical hormones have a different molecular structure and include certain synthetic progestins and conjugated equine estrogens (equine = derived from pregnant horses urine).

At YHB, we’re proponents of bioidentical hormone options when hormone replacement is appropriate (ideally indicated by test results, life stage and symptoms) — particularly because women now have access to regulated, FDA-approved options or high quality compounded options that closely match hormones naturally produced by the body.

While the label “bioidentical” indicates a more natural approach, it isn’t the only thing that matters. The specific hormone, dose, delivery method, timing, symptoms, and your individual health history and hormonal status should all be part of the conversation.

Hormone replacement or ‘replenishment’ (as we like to think of it), can be genuinely game-changing for women navigating moderate to severe hormonal symptoms. We just believe women deserve to understand what they’re taking and why, rather than treating every form of hormone therapy as interchangeable.

Swipe through to understand the difference 🔍

Thinking about taking hormones or already using them? Tell us about your experience below 👇

We’ll be sharing much more on this soon.