Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — progesterone and menopause

Most people know that drinking enough water is important for health — but far fewer understand the profound connection between hydration and hormones. Oestrogen, progesterone, aldosterone, vasopressin, and even dopamine all play roles in regulating how the body manages fluid. Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and menopause can significantly alter water retention, thirst signalling, and overall hydration status. This guide explains the science behind hydration and hormones, identifies who is most at risk of dehydration, and provides practical, evidence-based strategies for staying optimally hydrated at every life stage.

Early menopause affects around 5% of women aged 40 to 45, yet it is frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed. Surgical menopause — triggered by removal of both ovaries — can occur at any age and brings an abrupt loss of both oestrogen and testosterone. This article combines a first-person account of early and surgical menopause with a clinical overview of causes, health risks, and the importance of comprehensive hormone testing. Whether your menopause arrived early, unexpectedly, or surgically, understanding your hormone status is the essential first step towards effective, personalised treatment.

Weight loss failure is rarely just about willpower or diet — hormones are almost always involved. In this Q&A, Dr. Alyssa Burns-Hill of ZRT Laboratory tackles the most common questions from people struggling to lose weight despite their best efforts: from thyroid interference by the contraceptive pill and stress-driven cortisol cravings, to estrogen-reducing supplements, natural progesterone for menopause, and why 5-HTP can be a game-changer for mood, sleep and comfort eating.

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial cast a long shadow over hormone replacement therapy — but it enrolled women well over a decade past menopause. Two newer trials, ELITE and KEEPS, specifically studied HRT started early in the postmenopausal period. Their findings on cardiovascular health, sexual function, sleep, mood and cognition paint a more nuanced and encouraging picture. Here is what the latest research shows.