Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — menopause hormone imbalance

Thinning hair is more than a cosmetic concern — it is often a signal of something happening internally. From stress and cortisol to menopause, thyroid dysfunction, PCOS and nutritional deficiencies, hormones play a central role in hair health. Dr. Kate Placzek breaks down the science behind hormonal hair loss and what you can do about it.

Why does weight gain accelerate at menopause? Can estrogen dominance cause low cortisol? Is saliva testing better than blood? Hormone Health Educator Candace Burch of ZRT Laboratory answers the most common questions from women struggling with hormone-related weight gain — covering everything from adrenal fatigue and vitamin D deficiency to birth control, bioidentical progesterone and why “your hormones are fine” from a standard blood test may not tell the whole story.

Hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, insomnia and brain fog — menopause can feel overwhelming. But what is actually happening biochemically? In this case study, Dr. Kate Placzek and Dr. Allison Smith walk through the test results of Julia, a newly postmenopausal woman, showing exactly how hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances drive menopausal symptoms — and what can be done about it.

The gut microbiome and estrogen are more closely connected than most people realise. As estrogen declines in menopause, microbial diversity falls with it — triggering a cascade of metabolic consequences including weight gain, abdominal fat, inflammation and reduced insulin sensitivity. Dr. Kate Placzek explores the science behind the estrobolome and explains why supporting both gut health and hormone balance is essential for metabolic wellbeing in menopause.

Nearly a third of the UK population suffers from insomnia — yet many are still unaware of the powerful connection between hormones and sleep. When cortisol and melatonin fall out of rhythm, or when neurotransmitters are disrupted by menopause or chronic stress, restorative sleep becomes elusive. Find out whether hormones are contributing to your sleep loss — and what you can do about it.