If you ended this year more tired, foggier, or a little less like yourself, you are not imagining it. Midlife hormones shift in a real, measurable way. Sleep, mood, cycle changes, hot flashes, weight around the middle, focus, and energy can all wobble. The good news, there are clear signs to watch for, smart times to test, and effective next steps that help you feel steady again.
At Steady State Health, we listen closely and use a combination of targeted labs, clinical expertise, and practical coaching to build a plan that fits your life. This guide will help you spot patterns, decide if a comprehensive hormone panel is right for you, and understand how results translate into a customized care plan.
The clearest signs your hormones might be out of balance
You do not need all of these to qualify for support. Even a few persistent symptoms are worth attention. Common signs include:
- Sleep disruption, trouble falling asleep, 3 a.m. wake ups, or non restorative sleep
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Cycles that get shorter, longer, heavier, or more painful
- New or worsening PMS, irritability, or anxiety
- Low mood or feeling emotionally flat
- Brain fog, word finding trouble, slower processing
- Unexplained weight gain, especially abdominal
- Sugar or carb cravings, afternoon crashes
- Vaginal dryness or pain with sex, lower libido
- Headaches or new migraines around your cycle
- Heart palpitations, dizziness on standing, or temperature sensitivity
You might recognize many of these as the classic 11 signs your hormones are out of whack. They can cluster in waves during perimenopause, then settle into a new baseline after menopause. If these patterns disrupt your day, testing can clarify what is happening and where to focus care.
At what age should you get your hormones checked?
There is no one perfect age. Consider testing when:
- You are 35 to 55 and noticing new or escalating symptoms
- Your cycle becomes irregular, heavier, or unusually light
- You have a hysterectomy or use an IUD and want clarity about where you are in the transition
- You have a strong family history of early menopause, thyroid disease, or metabolic issues
- You are starting or adjusting hormone therapy and want data to guide dosing
Many women begin perimenopause in their late 30s or early 40s. If you are wondering whether your symptoms reflect stress or hormones, a baseline panel can be reassuring and practical.
What is included in a comprehensive hormone panel?
A high quality panel does more than check one hormone. It maps the ecosystem that influences how you feel day to day. At Steady State Health, a comprehensive hormone panel for midlife typically includes:
Reproductive hormones
Estradiol (E2), progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH). These help identify perimenopause stage and guide timing or dosing of therapy.
Androgens
Total and free testosterone, DHEA sulfate. Useful for low libido, fatigue, hair changes, and body composition shifts.
Thyroid function
TSH, free T4, free T3, and often thyroid antibodies if indicated. Thyroid symptoms overlap with perimenopause, so ruling this in or out matters.
Metabolic markers
Fasting insulin, glucose, hemoglobin A1c, lipid panel. These reveal insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk that often change during midlife.
Inflammation and nutrient context when relevant
High sensitivity CRP, ferritin, vitamin D, B12 or folate. These are selected based on your history and symptoms.
Your specific panel may be adjusted based on medications, cycle status, and goals. If cycle tracking is possible, progesterone is often drawn around mid luteal timing, roughly 5 to 7 days after ovulation. If cycles are unpredictable, we use symptom timing and clinical clues to interpret results.
Should you get a full hormone panel?
If symptoms are mild and you just want a few lifestyle tweaks, you can start with habits. If symptoms are persistent, confusing, or affecting your quality of life, a full panel can save time and guesswork. It helps answer:
- Are low progesterone and fluctuating estradiol driving sleep and mood issues?
- Is thyroid playing a role in fatigue and brain fog?
- Is insulin creeping up, making weight stickier around your middle?
- Are androgens lower than expected, contributing to low libido and energy?
Testing is not about chasing perfect numbers. It is about matching what you feel with what we see so your plan is targeted and effective.
How results inform a personalized care plan
Once results are in, we layer them with your lived experience:
- If progesterone is low with irregular cycles, we may discuss perimenopause progesterone therapy or non hormonal sleep support, then recheck as needed.
- If estradiol is low or erratic with vasomotor symptoms, we will review benefits and risks of estrogen therapy, consider an estradiol prescription plus appropriate progesterone for uterine safety, and personalize the route and dose.
- If thyroid function is off, we address it directly and adjust medications when appropriate.
- If insulin is elevated or lipids are changing, we focus on meal timing, fiber and protein, strength training, and, when indicated, metabolic medications.
Lifestyle stays central. We build a plan you can live with, not a plan you will resent. Strength sessions two to three times per week, fiber forward meals, hydration targets, and structured stress skills are standard tools. If brain fog is front and center, we can align clinical care with practical steps and, when needed, explore focused options like our menopause brain fog treatment pathway.
Your options at Steady State Health
We keep access simple and transparent:
- Testing: Use insured labs when possible, or choose our $200 self pay comprehensive panel.
- Care locations: Medical care and prescriptions are available via telehealth in Oregon and Washington. Coaching is available nationwide.
- Visit types: Start with an Initial Visit for a deep dive and lab plan. Or book a Discovery Call if you want to confirm fit first.
If you are exploring structured support for symptoms and daily life strategies, you can also check our coaching options for nutrition counseling online or stress management coaching.
When to ask for help right now
Reach out if:
- Your symptoms are waking you at night, disrupting work, or straining relationships
- You have unpredictable bleeding, skipped periods for 12 months, or bleeding after menopause
- You are starting or adjusting hormones and want expert guidance
- You feel stuck between “it is probably stress” and “I do not feel like myself”
You do not have to push through another year hoping things settle on their own. Personalized care helps you feel steady sooner.
Quick answers to common questions
What are signs of a hormone imbalance?
See the 11 signs above. Even two or three ongoing symptoms are enough reason to evaluate.
What are the 11 signs your hormones are out of whack?
Sleep disruption, hot flashes or night sweats, cycle changes, mood swings or anxiety, low mood, brain fog, abdominal weight gain, cravings and crashes, vaginal dryness or low libido, headaches or menstrual migraines, and palpitations or temperature sensitivity.
At what age should I get my hormones checked?
When symptoms start, often mid to late 30s through 50s, or earlier if you have risk factors or surgical menopause.
What is included in a comprehensive hormone panel?
Estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone, DHEA sulfate, thyroid panel, metabolic markers, and select inflammation or nutrient labs as needed.
Should I get a full hormone panel?
If symptoms affect your life or you want a clear roadmap, yes. Data guides a personalized plan and prevents trial and error.
Start the new year with clarity
You deserve a plan that explains your symptoms and points to relief. We will meet you where you are, run insured labs or provide a $200 self pay comprehensive panel, and turn results into a clear path forward. If you are in Oregon or Washington, we can provide full medical care via perimenopause telehealth. If you live elsewhere, our coaching can support habits, nutrition, and daily energy while you coordinate prescriptions locally.
Ready for next steps? Book an Initial Visit or schedule a Discovery Call so you can enter the new year with answers, a personalized plan, and renewed confidence in your body.
