How Balancing Hormones can Improve Quality of Life

Our columnist, Dr. Annelize Meyer is the founder and Medical Director of the Meyer Clinic in Chichester, a premier center for preventative medicine, anti-aging, and regenerative aesthetics in the UK. Established in 2007, her clinic offers a comprehensive suite of services, from epigenetic and regenerative treatments to hormone therapy, wellness checks, and personalized nutritional programs. Known for her expertise in regenerative aesthetics, Dr. Meyer specializes in natural facial rejuvenation techniques and advanced, minimally invasive procedures. Her approach emphasizes holistic, patient-centered care, focusing on sustainable, evidence-based practices to promote health and wellness for women and families​.

My core interest has always been on how to create balance when prescribing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women in clinical practice.   Creating a treatment plan that delivers a clear picture for the patient can be challenging.  For optimal outcomes, patients need to be engaged in their health journey and understand the different roles of hormones and how what we do can affect the balance of our hormones on a daily basis. 

At Meyer Clinic prescribing HRT is part of a 360-approach and not seen in isolation but as part of a whole wellbeing programme that integrates multiple adjustments to rebalance the whole system. 

Women of course can be affected during various stages of their lives by hormonal imbalance, and this is not only reserved for the menopause.  Therefore, we apply the same holistic approach for the peri-menopause, endometrioses, PCOS, infertility, acne, hair loss, sub-optimal vaginal health as all are hormone related conditions affecting wellbeing.  

A snapshot into our key hormones  

Our hormones are the orchestra that creates our own personal symphony and every member has an important role to play. 

Hormones regulate various physical, emotional and psychological functions.  Oestrogen and Testosterone regulate sexual health, affect mood, libido and energy. Progesterone supports reproductive health, mood stability and sleep quality and low levels can lead to mood swings, anxiety and insomnia. Imbalance in thyroid levels can lead to fatigue, depression or anxiety. Serotonin is produced in the brain and gut, and crucial for mood stabilisation, feeling happy and is important in digestion. 

Insulin regulates blood sugar levels, Cortisol is our major stress hormone and helps the body respond to stress and maintain energy levels, chronic high or low levels can result in anxiety, fatigue and serious health problems.  Adrenaline, Oxytocin, Endorphins, Dopamine and Melatonin also form part of the key hormone spectrum. 

Choosing the right investigation at the right time 

I do recommend an annual comprehensive blood panel for everyone, which we are able to offer in our phlebotomy suite. I have picked up many hidden diseases by opting for a comprehensive blood check rather than just a focused hormonal essay for my patients.  Hypothyroidism is well known disease that commonly affects older women in particular and testing for not only TSH, but thyroid antibodies and T3 allows for a more in depth picture. Vitamin and mineral checks including vitamin D, iron, folate, B12, zinc and magnesium are easy to test for and adjusting to optimum levels can have a dramatic impact on health.  Knowing your cholesterol profile is so important and lipoprotein (a) is now recognised as a singular indicator for possible cardiovascular disease.  Further markers include homocysteine for methylation, CA125 cancer marker, sugar, inflammatory markers, basic full blood count, liver and kidney function tests. We also offer more in depth glucose testing for glucose tolerance and I think this is both a valuable screening as well as diagnostic tool. 

By having an annual check done, you not only offer dynamic management, but create a health story for the patient.  Checking female hormones annually in most instances are sufficient, however sometimes might require more frequent review.

I do recommend DUTCH urinary hormone testing when more insight into detoxification hormonal pathways, hormonal metabolites or 24 hour cortisol stress profile are needed.  Although the DUTCH test is not first line in my practice, it can add valuable information when considering the bigger clinical picture. 

DEXA scan is a safe and easy investigation into bone health status, and I have a low threshold for requesting this important diagnostic test.  We also offer ultrasound checks and refer for mammograms as part of our health prevention programme. 

Other more focused testing includes Fagron Genetic testing, which can be specifically helpful in tailoring treatment, as well as avoiding unnecessary treatment in acne, hair loss and nutrition.  Epigenetic profiles can also show methylation challenges, which can be addressed in the patient treatment plan.  

GlycanAge checks can help determine biological age which is both good to know and even better when it improves after positive lifestyle changes.  Personalised medicine is the future and allows effective proven targeted and therefore safer care.  

We include an INBODY analysis body composition in all our medical appointments.  This is used as a motivational tool and shows the balance in muscle, fat, overall weight, and also visceral fat. 

Making the balance a reality 

Optimising female hormones first and foremost where not contra-indicated, forms the basis of treatment.  Hormones gives us resilience, an armor that protects us during battle.  Combining this with guidance on gut health, exercise, stress management and supplementation, helps us win the war. 

The decline in hormones in the menopause has a multisystem impact.  It can lead to increase in overall body inflammation, disruption in glucose metabolism with increased insulin resistance together with an increase in Type 2 Diabetes risk, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.  This in turn may result in higher blood pressure, more abdominal fat and higher cholesterol. Overall body composition changes with increase in visceral fat and reduction in muscle mass. The fat results in increase of toxins, which in turn releases inflammatory signaling which further affects the metabolic system. 

Combine this with a decrease in overall movement and an increase in stress, due to generally having more pressure and time commitment in the grown up world, creates a recipe for disaster if not holistically managed.   

Offering simple guidance as a baseline on pro- and prebiotic rich foods and explaining the benefit that combination exercise, both cardio and strength training offers on balancing insulin, cortisol, improving bone density, and reducing cancer risk, is very helpful. 

Also helping the patient understand which supplements are important, why they potentially need to take them and the different formulations will make a difference in compliance. As a general rule of thumb, methylated b-vitamin complex, vitamin d and k2, magnesium and zinc supplementation are all important in hormonal regulation. 

Breathing techniques such as those practised in Chi-Ghong, alongside stretching movements can also be especially beneficial to help ground and rebalance the body into a coherent state, as is practicing gratitude and forgiveness on a regular basis. 

My 9 Cornerstones of Balancing Hormones

1. Reduce overall sugar intake 

2. Grounding practices like Chi-Ghong with breathing and movement

3. Combination exercise cardio and strength training 3 times per week.

4. Sharing mealtimes with loved ones. 

5. Be present in the moment - this reduces anxiety and forms the base for meditation

6. Annual medical checks with blood work, blood pressure and body composition.

7. Just be… be yourself, be authentic, express your emotions, be enough 

8. Choose key supplements and stick to them 

9. Let go! Give yourself permission to let go of expectation, guilt and emotions that do not serve you.