Hormones Rule Everything Around Me: What Every Woman 40+ Needs to Know
By Lindsay O’Neill – CEO, Wellness Eternal | Columnist, Global Woman Magazine
They say women in their 40s are in their prime—but nobody warns you how much internal chaos that “prime” can involve.
A couple of weeks ago I had 18 vials of blood drawn. It wasn’t just for hormones. We ran a full CBC, inflammation markers, metals, Food Inflammation Test, gut health panel, metabolic, and full hormone panel—FIT & GUT test available through my platform, SmallHinges.Health. Why? Because I knew something was off. My auto-immune started to flare, I was achy, exhausted, foggy, sweating at night, and out of sync with my body. As the saying goes, small hinges swing big doors. These tests were my first step in swinging the door back toward balance.
What did the results show? I had estrogen and high levels of cortisol, but no progesterone and no testosterone. That matters. These hormones aren’t just about fertility—they affect your mood, metabolism, muscle mass, skin, sleep, and even motivation. And when they bottom out, so does your energy and clarity.
For too many women, these symptoms get dismissed as “just aging.” Worse, we’re handed antidepressants or hormonal birth control and told to carry on. But hormone decline isn’t something you just push through. And while HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can be transformative when customized and supervised, it’s not the only option.
In just seven days, I started feeling radically better. I paused alcohol, added targeted supplements like DHEA, Testoplex, methylfolate and creatine, focused on sleep, and restarted strength training with bodyweight and dumbbells. I also used PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy), Photobiomodulation (red light therapy), Infrared Sauna (for sweat/detox) and added nightly Epsom salt baths with magnesium to calm my nervous system. These weren’t huge changes—but they worked.
If you’re feeling off, here are a few things to consider:
✅ Muscle is your metabolic engine. Resistance training boosts testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin sensitivity.
✅ Sleep is your hormone repair window. Make it a top priority.
✅ Supplements like DHEA and creatine can support energy, mental clarity, and hormonal resilience in women over 40.
✅ Magnesium (especially from Epsom salts) helps with sleep and stress regulation.
✅ PEMF therapy may improve cellular recovery and mitochondrial function.
✅ Cutting alcohol—even temporarily—gives your liver space to metabolize excess estrogen and lower inflammation.
This is not medical advice. Always consult with a licensed practitioner for personal treatment decisions. But here’s what I know from experience: when you combine bio-individual data with daily action, your body responds.
If you’re ready to feel like yourself again—or even better than you’ve felt in years—it starts with paying attention, getting tested, and taking consistent steps. Because the truth is, midlife doesn’t have to feel like a downhill slide. It can be a launchpad.
