Your hormones aren't unstable — your body is adapting

"My mood feels like a rollercoaster these days." This is one of the most common phrases I hear in the consultation room. Some days I feel depressed for no reason, other days anxious, and sometimes I can't sleep. Many people then ask, "Are my hormones out of whack?" To get straight to the point, they're not "out of whack"; rather, it's a period when hormones are changing and rhythms are shifting. In this article, we'll explore the rhythms of two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, in everyday language, to understand what's happening in your body right now.

It's easy to think of hormones simply as "a lot" or "a little." However, hormones in our bodies are actually more like music, moving up and down with time. This means they are a flowing rhythm, not a static quantity.

You can see this rhythm just by looking at the menstrual cycle.

• During menstruation, most hormone levels are at their lowest.
• After menstruation ends, as estrogen rises, many people experience improvements in energy, skin condition, and work efficiency.
• Around ovulation, as estrogen approaches its peak, some may feel a surge of confidence.
• After ovulation, progesterone rises, leading to feelings of sleepiness and languor, and a desire to rest quietly.
• Just before menstruation, both hormones begin to drop together, leading to increased sensitivity and greater emotional fluctuations.

All these changes are not a sign of the "body breaking down" but a rhythm flowing with the cycle. And as we age, this rhythm itself undergoes another significant change.

Many people understand menopause as "a period when hormones sharply decline." However, as women enter their 40s and the perimenopausal period, estrogen often fluctuates up and down for a while rather than dropping straight to the bottom.

When these symptoms appear, many people worry, "Is there something seriously wrong with me?" However, in the consultation room, this fluctuation is usually the body's process of adapting to a new hormonal environment. If you're curious about the bigger picture of changes occurring in the body around menopause, it may be helpful to read an article summarizing the mechanisms of menopausal body changes and symptoms.

Now, let's introduce our two main hormones. By analogy, estrogen is like sparkling sunlight, and progesterone is like the tree that creates shade under that sunlight.

When estrogen levels are sufficient, many people experience vibrant skin, shiny hair, and an uplifted mood. With good blood flow, the whole body may feel warm, and some may feel improved concentration and memory due to serotonin-related effects. Progesterone helps promote deep sleep, slightly raises and maintains body temperature, and contributes to calming the mind. Therefore, when both hormones drop sharply just before menstruation, the brain's balance can also be disturbed, leading to sudden mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, or an explosion of sensitivity.

If there's only sunlight, it's too dazzling; if there's only shade, it's too dark. Balance is achieved when the two are harmoniously combined. The same applies to the hormones in our bodies.

Hormones are not produced solely by the ovaries; the entire body regulates them together. By analogy, the brain is like the conductor, and the ovaries are like the orchestra that actually performs. A proper performance only happens when the conductor and musicians work in sync.

When stress intervenes, this balance can be disrupted. When stressed, a hormone called cortisol is released, and this cortisol can interfere with the signals sent by the brain.

• The brain, as the conductor, cannot send signals properly.
• Subsequent stages are also affected in turn.
• Ovulation may be delayed or stop, and menstruation may become irregular.

Therefore, hormone management is closely linked to mind management and overall body management.

The most common reasons people visit the consultation room when their hormone rhythm is disrupted are irregular periods and abnormal bleeding. If the two hormones are not secreted properly, periods may become longer or shorter, or sudden spotting may occur between periods.

In such cases, the consultation room usually examines things in the following order:

• First, an ultrasound is used to check the condition of the uterus and ovaries, and to confirm whether the bleeding is actually coming from the uterus.
• Next, blood tests are performed to see how specific hormones are changing.

Bleeding can originate from the uterus, but it can also be related to other areas or other conditions, so accurately identifying the cause is important. Therefore, if you experience unusual bleeding, rather than postponing it with "it'll pass," we recommend getting a consultation to determine the source of the bleeding. If you're curious whether infrequent periods are a sign of menopause, you can also refer to an article explaining if infrequent periods indicate menopause.

Many women in their 40s notice that they gain weight more easily than before, especially around the abdomen. This is often reported to be related to hormonal changes, rather than a lack of willpower. You can explore the detailed background in an article explaining that menopausal weight changes are related to hormones, not willpower. The tears and depression just before menstruation, and the improved condition after menstruation ends, can also be partly explained by hormone rhythms.

Emotional changes after childbirth are more accurately viewed not as a simple imbalance, but as a result of changing hormones, a changed environment, and the process of adapting to a changed body. Rather than enduring it alone, it's better to seek support from those around you and professional counseling early. Furthermore, if the hormone rhythm is disrupted and ovulation is not smooth, conception can become difficult. Therefore, ultrasound and blood hormone tests are often the first steps in infertility examinations. If you're curious about changes during perimenopause and menopause, please check Menopause Hormone Management Guide and Menopausal Symptoms Information. If hormone therapy is needed, you can also refer to Related Q&A.

The feeling of your mood being on a rollercoaster, days of unexplained depression or sensitivity, and changes in sleep and weight that aren't what they used to be. All these changes may not be signs that your body is broken, but rather signs that it is adapting to a new rhythm. Above all, our bodies do not deceive us. If unusual changes are bothering you, instead of blaming yourself, try to calmly observe them first.

Ask online first if my symptoms are due to hormone rhythm

Written by: Lee Dong-hee Chief Director · Obstetrician & Gynecologist · View Medical Staff Profile

This article is based on content from a YouTube video · First published December 3, 2025 · Last reviewed May 30, 2026

This article provides general health information and is not a substitute for individual diagnosis or treatment. If you have symptoms, please consult a doctor for advice.