Women’s Hormonal Health: The “Gap” in Proactive Healthcare

Fatigue, poor sleep, changes in weight, irregular periods, or mood changes are not always simply “stress” or “age-related.” One possible underlying factor is hormonal change.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, produced by endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream to regulate the functions of various organs. They play an important role in growth, metabolism, reproduction, and mood.

In women, hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, insulin, and cortisol are involved in many essential functions, including the menstrual cycle, fertility, metabolism, sleep, mood, bone health, and cardiovascular health.

Importantly, hormone levels are not static. They naturally fluctuate throughout the day, across the menstrual cycle, and at different stages of life.

How Does Hormonal Health Affect Women?

Hormonal changes can manifest in many different ways:

• Reproductive health: Changes in menstrual cycles, ovulation, and fertility.
• Metabolism: Changes in body weight, fat distribution, and energy utilization.
• Sleep & mood: Poor sleep, emotional changes, anxiety, or fatigue.
• Bone & cardiovascular health: Particularly important as estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and after menopause.

Hormonal health, therefore, is about much more than menstruation or fertility.

Middle-Aged Women: A Stage of Significant Hormonal Change

For middle-aged women, particularly during perimenopause, hormonal changes can become more noticeable.

According to the WHO, natural menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. The menopausal transition may last for several years and can affect sleep, mood, bone health, cardiovascular health, and overall quality of life.

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health estimates that approximately 13 million women are currently in the perimenopausal and menopausal age group. Including women who begin experiencing hormonal decline after age 35, the figure is estimated at around 20 million.

“After menopause, women may live for another 20–30 years—approximately one-third of their lives—but may face a decline in quality of life due to symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, vaginal dryness, reduced sexual desire, joint and bone pain, osteoporosis, as well as long-term cardiovascular and cognitive health consequences.”

— Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lưu Thị Hồng, former Director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health; Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Insomnia, weight gain, fatigue, or irregular periods can have many different causes. Therefore, it is important not to self-diagnose a “hormonal imbalance” based on a single symptom or test result.

Hormonal assessment should always be considered in the context of age, symptoms, menstrual cycle, medical history, and reproductive goals.

Are Hormone Tests the Whole Picture?

A hormone test provides only a snapshot of the body at a particular point in time. More importantly, the results need to be interpreted within the context of each woman’s overall health to determine what they mean and whether further monitoring is needed.

This is why hormonal healthcare should move beyond “testing only when symptoms appear” toward a more proactive approach: understanding your body, recognizing changes early, and seeking appropriate assessment when needed.

BeWell’s Approach to Proactive Hormonal Health

At BeWell, hormonal health is viewed as an integral part of women’s overall wellbeing, following a personalized approach:

Assessment → Understanding → Monitoring → Proactive Care

The goal is not to pursue a “perfect hormone level,” but to help every woman understand the changes in her body and make informed decisions about her health at every stage of life.

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