Hormonal Fatigue in Men & Women
HEALTH SCIENCE
Written by Rachel Mehaffey
How our hormones make us truly different in how we experience life ..
It is entirely fair to say men and women are different.This may sound like a simple statement, but in the day and age we are living, lines haven't just become blurred—they are tripping on something. Especially when a debate comes down to chromosomes. To science.
Gender Debates in the Modern Age
Today, discussions around gender are more nuanced and complex than ever before. Advances in science and shifts in societal norms have led to more inclusive understandings of gender beyond the traditional binary. However, this has also resulted in contentious debates.
The intersection of biology and identity is a particularly hot topic, as some argue for the importance of recognising biological differences, while others emphasize the social constructs of gender. This dichotomy can be seen in discussions about sports, healthcare, and workplace policies.
Understanding these differences, especially from a biological and scientific standpoint, is essential & goes beyond the choice to 'identify' as one wishes because, the biology is set in the XX and the XY and this brings more than just how someone sees themselves it is what their body is working with.
As a woman who is now 44 years old and going through yet another hormonal transition in life, I feel it necessary to value, acknowledge, and understand there is a clear difference so we can respect it for what it is and that it IS something. Let's look at this from the vantage point of something both men and women tend to suffer from when they are mid 30's and defintiely into the 40's. Fatigue and general tiredness.
Understanding Fatigue
Fatigue is a common issue that can affect anyone, but it can manifest differently in men and women, especially as they age. For both sexes, fatigue can result from a variety of factors, including lifestyle choices, medical conditions, and hormonal changes. Hormonal changes are where the divide becomes the difference between the real world and barbie world.
In Women:
Menstruation and Menopause: Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and the significant hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can cause fatigue. Oestrogen and progesterone levels drop, leading to symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, and disrupted sleep, all contributing to overall tiredness
Testosterone: Though often considered a male hormone, testosterone plays a crucial role in women's health as well. Decreasing levels during menopause can lead to reduced muscle mass and energy.
In Men:
Testosterone Levels: Men experience a gradual decline in testosterone levels starting in their 30s, which can lead to decreased energy, muscle mass, and libido. This can result in a sense of fatigue and reduced motivation.
Top 11 Reasons for Fatigue at Midlife
Menstruation: For women, heavy menstrual bleeding or dysmenorrhea can cause significant blood loss and pain, leading to fatigue.
Menopause (Perimenopause): Fluctuating hormones cause symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances.
Low Testosterone: Affects both men and women, leading to decreased energy and muscle mass.
Thyroid Issues: Hypothyroidism slows metabolism, causing fatigue, weight gain, and depression.
Anemia: Low levels of red blood cells or hemoglobin reduce oxygen supply to tissues, causing tiredness.
Depression: Mental health conditions like depression can drain energy, making it hard to get through the day.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with rest.
Poor Diet: Lack of essential nutrients can lead to low energy levels.
Poor Sleep: Insufficient or poor-quality sleep disrupts the body's ability to restore energy.
Medication Side Effects: Some medications have fatigue as a side effect, affecting daily energy levels.
Dehydration: Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue and affect mental and physical performance.
As we see women and men share all of the causes for fatigue in a general setting BUT when it comes to hormones there is a lot more to talk about that is JUST UNIQUE to the girls.
Hormonal Changes and Daily Impact on Women
Women experience unique symptoms due to hormonal changes that men do not. This impacts their daily lives significantly. For instance:
Primary Dysmenorrhea: The medical term for painful menstrual cramps, caused by the uterus contracting to expel its lining, can be debilitating and affect daily activities.
Breakouts: Hormonal acne is common around menstruation due to increased androgens that increase sebum production.
Tender Breasts: Fluctuating hormone levels, especially before menstruation, can cause breast tenderness.
Bloating: Hormonal changes affect fluid retention, leading to bloating.
Bowel Issues: Estrogen and progesterone can impact gut motility, causing constipation or diarrhea.
Headaches: Hormonal fluctuations, particularly estrogen drops, can trigger headaches or migraines.
Mood Swings: Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels can lead to mood swings and emotional changes.
Hot Flushes and Night Sweats: Common during menopause, these symptoms can disrupt daily comfort and sleep quality.
Muscle and Joint Aches: Declining estrogen levels during menopause can lead to joint pain and stiffness.
So what is my personal share on this heated topic from the perspective of a hot flush! There are vast differences between men and women, and there is nothing wrong with celebrating them!
As a mother I encourage Poppy to know there are reasons she will value her female friendships so fiercely later in life, why we are dealing with different perspectives to life than our make counterparts and that it is ok to say she is not ok without having to get the approval of anyone.
Imagine if we acknowledged the scientific changes and proven symptoms mostly women are facing day in and day out and worked with them rather than placing a stigma against them.
Gender equality for sure, but that does not mean one size fits all. We are complementary beings, but heck, we are working with different mechanics, and a little bit of love and logic goes a long way.
Why am I sharing this? Because we all have mothers, some have daughters, and most of us would have some female connection in the form of a niece or female cousin. This makes it relevant to EVERYONE. In the home, at school, the workplace and even on the street!
Because I know the science and sharing it may just help someone else to understand it is not in the mind and how we feel about who we are it is influenced and impacted by what we made up of. It is chemical and we need to understand the variances are there and women are carrying most of the hormonal burdens in their inner worlds.
Balance comes from knowing the differences in order to accurately compare, then compensating for the variances and there is a big difference in the experiences we are having thanks to the hormones inhabiting our endocrines and impacting our worlds.
Keep It Simple - Sugar
Rach xx
P.S. Yes, my daughter may have made me watch the Barbie Movie with her last night, and HECK YES did it resonate.
Hey, I'm Rach. I'm a Life Coach, Podcaster, Digital Course Creator, Writer, Educator, Single Mum & Science Nerd.
I started coaching for interest sake then left my 20 year Big Corporate Gig to make it my life's work. Now I'm helping people all over the globe with mindset & teaching how to access the life you want.
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