Whether it's your period or (peri) menopause you're struggling with, yo-yoing hormones can wreak havoc on how you feel. According to the NHS, women with heavy periods are forced to take off 11 days annually. Later in life, the impact of fluctuating hormones continues, with an estimated 14 million working days in the UK lost every year due to menopause-related symptoms. Showing how influential hormonal health is, and why more women are looking for support, whether that's with HRT, lifestyle changes, or hormone balance supplements.
In this blog we're explaining why hormones have such a powerful effect on the body AND the best supplements to try if you're keen to try a more natural approach to supporting your hormones:
Why might you need hormone balance supplements?
During your menstrual cycle, levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone naturally rise and fall. In the second half (the luteal phase), progesterone increases to prepare the body for pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, both hormones drop sharply and it's this change that can trigger PMS symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, anxiety, cramps, bloating and food cravings.
Menopause brings a different (but equally challenging!) shift. As ovarian function declines, oestrogen and progesterone levels become erratic before falling significantly. This hormonal instability triggers symptoms such as fatigue, low mood, joint pain, brain fog, sleep disruption, and reduced bone density.
Research shows that fluctuating oestrogen levels directly affect neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, which help regulate mood and calm the nervous system. Meanwhile, lower oestrogen also impacts how the body uses key nutrients such as magnesium, calcium and vitamin D, which can lead to all kinds of physical issues such as osteoporosis, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and even dementia.
But don't panic – topping up nutrients you might be running low on and taking hormone balance supplements could help.
Here's how they help reduce PMS Symptoms:
Rather than replacing hormones, hormone balance supplements can help support your body during times when your levels are all over the place, by providing nutrients involved in energy production, nervous system function and hormone metabolism.
Moderate to severe PMS affects an estimated 30% of UK women according to PMS UK, with most bothersome symptoms reported as being:
- Mood swings
- Cramps
- Low energy
- Poor sleep
If this sounds familar, the good news is there are most definitely supplements that can help!
Numerous studies show that magnesium can help reduce menstrual cramps, improve mood and sleep and even help prevent migraines. Add in B vitamins (in particular B6) and clinical trials have found women can experience a significant reduction in overall PMS symptoms, especially low mood and painful cramps. B vitamins are also renowned for their energy boosting properties, so if you're always wiped out pre-period, try these. Another must-have is zinc, which is ace for supporting cognitive function and may help reduce mood swings and food cravings. So if you're done with raiding the chocolate cupboard each month to try and beat the brain fog, you know what to do!
What are PatchWorks best hormone balance supplements for periods?
Our handy Monthly Night Relief patch contains zinc and magnesium in one handy, easy to use patch. We'd recommend wearing it in tandem with the Monthly Day Relief patch, formulated with that all important vitamin B6, plus iron (ideal if you have heavy periods), mood-balancing evening primrose oil, and much more – no more having to remember to take multiple supplements when that mid-month brain fog kicks in! And don't just take our word for it either, here's just some of 5 star reviews who swear by our hormone balance supplements:
“I used day and night monthly female patches to support my hormones and all the PMS symptoms I usually had were totally non-existent. I was so shocked by the quick turnaround of my body in such a short time and have recommended the site to many friends since.”
“I've recently started using monthly relief patches, as I used to have strong mood fluctuations for 2 days during my cycle and food cravings. I had less pain with cramps and felt overall steadier, when using the patch.”
How hormone balance supplements could help during menopause too:
Yes, hormone balance supplements can support this too! Particularly if you're worried about energy levels, cognition, sleep and bone health.
Vitamin D and calcium should be top of your list for maintaining bone density, when you consider women can lose up to 20% of bone mass in the years following menopause (For a deeper dive on this, read: 6 Supplements to prevent Osteoporosis). Magnesium is another must-have, both for the support it offers for normal muscle and nerve function and the role it plays in calming the nervous system. This can help reduce anxiety and poor sleep, common complaints during peri menopause which can have a big impact on how you feel.
Much like during your period, B vitamins can be helpful to boost both your energy levels and your mood. And don't forget about botanicals like Black Cohosh and rhubarb root extract, which can offer additional support for symptoms like hot flushes, mood changes and sub-par sleep. Black cohosh has been widely studied – with some results suggesting it can significantly reduce both hot flushes and night sweats.
Guess what? Our Menopause Relief patch contains all these goodies and more, making it the perfect catch-all if you're looking to try and keep on top of your symptoms naturally. Providing a non-hormonal approach if you don't want to take HRT, or simply want additional support. The right supplements can have a measurable, positive effect on how you feel during menopause. Just check out this feedback from customers, one of whom tried hormone balance supplements as an HRT alternative:
“Great patches, great alternative to HRT patches they appear to have the same effect if not better. I feel more energetic for sure and am sleeping much better. I will be a future customer for sure.”
“Since wearing the patches I have noticed a difference in my mood and pain levels. I’ve been wearing them around four months now and notice when I’ve missed a day or two.”
