Hampshire Health and Hormones

Hampshire Health and Hormones Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Hampshire Health and Hormones, Medical and health, Spire Hospital, Chalybeate Close, Southampton.

Online consultations (face to face available on request)
GP-led, CQC registered care for menopause, PMS, hormone health & lifestyle-related symptoms
Led by Dr Katie Hodgkinson, experienced GP & lifestyle medicine doctor
Evidence-based, personalised care

PMS is often spoken about as though everyone experiences it the same way 🩸For some women, it is the emotional side. Feel...
18/06/2026

PMS is often spoken about as though everyone experiences it the same way 🩸

For some women, it is the emotional side. Feeling more anxious, irritable or overwhelmed in the days before a period.

For others, it is the physical symptoms. Breast tenderness, fatigue, headaches, bloating or simply not feeling like yourself 🥵

These changes are often linked to shifts in oestrogen and progesterone during the second half of the cycle. During perimenopause, they can become more noticeable as hormone patterns start to fluctuate.

Which one would you choose today? ⬇️

Have you ever felt like you could eat everything in sight one month, then barely think about food the next?It can be fru...
17/06/2026

Have you ever felt like you could eat everything in sight one month, then barely think about food the next?

It can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to eat consistently and nothing seems to make sense.

⚖️ Hormones affect appetite signals
Oestrogen and progesterone influence hunger hormones such as leptin and ghrelin. As these hormones fluctuate, appetite often does too.

🌙 Some phases of your cycle require more energy
In the second half of the menstrual cycle, the body naturally burns more calories. Increased hunger can simply reflect increased energy needs.

🍭 Blood sugar fluctuations drive cravings
When blood sugar rises and falls quickly, the brain receives stronger signals to seek energy. This often shows up as cravings for sugar or quick carbohydrates.

🔥 Stress can increase hunger
Higher cortisol levels can increase appetite, particularly for foods that provide quick energy and comfort.

🔄 Perimenopause can make appetite less predictable
As hormone patterns become less consistent, hunger and cravings can feel less predictable too. Many women notice changes in appetite before they notice changes in their periods.

Feeling hungrier is not always a lack of willpower. Sometimes it is valuable information about what your body is experiencing.

If your appetite, cravings or weight feel very different than they used to, book an appointment to explore whether hormones could be part of the picture.

Many women spend years trying to push through symptoms that are actually asking them to pause.♀️When stress becomes cons...
16/06/2026

Many women spend years trying to push through symptoms that are actually asking them to pause.
♀️
When stress becomes constant, the body adapts. Cortisol rises, sleep becomes lighter, blood sugar becomes less stable, and hormone symptoms often become harder to manage.
⏸️
Rest is not giving up.
♀️
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do for your hormones is create enough space for your body to recover, regulate and respond differently.
⏸️
Slowing down will not solve every hormonal issue, but it is often an important part of the solution.
♀️
If you feel like your body is asking for a different approach, book an appointment to explore what may be driving your symptoms.

Have you ever looked back at your month and realised the anxiety appeared at exactly the same point in your cycle?For ma...
15/06/2026

Have you ever looked back at your month and realised the anxiety appeared at exactly the same point in your cycle?

For many women, anxiety that seems random is actually following a hormonal pattern.

⚖️ Your hormones are fluctuating more than they used to
During perimenopause, oestrogen and progesterone can become less predictable. Even with regular periods, these shifts can affect mood, emotional resilience and how you respond to stress.

🌙 Progesterone may not be having the same calming effect
Progesterone helps support relaxation and sleep. As levels become more variable, some women notice they feel more on edge, restless or emotionally sensitive before their period.

🔥 Stress and PMS can amplify each other
A level of stress that once felt manageable may suddenly feel overwhelming in the second half of the cycle. Hormonal changes can reduce your capacity to cope with everyday pressures.

🍭 Blood sugar swings become less forgiving
Hormonal fluctuations can affect appetite, cravings and blood sugar regulation. When blood sugar is less stable, anxiety, irritability and low mood often become more noticeable.

🔄 Perimenopause can make symptoms feel more intense
Many women are surprised when PMS symptoms they have managed for years begin to worsen in their 40s. Anxiety is often one of the earliest changes.

Anxiety before your period is not always about what is happening around you. Sometimes it is a clue that your hormones are changing.

Save this post if you have ever wondered why your anxiety seems worse at certain times of the month.

If your cramps leave you reaching for pain relief every month, it may be worth looking at inflammation, not just the sym...
14/06/2026

If your cramps leave you reaching for pain relief every month, it may be worth looking at inflammation, not just the symptom 💢

Period pain is largely driven by prostaglandins, inflammatory compounds that trigger uterine contractions. When inflammatory activity is higher, cramps often feel stronger and more persistent 🩸

🐟 Sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3s help regulate inflammatory pathways and may support a healthier prostaglandin balance.

🦴 They also provide vitamin D and calcium
Both play a role in muscle function, which is relevant when we are talking about uterine contractions.

🔥 Supporting inflammation is about consistency
Including omega-3 rich foods regularly can be part of a wider approach to calmer cycles.

If you are open to using food as part of your cycle support, save this and consider adding sardines or another omega-3 source into your week.

If your periods feel heavier during hot weather, there is a physiological reason.🌡 Heat increases blood vessel dilationW...
13/06/2026

If your periods feel heavier during hot weather, there is a physiological reason.

🌡 Heat increases blood vessel dilation
Warm temperatures cause blood vessels to widen. During menstruation, that increased blood flow can make bleeding feel more intense.

💧 Dehydration affects circulation
Losing fluids in the heat changes blood volume and circulation. When you are already bleeding heavily, this can worsen dizziness, headaches and weakness.

🔥 Inflammation can intensify bleeding
Heat stress can increase inflammatory activity. For women prone to heavy or painful periods, this may amplify symptoms.

⚖️ Hormones are already fluctuating
In perimenopause, oestrogen shifts can contribute to heavier or irregular bleeding. Environmental stress, including heat, can compound this.

😓 Fatigue feels heavier in the heat
Heavy bleeding reduces iron levels over time. Add heat and dehydration, and exhaustion can feel disproportionate.

These patterns are not random. They reflect how hormones, circulation and environment interact.

If your cycle, sleep or mood has shifted, stress may be part of the picture.♀️Chronic stress keeps cortisol elevated. Th...
12/06/2026

If your cycle, sleep or mood has shifted, stress may be part of the picture.
♀️
Chronic stress keeps cortisol elevated. That affects ovulation, progesterone levels, blood sugar regulation and even how well you sleep. Over time, the body adapts to pressure, and hormone rhythms can lose their balance.
♀️
This is not about coping badly. It is the stress response doing what it is designed to do, just for too long.
♀️
Notice the signs. Irregular periods. Worsening PMS. Afternoon crashes. Feeling wired but tired.
♀️
If this feels familiar, save this as a reminder to prioritise stress regulation this week.

If your skin feels different this summer, there is usually a physiological reason.Perimenopause alters how skin function...
11/06/2026

If your skin feels different this summer, there is usually a physiological reason.

Perimenopause alters how skin functions at a structural level.

☀️ Oil production can fluctuate
Changing oestrogen levels affect sebum production. Skin may feel dry in some areas yet prone to breakouts in others.

🌡 Heat amplifies vascular changes
Oestrogen influences blood vessel tone. In warmer weather, flushing and redness can feel more pronounced.

💧 Hydration shifts
Oestrogen supports skin barrier integrity. As levels fluctuate, moisture retention reduces and sensitivity increases.

🧴 Pigmentation can deepen
Hormonal changes affect melanin production. Melasma and uneven tone may become more noticeable in strong sunlight.

🔥 Inflammatory responses increase
Systemic hormonal shifts can trigger rosacea, irritation or flare ups that were not previously an issue.

These changes are not random. They reflect hormonal transitions happening beneath the surface.

If your skin has changed and you want clarity on whether hormones are contributing, book an appointment for a personalised review.

Many women are told that endometriosis simply disappears once periods stop ♀️❌ FalseWhile symptoms may improve for some ...
10/06/2026

Many women are told that endometriosis simply disappears once periods stop ♀️

❌ False

While symptoms may improve for some after menopause, endometriosis does not automatically resolve. Endometrial-like tissue can remain active, particularly if there is ongoing oestrogen production from body fat, adrenal glands or HRT. In some cases, pelvic pain can persist or even reappear after menopause.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition. It is hormone influenced, but not exclusively dependent on monthly cycles 🩸

If you are postmenopausal and still experiencing pelvic pain or unexplained symptoms, it deserves proper assessment.

If you would like your symptoms reviewed in context why not get in touch 🎀

You can be exhausted and still have high cortisol.Cortisol follows a daily rhythm. It should rise in the morning to help...
09/06/2026

You can be exhausted and still have high cortisol.

Cortisol follows a daily rhythm. It should rise in the morning to help you wake up, then gradually fall so you can wind down at night. When that pattern is disrupted, symptoms can feel confusing.

☀️ Waking tired can mean your morning cortisol rise is blunted.
🌙 Feeling wired late at night may signal cortisol is peaking too late.
☕ Needing constant caffeine often masks poor stress regulation.
📉 Afternoon crashes can reflect unstable blood sugar and stress signalling.
⚖️ Abdominal weight gain is commonly linked with prolonged elevated cortisol.

This is not simply about being busy or lacking willpower. Chronic stress, poor sleep, blood sugar swings and hormonal shifts all affect cortisol rhythm.

If these patterns sound familiar, it may be time to look at stress regulation rather than pushing harder.

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Southampton

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