A quick summary:
If your energy levels sometimes feel unpredictable, you’re not imagining it. Hormones play a huge role in how energised, focused, or fatigued we feel - particularly for women whose hormones shift throughout the menstrual cycle and across different life stages.
From days when you feel productive and clearheaded, to those where everything feels a bit off, these fluctuations are a natural part of how the body works. Understanding them can help you support your energy rather than constantly fighting against it.
At Heka, we believe hormonal health should feel approachable and supportive, not overwhelming or overly clinical. From managing your cycle and trying to conceive, to navigating pregnancy, recovering postpartum, moving through menopause, or dealing with conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, there are steps you can take to support your hormones - and feel your best every day.
Why do hormones affect energy?
Hormones influence many systems in the body, including metabolism, sleep, mood, focus, and stress response. When key hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones fluctuate, energy levels often change alongside them.
These shifts are especially noticeable across the menstrual cycle.
Many women report feeling more energised and productive in the first half of their cycle, when oestrogen rises and can support mood, focus, and motivation. In contrast, the second half of the cycle, particularly the luteal phase, is when progesterone increases and energy may change, including shifts in sleep, appetite, and emotional wellbeing. Recognising these patterns can help you plan your work, movement, social time, and rest in a way that works with your body rather than against it.
How to support your hormones every day of your cycle
Every cycle is different, but many women notice similar trends in energy across four phases.
Menstrual phase
Energy is often at its lowest during this time as hormone levels dip. Gentle movement, rest, and nourishing foods can help support recovery and replenishment.
Follicular phase
As oestrogen rises after your period, many people feel a gradual return of energy and focus. This can be a great time for creativity, planning, and trying new things.
Ovulation
Around ovulation, energy, confidence, and sociability may peak. Some women feel particularly productive and motivated during this window.
Luteal phase
In the second half of the cycle, progesterone rises and energy can feel more inward‑focused. It’s common to seek extra support around PMS symptoms, fatigue, mood changes, or sleep during this phase.
Listening to these shifts rather than pushing through them can help create a more sustainable rhythm in everyday life.
Hormonal support across life stages
Hormonal health evolves throughout life, and the type of support that feels helpful may change over time. Hekasupports women through every stage of their hormonal journey.
For those navigating their menstrual cycle, we offer period care products, hormone testing kits, female supplements, and female health testing designed to provide clearer insights into what’s happening in the body.
If you’re managing conditions like endometriosis or looking for more personalised hormone insights, specialist testing and support options can help you better understand your symptoms and explore appropriate next steps. In the UK, around 1.5 million people are living with endometriosis, yet the average time to diagnosis is still 8 years and 10 months from first GP visit to confirmed diagnosis, highlighting how misunderstood and underdiagnosed this condition can be. Among those experiencing infertility, studies suggest 30–50% may have endometriosis, showing just how significant it can be for reproductive health.
Only about 27% of UK employers have a formal fertility‑treatment policy in place, covering things like time off or specific support for fertility challenges. For those thinking about fertility, Heka offers fertility testing, fertility supplements, and supportive resources designed to help individuals and couples better understand and manage their reproductive health.
During pregnancy and postpartum, hormonal changes can affect everything from energy and sleep to emotional wellbeing. For example, by the third trimester, a pregnant woman’s progesterone levels can be up to 10x higher than pre-pregnancy, and prolactin can be 10–20 times higher, highlighting just how dramatically the body shifts during this time. Support during this period can include pregnancy‑focused supplements, postpartum recovery support, and resources for new parents as they adjust to the demands of early parenthood.
And as women move into perimenopause and menopause, changing hormone levels can bring significant impacts to wellbeing. Research shows that around 73% of women aged 40-60 in employment have experienced symptoms related to menopausal transition, and more than half have been unable to go into work because of these symptoms. 1 in 10 women leave their jobs due to menopause symptoms, and even more report negative effects on confidence, motivation, and career progression when support is lacking at work.
Supporting hormones beyond testing
Hormones don’t exist in isolation - they’re influenced by lifestyle, nutrition, stress, and mental wellbeing. That’s why the best hormonal support looks at the bigger picture of health and includes preventative care too.
Alongside testing and supplements, support may also include:
- Nutritional guidance to help stabilise blood sugar and support hormone production
- Mindfulness practices that help regulate the nervous system and reduce stress hormones
- Therapy or counselling, whether you’re dealing with fertility challenges, postpartum recovery, menopause, or conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, or other hormonal health concerns
- Movement and fitness that supports hormonal balance without adding excessive stress to the body
- Productivity and focus strategies that work with cycle phases rather than against them
Small adjustments in these areas can have a meaningful impact on energy and overall wellbeing.
Supporting men’s hormonal health too
While hormonel conversations often focus on women, men experience hormonal shifts too. Testosterone levels can influence energy, mood, muscle mass, and overall vitality.
At Heka, we also provide male hormone testing kits and male‑focused supplements, helping men better understand their hormonal health and find support where needed.
A more informed approach to hormonal health
Hormones are constantly changing across the menstrual cycle, through different life stages, and in response to the way we live our lives. Rather than seeing fluctuating energy as a problem to fix, it can help to see it as useful information. Understanding these patterns empowers you to support your body more intentionally.
Heka makes it easier to support your hormones, with testing, products, and resources that help you feel your best throughout every cycle and every stage of life. Because when you understand your hormones, you’re better equipped to support your energy, your wellbeing, and your everyday life.
Get in touch to invest in your team’s health and productivity with personalised hormonal support.
