The Royal Hormone Kingdom: Understanding Menopause Through Hormones

Why Menopause Isn’t Chaos. It’s a New Era.

Menopause is a hormonal transition that affects the entire body, not just periods. Changes in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and other hormones can influence sleep, mood, weight, energy, and overall well-being.

For many women, menopause symptoms can feel confusing or overwhelming.

In this blog, I explain menopause and hormone changes in a simple, memorable way using the Royal Hormone Kingdom metaphor, so women can better understand their bodies and navigate this stage of life with clarity and confidence.

What Is Menopause, Really?

I talk about menopause every single day.

I’ve explained it to hundreds — truly thousands — of women over the years.

Different ages, different cultures, different stories but almost always the same underlying question:

“Why does my body feel so different?”

As a physician, I can explain menopause using labs, physiology, and hormone pathways and that science matters. But over time, I realized something important:

Women don’t just need information.They need understanding that sticks.

And here’s something else about me. I’ve always loved fairytales, storytelling, and using metaphors to explain complex medical concepts.

That’s how my brain naturally organizes the world, through stories, relationships, and meaning.

So in my mind, menopause finally made sense this way:

Estrogen is the Queen.Progesterone is the King.

And your body is an imaginary fairytale kingdom where everything revolves around their leadership.

When the Queen is strong and the King is steady, the kingdom feels calm and balanced. When leadership begins to change, the kingdom doesn’t collapse — it transitions.

The moment I started explaining hormone changes this way to patients, something magical happened.

The tension in their faces softened.The overwhelm lifted.

Confusion melted away like realizing the villain in the story was never inside them, but simply a misunderstood plot twist.

Suddenly, menopause wasn’t a jumble of unrelated symptoms. It was a story with structure.A system with logic.A kingdom undergoing change.

And once the story made sense, fear quietly exited the stage.

That’s how the Royal Hormone Kingdom was born.

Every Body Is a Kingdom

Your body is not broken, Its not failing, It's not being dramatic.

It’s a kingdom entering a new chapter.

Menopause isn’t chaos, it’s a leadership transition. Much like a Taylor Swift era shift: same woman, new rhythm, new rules, and eventually a different kind of power.

(Every reinvention begins this way.)

Queen Estrogen : The Hormone That Affects the Entire Body

Queen Estrogen is often described as a “reproductive hormone,” which is like calling a Disney queen just a princess in a tower. Accurate? Yes. Complete? Not even close.

Estrogen receptors are found throughout the body, which means estrogen affects nearly every organ system:

• In the brain, estrogen supports mood, memory, focus, and temperature regulation

• In the bones, it helps maintain bone density and strength

• In the heart and blood vessels, it supports flexibility and cardiovascular health

• In the joints and muscles, it helps reduce inflammation

• In the skin and hair, it supports collagen, thickness, and hydration

• In the vagina, bladder, and pelvic tissues, it maintains comfort and elasticity

When estrogen fluctuates and declines during perimenopause and menopause, women don’t just notice changes in their menstrual cycles.

They notice changes everywhere.

Common Menopause Symptoms Related to Estrogen Decline

Common menopause symptoms caused by estrogen changes include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats

• Brain fog and memory changes

• Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability

• Sleep disruption and insomnia

• Joint pain and stiffness

• Fatigue and low energy

• Vaginal dryness or urinary symptoms

These menopause symptoms are not random.They reflect the Queen stepping back from the throne and the entire kingdom adjusting.

King Progesterone : Why Sleep and Calm Change First

Here’s the plot twist most women are never told. Menopause doesn’t start with estrogen. It often starts with progesterone decline.

King Progesterone governs calm, sleep, and nervous system balance. He works closely with the brain’s calming pathways and helps quiet mental chatter at night.

And he tends to leave early, quietly, without a farewell ball.

That’s why many women in early perimenopause say:

• “I can’t sleep anymore.”

• “I feel anxious for no reason.”

• “My mind won’t shut off.”

This isn’t weakness or stress, It's hormonal change.

The King stepped away before the Queen did.

Prince Testosterone : Energy, Strength, and Confidence in Women

Despite common myths, testosterone is not just a male hormone.

In women, testosterone supports:

• Energy and stamina

• Muscle strength

• Motivation and confidence

• Libido and sexual health

As testosterone levels gradually decline with age, women often report feeling less like themselves.

This shift isn’t about aging poorly, It's about a Prince whose voice has grown quieter in the kingdom.

The Princesses :Thyroid and Oxytocin Explained

Every strong kingdom has influential figures working just beneath the throne.

Princess Thyroid controls the pace of the kingdom:

• Metabolism

• Energy levels

• Brain speed

• Temperature regulation

• Weight balance

Thyroid symptoms often overlap with menopause symptoms, which is why thyroid hormone changes are frequently overlooked in midlife women.

Princess Oxytocin governs:

• Emotional connection

• Bonding and trust

• Pleasure and intimacy

• Emotional safety

As estrogen declines, oxytocin signaling can soften. Women may feel emotionally distant from others or even from themselves.

That’s not a personality change.That’s hormone biology.

Other Hormones That Change During Menopause

No kingdom runs on royalty alone.

Other important hormones include:

• Cortisol, which manages stress and survival

• Insulin, which regulates blood sugar and energy storage

• Melatonin, which supports sleep cycles

• Vitamin D, which protects bones and immune health

• DHEA, which acts as a hormonal backup system

When estrogen and progesterone shift, the entire hormone system adapts. That’s why menopause can feel unpredictable, not because your body is failing, but because it’s reorganizing.

Why Understanding Hormones Makes Menopause Easier

When women understand hormone changes during menopause, everything shifts.

They stop blaming themselves.They start recognizing patterns.They realize their bodies are not the villain in the story.

Menopause is not the end of the story , it’s a transition into another stage of life. With education, support, and personalized care, this stage can be navigated with clarity, confidence, and empowerment.

Same woman, New Era , New Crown

Welcome to the Royal Hormone Kingdom 👑✨We’re just getting started.

Your kingdom doesn’t need saving, it needs a new strategy for this era. 👑If you’re ready for guidance that’s evidence-based, compassionate, and actually fits your real life, I’d love to support you.

✨ Work with me in three ways:

• The Hormone Reset Program: a guided reset for women who want structure, accountability, and a hormone-friendly routine that fits real life.

• Virtual coaching (worldwide): personalized support for menopause and intimacy so you feel like yourself again.

• Medical telemedicine (where eligible): OB-GYN care for women who need clinical evaluation and treatment options.

Let's flourish and Bloom together. 🌸