“That’s just part of being a woman.” “You’re just getting older.” “Maybe you’re overreacting.” “It’s probably all in your head.”

Let’s stop right there.

Just because something is common doesn’t make it normal. Let’s break down the top five health issues that women experience far too often—and have been told to ignore.

1. Mood Swings

Yes, your mood naturally shifts across your cycle—but when it becomes overwhelming, unpredictable, or makes you feel like you’ve lost control? That’s a red flag.

If you find yourself:

Crying uncontrollably over small things
Snapping in rage over everyday moments
Feeling like your emotions are running your life

…it’s not just “PMS.” It’s a hormonal imbalance that needs support. In Eastern medicine, we look at liver health, stress pathways, and how your body detoxes hormones to bring this back into balance.

2. Bone-Deep Fatigue

You’re not just tired because you’re a mom. Or because you're getting older. Or because life is busy.

Constant fatigue is your body screaming for help. I personally struggled with undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction after having my first baby—and doctors brushed it off. It took someone finally listening to discover I had a thyroid storm.

If you're always exhausted, it's time to stop pushing and start testing. Over-exercising with cortisol dysregulation? That only makes things worse.

3. Weight Gain That Doesn’t Make Sense

Hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause require lifestyle adjustments—but they don’t mean inevitable weight gain.

Changes in body composition should be met with support, not shame. That means:

Updating how and when you eat
Increasing protein and muscle support
Understanding how hormones like insulin and estrogen affect your metabolism

If your weight is changing and nothing you do seems to help, it’s time to look deeper than calories in/calories out.

4. Sleep Disturbances That Disrupt Your Life

Struggling to fall asleep… or waking at 2am and staying awake until morning?

This isn’t just “stress.” Poor sleep affects everything from metabolism to detoxification, cognitive function, and weight regulation.

Your body releases its highest levels of natural human growth hormone between 10pm–2am. If you’re not sleeping deeply, your healing is stalling.

Sometimes just a simple tincture, nervous system support, or dietary shift can unlock better sleep and—believe it or not—weight loss too.

5. Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Heavy periods, skipped days, clotting, pain, spotting, disappearing and reappearing flow—these are not normal.

Your period is a vital sign—a direct reflection of your hormonal health, nutrient levels, stress patterns, and more. A cycle that shifts drastically in length or severity is a major signal that your system is out of balance.

A healthy cycle:

Runs about 27–29 days, with a 1–2 day buffer
Shouldn’t feel debilitating or unpredictable
Offers feedback about your health over the past 3 months

Too many women are dismissed, gaslit, or told their symptoms are just a part of life. But being in pain, exhausted, anxious, or struggling with your body doesn't have to be your baseline.

With the Female Hormone Solution Program, we go beyond temporary fixes to create lasting change. We walk with you for 12 weeks to support your body, decode your symptoms, and help you feel like yourself again—stronger and better than ever.

And guess what? The waitlist is NOW OPEN.

Get the details here: https://drbethwestie.com/waitlist/

Ünver Rüstem, “Ottoman Baroque: The Architectural Refashioning of Eighteenth-Century Istanbul” (Princeton UP, 2019)