STOP HORMONES HOLDING YOU BACK

Time to discover why you're feeling a bit off

- SAMANTHA WOOD

Experiencing lethargy, brain fog, lack of libido or mood swings? It could be down to your hormones. ‘After you hit your mid-40s, hormone levels start to change, causing a whole range of unexpected symptoms, which can really affect everyday life,’ says nutritionist Pauline Cox, author of Hungry Woman (£27, Ebury Press). Take our test to find out what’s going on in your body and how you can fix it.

THE RESULTS

Count up your scores, then read on to see how you did

Mostly As
YOU’VE LOST YOUR SEX DRIVE

Sex seems more ‘chore’ than ‘phwoar’? ‘Loss of libido is often caused by a decline in testosterone levels, which naturally starts happening after your late 30s,’ explains Pauline. ‘When oestrogen levels also start to dip – often towards the second half of perimenopause – this can cause vaginal dryness and make sex uncomfortable.’ Where you can, reduce stress levels and try magnesium and zinc, which dial down anxiety-inducing cortisol.

FAST FIX Omega 7, which is found in sea buckthorn juice and fatty fish, can help keep your vagina lubricated.