Raise your hands if you understand your hormones…

Awks. If you didn’t raise your hand, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Only nine per cent of women say they feel confident about managing their hormonal health, according to a based survey by Forth, which quizzed 1000 young women. Yet our hormones influence everything from how clear our skin is, to our mood (obvi), metabolism, energy (why am I tired all the time?!) and how well we snooze. Btw we’re sorry to break it to you, but the late-night matcha doesn’t help that. 👀

We quizzed expert doctor, Dr Rahmana of Smart Salem Medical Centre, about the signs of hormonal imbalance and what testing can reveal.

And if you’re a busy girl suffering from at least one of the above, take this as ✨ your sign ✨ to prioritise your health and get your hormones in check!

Quick science lesson incoming! Hormones are basically like your body’s WhatsApp messages. They carry instructions from one part of your body to another. But when they’re out of sync? Oh, hey bloating, fatigue, weight gain, painful periods, mood swings and breakouts.

“Even subtle imbalances can show up in surprising ways,” says Dr Rahmana. “That’s why hormone testing is so useful, because it helps us get to the root cause quickly.”

Here’s all the signs your hormones might be wreaking havoc in your body. Things that might be normal but definitely aren’t.

If you experience painful, heavy or irregular periods this might be a sign your hormones are likely imbalanced. Maybe you struggle with breakouts that no 10-step Korean skincare routine can fix, have random outbursts of crying, or experience exhaustion even after eight hours of sleep?

Yup, these are all reasons to suspect your hormones are playing dirty.

“Many women brush these symptoms off as just being ‘busy’ or ‘stressed’, especially in fast-paced cities like Dubai,” says Dr Rahmana. “But these are often signs of an underlying hormonal imbalance.”

Sounds like adulting tbh. Luckily, Dr Rahmana could see us spiralling and quickly stepped in to reassure us that there’s a quick test that can be done in under 15 minutes to literally MOT our hormones.

So for all the busy girls who just wanna feel human again, we’ve created this quick hormone go-to guide with Dr Rahmana, to break down exactly what a hormone panel will tell you.

Oestradiol

Oestradiol is the Beyoncé of oestrogens – it plays a key role in skin, libido, bone strength, and periods.

Too little? You might feel dry, moody, or have hot flashes. Yep, even in your 20s. Too much of it? Bloating and breast tenderness coming your way…

Progesterone

Progesterone is your zen hormone. Helps to balance oestrogen and supports sleep, mood, and a healthy period.

If your levels are low, you might experience PMS, anxiety, or spotting before your period.

FSH and LH

This pair control ovulation and your monthly rhythm. But if they’re imbalanced, your period may go MIA or arrive with chaos.

Testosterone

While you might associate this hormone with muscly men, testosterone affects muscle tone, energy, mood, and libido in women. Low levels can make you feel weak, tired, or just not yourself. And high levels can lead to acne, hair thinning, and signs of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Prolactin

Prolactin is best known for producing breast milk, but if it’s too high when you’re not pregnant, it can mess with your cycle and even your fertility.

“High prolactin can also cause mood changes and low libido,” explains Dr Rahmana.

Okay so you’ve skim read the above and you’re still thinking, “but do I really need to test my hormones?”

You don’t need to wait until you’re “falling apart” to test your hormones. In fact, knowing your baseline hormonal health early is a flex.

“Hormonal testing gives you a roadmap,” says Dr Rahmana. “We can spot imbalances before they become symptoms, and recommend tweaks to your lifestyle, supplements, or treatment to restore balance.”

If you’re constantly asking ChatGPT “why am I so tired” or Googling “treatments for hormonal acne,” we’re gonna be real: it’s time to test.

But the silver lining of all this is that you can get your full hormone panel done in 15 minutes at Smart Salem Medical Centre. Plus, there are no queues and no waiting around. You won’t need to figure out the numbers alone as an expert will guide you through everything.

It’s biohacking made chic, and you can fit it in between your next BIAB appointment and brunch.

Understanding your hormones really doesn’t need to be difficult, and they shouldn’t control you either.

If we learnt anything from talking to Dr Rahmana, it’s that glowing skin, better energy, and happier moods all start with healthy hormones.