Balance Your Hormones & Stress This Summer

Hey ladies!

Summer is here — the season of iced coffees, sundresses, BBQs... and hormones doing the cha-cha with your stress levels. 🍹💃 If you’ve been feeling a little off lately (like snapping at your partner because they chewed too loudly, or crying during an ad for sunscreen), your hormones might be staging a summer rebellion. I'm here to decode the madness.

Let’s talk about how to balance your hormones and keep stress from stealing your summer sparkle.

☀️ First, Meet the Hormonal Avengers

Your hormones are like a hormonal girl gang: estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and a few others — each with their own personality. Ideally, they work together like a well-rehearsed Beyoncé backup crew. But when they’re off balance? It’s like a Real Housewives reunion special — dramatic, unpredictable, and someone always ends up in tears.

Things that can throw them off include:

• Poor sleep (scrolling TikTok till 2AM, I see you 👀)

• Excess stress

• Crash dieting for swimsuit season

• Overexercising (yes, even your Peloton instructor needs a rest day)

😌 De-Stress Like You Mean It

Stress is not just a mental thing — it’s a hormonal thing. Cortisol (your main stress hormone) likes to boss everyone else around, especially your reproductive hormones. Think PMS but with a megaphone.

How to shut her down (gently):

• Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours.

• Move your body: Walk, stretch, swim — whatever feels good.

• Breathe: No, seriously. Deep belly breaths tell your nervous system to chill.

• Say no: Protect your energy like it's the last popsicle in the freezer.

🥗 Eat Like You Love Yourself

Food is not the enemy. It’s the fuel your hormones need to do their job. So if you’re surviving on coffee and vibes — we need to talk.

Summer hormone-loving foods:

• Healthy fats: Avocados, nuts, seeds (your hormones need fat to be made, after all)

• Colorful fruits & veggies: Nature’s multivitamins

• Protein: Eggs, fish, beans — they help keep blood sugar (and mood swings) in check

• Hydration: Dehydrated = cranky. Aim for water.

💗 Know When to Call Your OB/GYN

If your mood swings are fierce, or your period is ghosting you, don’t just chalk it up to “just stress.” Come talk to us! Hormonal imbalance is real, and totally treatable.

We’ve got tools, labs, and actual solutions. We’ll work with you to figure out what your body needs.

Final Thought: Hot Girl Summer... But Make It Balanced 🔥

You deserve a summer where you feel good in your body — mentally, emotionally, and hormonally. So ditch the guilt, drink your water, and give your hormones the love they deserve. And if they still insist on being dramatic, you know where to find me (hint: air-conditioned office, zero judgment, possibly snacks).

Sending you sunny vibes and steady cycles,

Dr. Laura Pignotti West County OB/GYN Specialists St. Louis MO