🏥 Private Healthcare: Is It the Only Way to Be Taken Seriously?
When access and answers start to feel like a luxury
For many women, navigating the health system can feel like a long game of waiting for referrals, waiting to be believed, waiting for your symptoms to get “bad enough.”
In the meantime, you’re tired, anxious, or in pain googling at 2am, debating whether to just book a private appointment and pay out of pocket.
This post explores why so many women are turning to private healthcare, what that means for equity, and how to make informed decisions when you’re stuck between the NHS and a hard place.
🧠 1. Why Women Are Going Private Even When They Don’t Want To
Private healthcare isn’t new. But something’s shifted. In recent years, more and more women especially those in their 30s to 50s are choosing to pay for care, even when they strongly believe in public healthcare.
Why?
Long waiting lists - for everything from gynaecology to mental health
Being dismissed or misdiagnosed - especially with “invisible” conditions like fatigue, pelvic pain, or hormonal imbalance
Wanting a second opinion - without waiting months
Lack of continuity - seeing different health professionals each time and having to retell your story
Wanting specialist input - e.g. perimenopause, fibroids, fertility, gut health, ADHD
What’s often driving this isn’t luxury it’s desperation.
🩺 2. What Women Say
For many women, turning to private healthcare isn't about luxury it’s a last resort. It often comes after months (or years) of being passed between services, waiting for referrals, or having symptoms minimised.
Some women describe the private route as a turning point a way to finally access a diagnosis, specialist insight, or simply feel heard and validated. Others come away disillusioned, realising that a faster appointment didn’t always mean better care and that being taken seriously shouldn’t come with a price tag.
What’s becoming increasingly clear is that private healthcare doesn’t just cost money. It can also cost peace of mind forcing women to weigh their health needs against financial strain, and reinforcing the painful idea that care and answers are reserved for those who can afford them.
It’s not just about quicker access. It’s about dignity, validation, and urgency things every woman deserves, regardless of income.
⚖️ 3. Should You Go Private? Questions to Ask Yourself
There’s no shame in seeking private care. But before you book an appointment, take a moment to ask:
What am I hoping to get that I haven’t already?
Can I afford this without sacrificing something else essential?
Is there a free or lower-cost alternative (e.g. charity clinics, sexual health services, community regionhubs)?
Can I combine private diagnosis with NHS follow-up? (Some services allow this.)
Have I explored patient advocacy options within the NHS like PALS or writing a complaint letter?
Sometimes private healthcare is the bridge. But it shouldn’t be the only road.
🧭 4. Tips for Navigating Private Healthcare (If You Decide to Go Ahead)
If you’re booking a private appointment, here’s how to protect your time and money:
📋 Write down your symptoms and questions in advance - make the most of your time
🧾 Ask upfront about costs - including follow-ups, blood tests, scans, and prescriptions
🔁 Check if they can share info with your NHS GP - this can help with ongoing care
💬 Be clear about your goals - diagnosis? second opinion? reassurance?
🔎 Read reviews - especially from other women with similar conditions
And remember: you are still the expert on your body, no matter who’s sitting across from you.
🌿 Final Thought
The rise of private healthcare isn’t just about faster appointments. It’s about a deeper need to be seen, heard, and treated with urgency especially in a system where women’s pain is often minimised or misunderstood.
If you’ve gone private, you’re not “giving up” on the NHS. You’re advocating for yourself in the only way that felt possible at the time.
But we shouldn’t need to choose between being believed and being broke.
The more we talk about this tension openly, honestly, and without shame the more we can push for a system that treats women’s health as a priority, not a premium.
📚 Further Reading & Resources
NHS PALS – Patient Advice and Liaison Service for concerns or complaints
Maternity Action – Info on rights during private or mixed care
The Menopause Charity – Private vs NHS menopause support
NHS Choices – What to expect from private care
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you ever used private healthcare to get the support you couldn’t find in the NHS? Was it worth it or did it leave you with more questions than answers?
Let us know in the comments or share anonymously. Your story could help others decide what’s right for them.
🌸 Vulva Health: The Body Part Nobody Talks About But Every Woman Should Understand
Because silence isn’t self-care
When’s the last time someone talked to you about your vulva outside of a sex education class or smear test reminder?
For most women, the answer is never.
Despite being a vital part of our health and identity, the vulva is still misunderstood, ignored, or shrouded in shame. This silence has real consequences from delayed diagnoses to unnecessary discomfort, confusion, and fear.
This post explores what vulva health really means, how to spot when something isn’t quite right, and why every woman deserves to feel informed, confident, and cared for when it comes to her most private parts.
🧠 1. What Vulva Health Includes (And Why It’s Not Just About STIs)
When we talk about the vulva, we’re not just talking about sex. Vulva health touches on:
Skin health and sensitivity
Hormonal changes (especially around perimenopause and postpartum)
Pain, itchiness, or burning
Discomfort from shaving, tight clothing, or even toilet paper
Vulval hygiene and pH balance
Impact of infections (like thrush, BV, or herpes)
Many of these issues are not sexually transmitted, not “unclean,” and definitely not uncommon — yet they’re rarely discussed outside of specialist clinics.
🩺 2. What Women Say
At Her Health Decoded, we’ve heard from women across age groups and backgrounds who say the same thing: no one ever talked to me about this.
Some were told their pain was “psychological.” Others waited years for a diagnosis because they were too embarrassed to describe their symptoms or weren’t taken seriously when they did.
Many women feel confused by what’s normal:
Is vulva skin supposed to be dry?
Can hormones really cause itchiness or pain?
Why does sex suddenly hurt?
The result? A culture of silence and a lot of women suffering in silence, thinking they’re the only one.
⚖️ 3. Common Vulva Health Issues You Should Know About
Here are a few vulva-related concerns that are common but rarely discussed openly:
🦠 Thrush & BV (Bacterial Vaginosis)
Thrush = fungal overgrowth (itchy, white discharge)
BV = imbalance of vaginal bacteria (grey discharge, fishy smell)
Both can be triggered by stress, antibiotics, tight clothing, scented soaps, or hormonal changes.
🧬 Lichen Sclerosus
A chronic skin condition that can cause white patches, tearing, pain, and skin thinning around the vulva.
Often misdiagnosed or ignored but manageable with treatment.
🔥 Vulvodynia
Chronic vulva pain without a clear cause
Burning, stinging, or rawness often made worse by sex, tight clothes, or sitting
Requires specialist input, not just reassurance or lubricants
💧 Hormonal Changes
Low oestrogen during perimenopause, postpartum, or while breastfeeding can cause vaginal dryness, irritation, and thin skin
Often improves with vaginal oestrogen (available via prescription)
🧼 4. What Can Help
You don’t need to wait until something’s “wrong” to care for your vulva. Here’s what can support everyday vulva health:
🧴 Ditch fragranced soaps, wipes, and gels - wash only with warm water or gentle, non-soap cleansers (like Cetraben for external use)
🩲 Wear breathable underwear - cotton is better than lace, thongs, or synthetic materials
💨 Avoid over-washing or scrubbing - the vulva is self-cleaning
🧘🏾♀️ Pay attention to discomfort - itching, stinging, or tightness deserves investigation
📋 Track recurring infections or irritation - it could signal something like hormonal changes
👩🏾⚕️ See a GP, sexual health nurse, or gynaecologist - and don’t be afraid to ask for a referral if you feel dismissed
🌿 Final Thought
Your vulva is not shameful. It is not dirty, or weird, or embarrassing. It is part of your health, your body, and your story.
Whether you’re 16 or 60, sexually active or not, it matters that you feel informed and empowered. If something feels off, don’t wait and don’t let silence be the reason you don’t get support.
Vulva health is women’s health. And it deserves attention, respect, and care.
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you ever felt like something was wrong “down there” but didn’t know how to explain it, or who to ask? What helped you get answers (or what do you still want to know)?
Leave a comment or share anonymously your story could help someone else feel less alone.
🏃🏾♀️ "Just Move More": Why Exercise Advice for Women Often Misses the Mark
When movement feels like pressure not power
“You just need to exercise more.”
It’s advice women hear constantly from doctors, podcasts, social media, and even ourselves. But what happens when the very thing that's meant to energise you exhausts you? Or causes pain? Or triggers anxiety?
This post explores why generic fitness advice often falls short for women, how different bodies respond to movement across life stages, and how to reclaim exercise on your own terms.
🧠 1. What the Guidelines Say
According to NHS and WHO recommendations, adults should aim for:
150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (like brisk walking or cycling)
Plus 2+ sessions of strength training that target all major muscle groups
Sounds simple until you add in hormonal shifts, fatigue, mental load, perimenopause, postnatal recovery, pelvic pain, or chronic illness.
The truth? These guidelines were not designed with women's bodies in mind, especially not those juggling multiple health, hormonal, or life-stage realities.
🩺 2. What Women Say
Many women describe feeling like they’ve somehow failed when exercise stops feeling good. They blame themselves for the exhaustion, the joint pain, the heaviness, or the way their bodies don’t “bounce back” like the fitness influencers promised.
We’ve heard from women who pushed through intense workouts, only to feel shaky and fatigued for days after. Others felt confused when exercise routines that once felt empowering suddenly became uncomfortable, painful, or emotionally draining especially after childbirth, illness, or entering perimenopause.
There’s a pattern here: women are internalising the struggle as personal failure, rather than recognising that much of the exercise advice they’ve been given simply wasn’t made with their bodies, hormones, or recovery needs in mind.
This isn’t laziness. It’s a mismatch between what’s marketed to us and what our bodies are actually asking for.
⚖️ 3. Why Exercise Needs to Evolve with You
Women’s bodies are not static they shift constantly through hormonal cycles, life stages, and seasons of stress, energy, or recovery. Yet most mainstream fitness advice treats the female body as though it should respond the same way, all the time.
During menstruation, for example, energy often dips especially in the days leading up to a period. This is when restorative movement like stretching, walking, or yoga may feel better than pushing through high-intensity workouts.
In the postpartum period, the focus shouldn’t be on “getting your body back,” but on gently rebuilding your core, pelvic floor, and joint stability especially before returning to impact-based or high-load exercises.
In perimenopause, many women find their usual workouts start to feel inflammatory, exhausting, or even disruptive to sleep. Recovery becomes more important, and resistance training plays a bigger role in maintaining bone health and strength. But cortisol-sensitive movement like pilates, swimming, and walking often feels more supportive.
And if you’re in a more sedentary season whether due to work, parenting, or mental health micro-movements still count. Desk stretches, short walks, gentle mobility work: they all contribute to a body that moves and breathes more freely.
Ultimately, what works for you matters more than what burns the most calories or fits a particular aesthetic. The goal isn’t to “keep up” it’s to move in a way that works with your body, not against it.
🧘🏾♀️ 4. What Might Help
If you're struggling with exercise, here’s how to take back control:
👟 Start where you are - even 5 minutes counts.
🩻 Work with, not against, your cycle - track energy highs/lows to tailor movement.
💪🏾 Prioritise strength - especially in your 30s and 40s, strength training supports metabolism, bones, and hormones.
🧘🏾 Embrace slower styles - like Pilates, breathwork, or yoga. It’s still “valuable” exercise.
💭 Redefine consistency - 3x per week is still movement. Rest is productive, too.
🤝 See a women’s health physio - especially if you feel pain, pressure, or instability during exercise.
You don’t have to “smash it” to make it count. You just need to move in a way that feels safe and supportive.
🌿 Final Thought
Movement should feel like a gift not a punishment, not a project, and definitely not a competition.
If you've been shamed, sidelined, or sold a version of exercise that leaves you feeling worse, you're not alone.
There’s a way back to strength and it starts with listening to your own body, not the algorithm.
📚 Further Reading
Use these search terms to learn more:
Reframing Exercise Through the Life Course
Get Active Your Way
Fitness tailored for real women’s lives
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you ever been told to "just exercise more" when what you really needed was rest, guidance, or a different kind of support?
Tell us your story below. Your experience matters.
😮💨 It’s Not Just in Your Head: The Silent Weight of Pelvic Health Issues
When your body feels off, but no one’s listening
“I thought it was normal.”
It’s something so many women say about pain during sex, bladder leaks when laughing, or the heavy pressure in their pelvis that they brush off as “just tiredness.”
But what if those symptoms weren’t just part of being a woman?
What if they were signs your pelvic floor the group of muscles that supports your bladder, bowel, and uterus is under strain?
This post explores how pelvic health issues show up, why they’re often missed, and how to start decoding what your body might be trying to tell you.
🧠 1. What Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Feels Like
Pelvic floor issues aren’t always loud they often creep in quietly. You might notice:
Leaking when you cough, laugh, or run
Pain or discomfort during sex
Needing to pee right now (or all the time)
A heavy, dragging feeling in your pelvis
Bloating or pressure without cause
Constipation or difficulty emptying your bowels
Lower back, hip, or tailbone pain
Many women are told these are “normal” especially after childbirth or with age. But common isn’t the same as normal.
🩺 2. Why So Many Women Are Dismissed
Here’s the truth: pelvic health is still taboo even in healthcare.
Many women are:
Misdiagnosed with anxiety or IBS
Told to “just do some Kegels”
Embarrassed to ask for help
Unaware that pelvic physiotherapy exists and is available through the NHS in some areas
And if you’re younger, a black woman, or haven’t had children? You're even less likely to be taken seriously.
⚖️ 3. The Symptom Overlap
Pelvic health issues often overlap with other symptoms, including:
Fatigue
Painful sex
Low mood
Digestive discomfort
Back or hip pain
This makes it hard to know where to start. Many women blame themselves or assume “this is just how my body works now” when in fact, the pelvic floor may be the missing piece.
You might not need to push through.
You might need to investigate your base.
🧘🏾♀️ 4. What Can Help
If this sounds familiar, here are some steps to consider:
👩🏽⚕️ Ask your GP for a pelvic health physio referral
It’s more than just exercise they assess you properly and tailor support to your body.
🧠 Track your symptoms
Keep a journal of when things flare with food, exercise, your cycle, stress, etc.
🚽 Avoid straining on the toilet
Let your breath do the work. Sit with feet on a low stool (squat position helps).
🏃🏾♀️ Move mindfully
Yoga, walking, and breathwork can help relieve tension particularly for women with an overactive (too tight) pelvic floor.
💬 Talk about it
Whether to a friend, physio, or us here don’t let silence keep you uncomfortable.
🌿 Final Thought
Your pelvis holds more than your organs.
It holds your stress. Your trauma. Your strength.
If something feels off even if no one else has taken you seriously it’s valid. It’s worth checking. And there are people who can help.
Pain, leaking, discomfort, disconnection these aren’t things you have to “just live with.” There’s support out there, and you deserve it.
📚 Further Reading
Use these key words for your search.
Pelvic floor dysfunction and physiotherapy
What is pelvic health physio
Pelvic pain and prolapse support
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you ever been told pain or leaking was “normal”? Did you get support or are you still trying to figure it out?
Comment below or share your story anonymously it might help another woman feel less alone.
Why Am I So Bloated All the Time?
Understanding everyday bloating and what your gut might be trying to tell you
Bloating is one of the most common things women say they “just live with” but why? Feeling full, puffy, or uncomfortable after eating shouldn’t be normal. But because it’s so common, it’s easy to ignore.
Here’s what might be happening under the surface, and how to start tuning in instead of brushing it off.
💨 1. You’re Eating Too Fast
When we eat quickly (on the go, in front of screens, between meetings), we swallow more air and don’t chew properly. This can lead to gas and slow digestion. Your gut needs calm and time to do its job well.
🍞 2. Something You’re Eating Doesn’t Agree With You
Certain foods can trigger bloating for some people, even if they’re “healthy.” Common ones include dairy, gluten, beans, and cruciferous veg like broccoli. You’re not being dramatic, food sensitivity is real.
🔁 3. Your Gut Bacteria Might Be Off Balance
If the bacteria in your gut aren’t in harmony, digestion becomes harder. This can cause gas, constipation, and that swollen-belly feeling. Antibiotics, stress, and diet can all affect this balance.
🧠 4. Stress Is Making Everything Worse
Stress doesn’t just affect your mind it affects your digestion too. When you’re anxious or overwhelmed, your gut can slow down or speed up, leading to bloating, cramps, or general discomfort.
🌿 What You Can Do
Try eating slower and more mindfully
Keep a simple food diary for 7 days
Add probiotic-rich foods like kefir, kimchi or sauerkraut
Reduce stress where you can even deep breathing helps
Remember, bloating is a signal not something to ignore. You deserve to feel comfortable in your body.
📚 Further Reading
NHS – Indigestion and Bloating
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/indigestion/Johns Hopkins – Understanding the Gut-Brain Axis
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you noticed patterns with your bloating or digestion? What’s helped you feel more comfortable in your body? Share your experience it could be just what someone else needs to read.
Hormonal Imbalance Isn’t Just About Periods
How your hormones show up in your sleep, skin, mood, and more
When people hear “hormonal imbalance,” they often think of irregular periods. But hormones influence so much more from your skin to your sleep to your ability to focus.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to know when something’s off. Your body gives you clues. Here are a few you might be missing.
🧠 1. You Feel Foggy and Unfocused
Low oestrogen or cortisol imbalance can make it harder to concentrate, remember things, or feel mentally sharp. If you’re feeling mentally “cloudy,” it might not just be tiredness.
💤 2. Your Sleep Is All Over the Place
Can’t fall asleep? Waking up at 3am? These are common signs that your cortisol or melatonin rhythms might be out of sync often caused by stress, poor diet, or light exposure.
🌡️ 3. You Overheat Easily or Sweat More Than Usual
Some women experience temperature changes, sweating, or feeling flushed outside of perimenopause. These can be subtle hormonal shifts related to thyroid or adrenal health.
🧏🏾♀️ 4. You Just Don’t Feel Like Yourself
When hormones are off, it can show up as a general feeling of disconnection from your body, emotions, or routines. You may not feel “ill,” but you don’t feel steady either.
🌱 What You Can Do
Track symptoms daily for a couple of weeks
Focus on sleep hygiene and reducing caffeine
Consider asking your GP for a hormone panel
Make time for small, regular movement (walks, stretching)
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you ever felt “off” in a way you couldn’t explain? Whether it’s sleep, mood, or energy, your story matters. Drop a comment and let’s decode it together.
💭 PCOS and the Silent Struggles No One Talks About
The parts of PCOS that don't show up on blood tests but show up in real life
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormone-related conditions affecting women. Yet many people with it still feel invisible, unheard, or even misdiagnosed.
There’s plenty of information out there about what PCOS is: irregular cycles, high testosterone, and sometimes cysts on the ovaries. But what’s often missing is what it actually feels like to live with it. The day-to-day experience in your body, mind, and emotions.
This post is about the quieter side of PCOS. The things that don’t always come up in short appointments or show up in your blood work, but still shape how you live and feel.
💭 1. The Emotional Rollercoaster
Mood swings, anxiety, and low mood are common with PCOS, but they’re often overlooked. Hormones like testosterone and progesterone, along with insulin resistance, can affect how you feel emotionally. Many people also experience frustration when they’re dismissed by healthcare providers, which adds to the emotional toll.
You’re not imagining it. It’s valid. And it’s hard sometimes.
🧖🏾♀️ 2. Hair Where You Don’t Want It and None Where You Do
Unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, or stomach can affect confidence, especially in a world where beauty standards are already demanding. At the same time, some people lose hair from their scalp, which can be equally upsetting.
This isn’t just about looks. It’s connected to how you feel about yourself and how your hormones are working.
🍽️ 3. The Bloating and Digestive Upset
Many people with PCOS experience gut issues like bloating, constipation, or food sensitivities. The link between hormones, blood sugar, and digestion is still being explored, but what’s clear is that certain foods can trigger discomfort.
Even if it’s not part of the official diagnosis, your gut health matters. You deserve to feel comfortable in your body.
⚖️ 4. The Weight Struggles That Aren’t Just About Food
It can feel nearly impossible to lose weight with PCOS, even when you’re doing all the “right” things. Hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance can make it harder for your body to regulate weight, especially around the belly.
This isn’t a motivation issue. It’s a metabolic one. And it’s incredibly frustrating when you’re trying your best.
⏳ 5. The Waiting, the Wondering, the Worry
For many, PCOS brings questions about fertility. Whether or not you want children right now, the irregular cycles and long gaps between periods can feel confusing and unsettling. It’s not always about motherhood. It’s about feeling in tune with your body and not knowing what to expect next.
These aren’t just physical symptoms. They’re emotional experiences that deserve space and understanding.
🌿 What You Can Do
Living with PCOS is about more than tracking symptoms. It’s about understanding your own rhythms, finding what works for your body, and not settling for advice that feels generic or dismissive.
Her Health Decoded exists to make space for real stories and better support. PCOS is common, but it’s not simple. And you don’t have to go through it alone.
📚 Further Reading
For more trusted, accessible information about PCOS:
NHS – PCOS Overview
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/Verity – The PCOS Charity
https://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/Johns Hopkins – PCOS and Emotional Health
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you noticed any of these signs in your own body? What have you learned about yourself in the process?
Leave a comment or join the mailing list to be part of the ongoing conversation.
😮💨 I Thought I Was Just Tired: The Overlap Between Burnout and Low Iron in Women
When exhaustion isn’t just in your head — or your schedule
“I’m just tired.”
It’s a phrase many women repeat to themselves daily between meetings, meals, and everything else that falls into the invisible workload. But what if that tiredness isn't just from doing too much?
What if it’s also a sign your body is running low on one of its most basic resources: iron?
This post explores how burnout and low iron symptoms can overlap, why they’re often missed in women, and how to start decoding your own energy levels with more clarity.
🧠 1. What Burnout Feels Like
Burnout isn’t just about stress it’s a deeper state of physical, emotional, and mental depletion. Signs include:
Constant fatigue, even after rest
Feeling emotionally flat or numb
Brain fog and forgetfulness
Low motivation or irritability
Trouble sleeping or waking up tired
Many women experience burnout in silence, often blaming themselves or brushing it off as "just life."
🩸 2. What Low Iron or Ferritin Feels Like
Iron is essential for carrying oxygen in your blood. When it’s low (even if not anaemic), your body might show signs such as:
Extreme tiredness or heaviness in the body
Shortness of breath during normal tasks
Change in skin or dark circles
Feeling cold more often
Heart palpitations or dizziness
Low ferritin (your stored iron) is especially common in women who menstruate, are postpartum, or follow plant-based diets and it’s often not checked unless you push for it.
⚖️ 3. The Symptom Overlap
Here’s where it gets tricky:
Fatigue. Brain fog. Mood changes. Sleep issues. These can all be symptoms of either burnout or low iron or both happening at once.
This is why so many women blame themselves, or believe they just need to "try harder," when what they may actually need is:
A ferritin blood test
A break
A nutrition review
Or all three
🥗 4. What Can Help
If any of this resonates with you, know that support is possible. You might try:
Speaking to your GP: Ask for a full iron panel including ferritin, not just haemoglobin.
Reviewing your meals: Iron-rich foods include red meat, lentils, beans, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and tofu.
Pairing iron with vitamin C: This helps absorption. Avoid tea/coffee with iron-rich meals.
Resting without guilt: True rest isn’t earned. Your body might be asking for it.
Considering a supplement (only after testing): Some women need this to rebuild levels, especially after heavy periods or postpartum.
🌿 Final Thought
If your body feels like it’s dragging through the day, don’t dismiss it as weakness or laziness. There’s wisdom in your fatigue. Whether it’s burnout, low iron, or both it’s worth looking into.
You’re not just tired. You’re tired of being tired. And that matters.
📚 Further Reading
NHS UK - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/
British Dietetic Association (BDA) - https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/iron-rich-foods-iron-deficiency.html
Mind.org.uk - https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/dealing-with-burnout-when-working-from-home/
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you ever been told your tiredness was "just stress" only to find out something else was going on? What helped you get clarity? Share your story below your experience could help someone else feel less alone.
How to Know When Your Body Is Out of Balance
Subtle signs your hormones or gut might be telling you something
We’re often taught to only take our health seriously when something dramatic happens a diagnosis, a sudden illness, a test result that confirms what we already felt. But truthfully, our bodies are speaking to us all the time. We just haven’t been taught how to listen.
Things like hormone shifts or gut changes don’t always hit hard right away. They usually start small. This post is here to help you catch the early signs that something might be off.
🌀 1. You're Constantly Tired (Even After Rest)
If you’re waking up tired or crashing in the middle of the day, something might be out of balance. It could be your energy levels, stress hormones, blood sugar, or even your thyroid a small gland that helps manage how your body uses energy. Constant tiredness isn’t just “normal” adult life. It’s a sign your body might be asking for help.
🍞 2. You Feel Bloated After Eating (Even “Healthy” Foods)
Persistent bloating isn’t normal. If your tummy often feels tight, gassy, or uncomfortable even after “healthy” meals it could be a sign your digestion isn’t working smoothly. This might be because of certain foods, stress, or the balance of bacteria (good vs. bad bacteria) in your gut. You don’t have to just live with it your gut may need some support.
🌡️ 3. Your Mood Is All Over the Place
Do you ever feel snappy, low, or anxious for no clear reason? Hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, or cortisol (your stress hormone) can affect how you feel emotionally. Most of the “happy chemical” serotonin is actually made in your gut, not your brain. That means if your digestion is struggling, your mood might be too.
🩸 4. Your Period Has Changed
Has your cycle suddenly become heavier, lighter, more painful, or irregular? Changes in your period can reflect shifts in hormone levels, especially oestrogen and progesterone. They may also hint at conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, or perimenopause depending on your age and symptoms. Either way, it’s worth paying attention to.
🍬 5. You Crave Sugar or Carbs Constantly
Cravings don’t mean you’re weak they mean your body is out of rhythm. Strong, frequent cravings can signal blood sugar imbalances, cortisol spikes, or dysbiosis (especially candida overgrowth in the gut). It’s not just a lack of willpower your body may be stuck in a loop of needing quick energy. If you constantly want sugar, snacks, or comfort food, it could be that your blood sugar isn’t steady, or your gut is overrun with bacteria that love sugar. It’s not just in your head cravings are real signals.
💊 6. You're Getting More Infections (or Struggling with Thrush or BV)
Frequent yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, or even UTIs may be linked to gut and vaginal microbiome imbalances. Antibiotics, stress, diet, and hormones can all throw this delicate balance off.
✨ Listening Is the First Step
These symptoms don’t always mean something is “wrong” but they are signs that something might be off. Your body’s not broken. It’s adapting, adjusting, asking for help.
The good news? With the right information and support, balance can be restored.
That’s what Her Health Decoded is here for to help you notice the patterns, ask better questions, and feel more in tune with your own body.
📚 Further Reading
For those who want to explore this topic more deeply:
NHS – Thyroid Symptoms
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/symptomsBritish Dietetic Association – Gut Health
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/gut-health.htmlJohns Hopkins Medicine – The Gut-Brain Connection
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connectionNICE Guidelines – Menopause Diagnosis and Management
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23
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Have you noticed any of these signs in your own body? What have you learned about yourself in the process?
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