Why “Normal” Hormone Levels Still Make You Feel Awful — and How to Fix It

You’ve probably had this experience: you finally get in to see your doctor, you list every frustrating symptom — the exhaustion, mood swings, stubborn weight, brain fog — and you leave with a copy of your lab results that say everything is “normal.” But if everything is normal, why do you feel so far from yourself? The truth is, there’s a big difference between normal and optimal when it comes to your health. And that gap is often where menopause symptoms live.

Traditional lab ranges are based on averages from the general population — not on what’s best for your body. 

These “normal” numbers can include people who are sick, sedentary, or already dealing with chronic conditions. In other words, normal isn’t always healthy, and it’s certainly not a guarantee of feeling vibrant and symptom-free. This is especially true during perimenopause and menopause, when subtle hormone shifts can cause major symptoms long before you drop below a standard range.

That’s where functional medicine comes in. Instead of just asking, “Are you in range?” we ask, “Are your levels optimal for how you want to feel and function?” We look at the full picture: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol — plus how they interact. 

Low estrogen can trigger hot flashes, brain fog, and mood changes. Low progesterone can lead to anxiety and sleepless nights. A sluggish thyroid can slow metabolism and sap your energy. High or low cortisol can leave you wired, tired, and emotionally on edge. Even if each hormone is technically “normal,” an imbalance between them can cause chaos in your system.

The good news? These imbalances are fixable. Through targeted lab testing, we can identify where your hormones are falling short of optimal, then design a personalized plan to restore balance. 

That might include bioidentical hormone therapy to gently bring levels back to where your body thrives, nutrition strategies to stabilize blood sugar and reduce inflammation, stress-management tools to protect cortisol rhythms, and strength training to support muscle and bone health. You don’t have to settle for “normal” — you deserve optimal. If you’re ready to see what your numbers really mean, download my Optimal Lab Ranges Guide and schedule a consultation so we can create a plan that gets you back to feeling like yourself again.