GP Dr Grace Hula explains that extreme hormonal imbalances can lead to a bunch of debilitating health issues. If you’re struggling with issues like heavy periods or fibroids, then you could well be ‘oestrogen dominant’, she tells Strong Women.

Mild hormonal imbalances – although inconvenient – are really common. PCOS affects at least one in 10 women and often involves having higher levels of androgens (ie testosterone) than ‘normal’. Hyperthyroidism causes excessive production of thyroid hormones, accelerating metabolism and potentially triggering anxiety, restlessness and irritability.

Pregnancy forces our bodies to produce vastly larger amounts of oestrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), which tend to either return to normal or disappear within six months of giving birth. As we go through perimenopause, our levels of oestrogen start to drop – causing hot flushes, insomnia and mood fluctuations.

Hormone dumping – can you really ‘cure’ PMS by flushing away excess oestrogen?