Dr Alain Butnaru
Menopause is often presented as the main explanation for the physical and emotional changes women experience after the age of 50.
Fatigue, sleep disturbances, weight gain, decreased vitality or low mood are said to be essentially linked to the decline in oestrogen levels. And it is true that this biological stage plays a major role. Today, menopausal hormone treatments are well known, well regulated, and often lead to a clear improvement in quality of life. However, in reality, many women make a disconcerting observation: despite a well-managed treatment, they do not really feel better. Or not completely. Fatigue persists, energy does not return as expected, stress becomes more difficult to manage, and a diffuse feeling of slowing down sets in. These sensations are frequent, legitimate, and above all very real.
The reason is simple: female aging is not down to menopause alone.
The human body does not function through independent compartments. Hormones form a complex network, in which each imbalance influences the others. Correcting a single hormone, however important it may be, is not always sufficient to restore overall balance. Over time, particularly in very active women who have long endured sustained pressure, the body’s adaptive capacity can become exhausted. Many then describe a very telling feeling: “I no longer have any reserves.” Stress is less well tolerated, recovery is slower, and fatigue is deeper. This phenomenon does not depend solely on female hormones, but also on other essential messengers.
Among them, pregnenolone plays a central role. Naturally produced by the body, it is the precursor of steroid hormones involved in stress and energy management. When its levels decrease, the body loses part of its ability to adapt. Even with a well-adjusted menopausal hormone treatment, improvement may therefore remain incomplete. Vitality also depends on another hormone: DHEA. Naturally high in young adults, it gradually declines with age. It contributes to the maintenance of energy, tone, muscle mass, skin quality and libido. It is neither a miracle hormone nor a universal solution, but in some women, its decrease clearly contributes to the loss of vital drive.
Finally, an essential actor is often underestimated: the thyroid. This small gland influences energy, weight, concentration and mood. In many women, it may function at a slower pace without this clearly appearing in routine tests, leading to a feeling of fatigue and general slowing that is difficult to explain. In the face of these imbalances, the solution is not to add treatments, but what truly makes the difference is a global, coherent and personalised approach. Menopause treatment remains a valuable foundation, but it benefits from being integrated into a broader understanding of how the body functions. Aging differently is not about fighting time, but about better understanding its mechanisms. Hormones are neither enemies nor magic solutions.
Used with discernment, they can once again become true allies in navigating this period with greater energy, clarity and quality of life.
Dr Alain Butnaru
Graduate of the Paris Medical Faculty. Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine since 1985.Permanent member of the French Society of Aesthetic Medicine. Degrees in Morphological and Anti-Aging Medicine. docteuralainbutnaru.com
