Functional medicine views hormonal health not as isolated organ systems, but as an interconnected network. The Functional Medicine Framework… The female hormonal system relies on hormonal cross-talk across 3 major pathways: 1. The HPA Axis (Adrenals & Cortisol): Chronic stress causes sustained cortisol elevation. High cortisol can lead to “progesterone steal” (where the body prioritises cortisol synthesis over sex hormones), triggering anxiety, low libido, and irregular perio

In South Africa, the intersection of menopause, metabolic syndrome, and impaired glucose regulation represents a major public health concern. Declining estrogen levels combined with distinct local cardiometabolic risk profiles significantly elevate rates of insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes among middle-aged women. 1. Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome & Insulin Resistance Relevant SA clinical studies demonstrate a sharp increase in Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)