Hi Mobsters, It’s Leah here from The House of Hormones delivering you your weekly dose of Hormone intel.
September is (almost!) here, and with it comes that unmistakable “back-to-school” feeling. Even if you’ve long since graduated, there’s something about sharpened pencils, new lunchboxes, and school gates that takes you straight back. But it also begs the question: what did we actually learn in school, and what was missing?
We left knowing Pythagoras’ theorem, Shakespeare quotes, and how to label the mitochondria as the powerhouse of the cell. But when it comes to the inner workings of our own bodies? For most women, the curriculum was shockingly thin!
We got the puberty talk (cue awkward giggles and pads being passed out in brown paper bags). Fertility was mentioned, mostly with a stern warning about avoiding pregnancy at all costs. But after that? Silence. No one explained how our hormones continue to shape us long after our first period. Nothing about perimenopause, nothing about menopause, nothing about the fact that the “monthly cycle” isn’t just about periods but a four-phase rhythm that affects mood, energy, appetite, sleep, and even brain function.
Imagine if we had been taught that estrogen peaks can make us feel confident, social, and full of energy, the perfect time to work on that school presentation. Imagine if we had known that progesterone is calming, grounding, and linked to better sleep, so maybe we wouldn’t have beaten ourselves up for feeling more tired and introverted at certain points of the month. Imagine if testosterone had been introduced as our hormone too, giving us drive, strength, and a libido boost, rather than something only associated with boys.
And then, of course, the biggest gap of all: perimenopause and menopause. For many women, this stage arrives like a total ambush. You’re in your 30s/40s, juggling work, family, and life, when suddenly your moods, sleep, memory, and energy seem to go haywire. Night sweats, brain fog, anxiety, and most of us whisper to ourselves: why did nobody warn me about this?
That’s the problem. The things that most affect our day-to-day wellbeing, hormones, stress responses, gut health, sleep patterns, were nowhere to be found in the curriculum. We left school knowing how to draw the parts of a flower but not how our own bodies bloom, shift, and change across decades.
But here’s the hopeful part: learning doesn’t stop at graduation. One of the most empowering things you can do as a woman is to become a student of your own body. Track your cycle, tune into your mood shifts, ask questions, seek information. Knowledge is power, and in this case, it’s also freedom, validation, and self-care.
So as kids head back to school this September, maybe it’s time for us to start our own class. Hormones 101. Biology, but finally relevant. Because we deserve to know how our bodies really work, at every stage of life.
Lesson one: it’s never too late to learn.
Love,
THOH x
Join our community
Follow us on Instagram
Coming Up Next: Hormone Health & Hair Loss Awareness event
This September, we’re taking the conversation even further. At the Big MOB Mum Meet Up on Friday 12 September, we’re partnering with The House of Hormones and proudly sponsored by Philip Kingsley, leaders in hair and scalp health.
We’ll be joined by two incredible experts: Annabel Kingsley, leading Trichologist and hair loss awareness advocate, and Dr Ravina Bhanot, award-winning doctor and women’s health specialist. The session will be hosted by Leah Christian, Psychologist and founder of The House of Hormones, who will guide an honest, myth-busting conversation about how hormones impact mood, fertility, wellbeing — and even your hair.
It’s free to attend, spaces are limited, and little ones are welcome. Join us for a morning of support, encouragement, and practical tips that will leave you feeling informed and empowered. Reserve your spot here.
About Mums Who Build
Mums Who Build is a grassroots community for mums who want more than survival mode. It’s for women building businesses, careers, and financial independence, while also navigating the messy, beautiful realities of motherhood. We create safe, empowering spaces for mums to connect, share honestly, and take practical steps toward the life they really want.
From our weekly Big MOB Mum Meet Ups to our paid MOB+ membership, everything we do is designed to help mums rebuild, connect, and thrive. If you’re ready to take action and join a community that truly gets it, read our Why and discover how you can get involved.
