Understanding your body, one article at a time.

Iron deficiency in women: signs that deserve to be heard

Iron deficiency develops when the body’s iron stores become too low, with or without anaemia. Women are particularly affected because of menstruation, pregnancy, the postpartum period and, for some, insufficient dietary intake. Tiredness, breathlessness, poor concentration and hair shedding can be clues, but blood tests are needed to identify the problem. Effective care means finding the reason for the deficiency as well as restoring iron.

Persistent fatigue in women: when should you look for a cause?

Tired even after resting? Explore possible causes of persistent fatigue in women, from heavy periods and iron deficiency to sleep and thyroid health.

Hormonal imbalance in women: symptoms, causes and what to do

Women’s Health Check: Which Tests Should You Consider and Why?

Hormone blood test for women: when to do it and how to read it

Menopause: A Complete Guide to Symptoms, Health Changes and Treatment

When does menopause happen? Understand symptoms, diagnosis, bone and heart health, available treatments and when to seek medical advice.

Perimenopause: Symptoms, Age, Duration and Early Signs to Know

Irregular periods, poor sleep or hot flushes? Learn the early signs of perimenopause, how long it can last and when to seek medical advice.

Which Health Checks Matter During Perimenopause and Menopause?

Irregular cycle: the possible causes and when to worry

Adult hormonal acne: why it appears and how to treat it

Painful periods: causes and what actually helps

Mild to moderate period pain is common and comes from the uterine contractions themselves. Intense pain that limits your day and resists ordinary painkillers is not something to endure: it can signal an underlying cause such as endometriosis, which takes an average of seven years to diagnose in France.

Persistent fatigue in women: the most common causes

Persistent fatigue in women usually has several causes at once rather than one: low iron, an underactive thyroid, poor-quality sleep, chronic stress, or the hormonal shifts of the cycle and perimenopause. This is about everyday persistent tiredness — not ME/CFS, which is a distinct condition needing specialist assessment. Fatigue lasting weeks despite enough sleep is worth investigating.

Iron deficiency in women: symptoms and what to do

Coming off the pill: what happens in your body

Early menopause: signs, causes and diagnosis

Testosterone in women: its role, normal levels and imbalances

In women, testosterone is produced in small amounts by the ovaries and the adrenal glands and plays a role in libido, energy and muscle mass. Too little can contribute to lower libido and vitality; too much, often linked to PMOS (previously PCOS), can show up as acne, increased hair growth or irregular cycles.

PCOS: symptoms, causes and diagnosis

PCOS — renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) in May 2026 — is a common hormonal condition affecting 10 to 13% of women of reproductive age, combining irregular cycles, androgen excess (acne, increased hair growth) and often insulin resistance. Diagnosis rests on a set of clinical and biological criteria rather than any single test — an ultrasound alone never settles it.