Why Your Nervous System Needs Extra Support as Your Hormones Change
If you're in your late 30s, 40s, or 50s and feeling like your body is working against you—brain fog, anxiety, sleep issues, unexplained tension—you're not imagining it. Groundbreaking research published in Science (October 2025) has revealed something remarkable: as your ovarian follicles decline with age, your nervous system doesn't just sit quietly on the sidelines. It actively changes, ramping up in ways that can leave you feeling wired, exhausted, and out of control.
And here's what matters most: this is exactly why keeping your nervous system regulated becomes absolutely critical as you age.
What Happens to Your Nervous System When Your Follicles Decline
Let's start with what the research found. Scientists examined ovarian tissue from women across different life stages and discovered that as follicle numbers drop (which happens naturally from our mid-30s onwards), the sympathetic nervous system—your "fight or flight" system—becomes significantly more active in the ovaries.
Specifically, they found:
Sympathetic nerve fibres increase dramatically in aging ovaries, especially after menopause
Nerve growth factors spike as follicles decline, promoting more nerve growth in ovarian tissue
Estrogen normally dampens sympathetic activity—so when estrogen drops during perimenopause and menopause, your sympathetic nervous system loses a key brake
Think of it this way: as your ovaries age and produce less estrogen, your body compensates by turning up the volume on your stress response system. Your nervous system is literally rewiring itself.
Why This Matters for How You Feel Every Day
This isn't just happening in your ovaries. Your sympathetic nervous system is a whole-body network. When it's chronically overactive, you experience:
Constant tension in your neck, shoulders, and jaw
Racing thoughts and difficulty switching off
Poor sleep quality (waking at 3am, anyone?)
Digestive issues—bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea
Increased pain sensitivity
Feeling "wired but tired"
Anxiety and irritability that seem to come from nowhere
The research also showed changes in GABAergic tone during perimenopause. GABA is your brain's calming neurotransmitter—the one that helps you feel relaxed and grounded. When GABA function drops and sympathetic activity increases, it's no wonder so many women feel like they're losing their minds during this transition.
Your Body Isn't Broken—It's Adapting (But It Needs Support)
Here's the empowering part: your body is doing exactly what it's designed to do. It's adapting to hormonal changes. The problem is that modern life—chronic stress, poor sleep, sedentary habits, nutrient depletion—means your nervous system is already maxed out before these age-related changes even begin.
When your sympathetic nervous system is stuck in overdrive, your body can't:
Digest food properly
Repair tissues effectively
Regulate hormones efficiently
Sleep deeply
Manage inflammation
This is where chiropractic care becomes a game-changer.
How Chiropractic Care Supports Your Changing Nervous System
Chiropractic adjustments work directly with your nervous system to restore balance between your sympathetic (stress) and parasympathetic (rest and repair) branches. When your spine is aligned and moving well, nerve signals flow more efficiently, and your body can shift out of chronic stress mode.
Here's what happens when we support your nervous system through chiropractic care:
1. Reduced Sympathetic OverdriveAdjustments help calm an overactive stress response, allowing your body to move into a more balanced state where healing and hormone regulation can occur.
2. Improved Vagal ToneThe vagus nerve is your body's master regulator of calm. Chiropractic care, especially in the upper cervical spine, can improve vagal function, enhancing your ability to relax, digest, and sleep.
3. Better Stress AdaptationAs the research shows, your body is already dealing with increased nerve activity in your reproductive system. Supporting your spine and nervous system gives your body the capacity to adapt without becoming overwhelmed.
4. Enhanced Hormone CommunicationYour brain, spine, and ovaries communicate constantly via your nervous system. When that communication is clear and efficient, your body can manage hormonal transitions more smoothly.
5. Pain and Tension ReliefChronic tension in your neck, shoulders, and back isn't just muscular—it's often a sign of nervous system dysregulation. Addressing the root cause brings lasting relief.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you're navigating perimenopause or menopause and feeling like your body is betraying you, know this: you're not broken, and you're not alone. Your nervous system is working overtime, and it needs support.
Here's how to start:
Get your spine and nervous system assessed. Even if you don't have pain, nervous system dysregulation shows up in subtle ways—tension, poor sleep, digestive issues, brain fog.
Prioritise nervous system regulation. This means regular chiropractic care, breathwork, gentle movement, and adequate rest.
Support your minerals. Magnesium, in particular, is crucial for nervous system function and often depleted during times of stress and hormonal change.
Reduce additional stressors where possible. Your body is already adapting to significant internal changes—give it the space to do so.
You Deserve to Feel Like Yourself Again
The research is clear: as your follicles decline and your hormones shift, your nervous system changes too. But with the right support, you don't have to white-knuckle your way through this transition.
Chiropractic care offers a gentle, effective way to support your body's natural adaptation, helping you feel calmer, sleep better, move more freely, and reclaim your energy.
If you're ready to stop surviving and start thriving through this stage of life, I'd love to help. Book a comprehensive assessment, and let's create a plan tailored to your unique nervous system and hormonal health.
Your body is still on your side—it just needs the right support.
