TBI and Women’s hormones
It’s important to acknowledge that every TBI is different, and every woman’s health journey is shaped by unique genetics, co-morbidities, and challenges. This is mine, and what I wish I’d known earlier.
In 2025, at age 40, I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy to treat adenomyosis and PMDD. It was the end of a very long chapter, and the start of a new one. Alongside these conditions, I’ve also lived with the impact of eight concussions, starting at age 12 during puberty, and life changing concussion at 30 which left me with a permanent TBI that has affected many body systems.
Adenomyosis is when endometrial tissue grows into the muscle wall of the uterus, often causing heavy bleeding and pain. PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that can trigger depression, anxiety, irritability, and physical symptoms that are so severe they disrupt daily life. Both conditions are difficult enough on their own, but combined with the hormonal chaos that can follow brain injuries, it created a storm in my body and mind.
Through my teens and twenties I experimented with contraceptives, but nearly every hormonal option worsened my mood or triggered extreme side effects. After the birth of my son at 21, I struggled with postnatal depression, including a suicide attempt, and later survived an ectopic pregnancy that nearly cost me my life. By my mid-20s I was asking doctors about a hysterectomy, but was told I was “too young” or that I might “change my mind.” (I have never waivered and married a gorgeous man who has two beautiful daughters).
In my thirties, concussions and women’s health challenges began to collide. My sixth concussion at 30 was my most severe, leaving me with lasting cognitive issues. Meanwhile, my periods remained heavy and painful, and my mood increasingly unpredictable. Entering perimenopause towards 40 amplified everything: PMDD symptoms worsened to the point of another suicide attempt, days lost to painkillers and bed rest, and cycles of mood swings that made even basic daily tasks overwhelming.
One of the strangest things was the contrast—I could feel like a capable, motivated, vibrant woman for part of the month, only to flip into exhaustion, uncontrollable crying, severe pain, and a deep loss of self. That unpredictability made it hard on me and on my family.
TBI and Women’s Health
What I’ve since learned is that brain injury doesn’t just affect memory or concentration—it can also disrupt the pituitary gland, the “master gland” that regulates hormones affecting reproduction, thyroid, metabolism, stress, and mood. Studies suggest that around one in three people with TBI develop some form of pituitary dysfunction (Springer), and women with concussions are especially vulnerable to hormone imbalances in reproductive and thyroid systems (PubMed Central).
For me, that explained a lot—the wild hormonal swings, irregular cycles, mood crashes, and the sense of my body constantly being out of sync. Looking back, I wish I’d known to ask for hormone panels, thyroid checks andcortisol testing. These issues often get overlooked because their symptoms mimic “just menopause” or “just depression,” but they’re very real.
Thing I’ve found to help
Regular gentle exercise like walking
An anti-inflammatory diet
Meditation and time in nature
Talk therapy to understand my thought patterns and belief systems
A support network for family and friends
Cacao and maca drinks that boosted my overall health
Hormone-balancing supplements.
Mugwort tea also eased cramps during my cycle
Following the surgery I’ve started Estradiol patches and I’m excited to see what my future holds.
Additional reading
Pituitary dysfunction following mild traumatic brain injury in female athletes – Even mild concussions can disrupt pituitary hormones; about 12% of women in this study had dysfunction.
Read here on PubMed CentralAcute and chronic hypopituitarism following traumatic brain injury – A meta-analysis showing pituitary hormone problems are common both right after injury and months/years later.
Read here on PubMed CentralTraumatic Brain Injury as Frequent Cause of Hypopituitarism and Growth Hormone Deficiency – Growth hormone deficiency is the most common long-term effect of TBI, often overlooked.
Read here on Frontiers in EndocrinologyEndocrine Dysfunction After Traumatic Brain Injury: An Ignored Population – Estimates that around one-third of people with TBI have some pituitary dysfunction.
Read here on SpringerImpaired Pituitary Axes Following Traumatic Brain Injury – Shows that while some pituitary dysfunction improves within a year, growth hormone and reproductive hormones often stay affected.
Read here on MDPI
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