Peri-menopause is a long physiological transition
FYI: Sign-up for the Thermalist Women's Retreat 2026
Peri-menopause is a long physiological transition.
For most women, it begins years before menopause itself — often in the mid-30s or early 40s. Estrogen does not decline smoothly during this phase. It fluctuates. And fluctuation is what creates instability in the system.
The earliest signs are rarely dramatic. Sleep becomes lighter. Recovery takes longer. Emotional regulation requires more effort. Body temperature feels harder to control. Training responses change. Many women notice subtle shifts in body composition or appetite, even though standard blood tests remain within reference ranges.
From a biological perspective, this is expected.
Estrogen interacts directly with the brain regions that regulate temperature, stress responses, glucose metabolism, sleep architecture, and inflammation. When estrogen signalling becomes less predictable, these systems require more regulation and more margin.
Most women are not taught to recognise this phase as a transition. As a result, they interpret the changes as personal failure, ageing, or loss of discipline.
Temperature as a Regulatory Input
Thermal stress is one of the most direct ways to influence the nervous system and metabolic regulation.
Cold and heat exposure affect:
Central temperature regulation
Cortisol dynamics
Brown adipose tissue activity
Insulin sensitivity
Sleep depth and timing
Inflammatory signalling
In women, these effects are tightly linked to hormonal state. The same exposure can support regulation in one phase and increase stress in another. This is why context, timing, and dose matter.
Thermal stress works when it is applied with an understanding of female physiology — not when it is copied from generalised protocols.
Learning the Physiology in the Body
The Thermalist® Women’s Retreat in Sweden is designed as a practical immersion into these mechanisms.
Across four days, participants experience:
Guided cold and heat exposure adapted for female hormonal physiology
Women’s health masterclasses covering peri-menopause, menopause, metabolism, and nervous system regulation
Daily ocean dips and sauna sessions
Nordic meals structured for blood sugar stability and sustained energy
Time in nature, structured rest, and shared reflection
The group is limited to 20 women to allow physiological regulation, learning, and recovery to occur without overload.
Women attend alone or together with someone close to them. Many come because they are already noticing change and want to understand what is happening while they still feel functional.
Practical Details
📍 Halmstad, Sweden
📅 24–27 April 2026
👩🔬 Led by Dr. Susanna Søberg
🔬 Cold • Heat • Hormones • Metabolism • Nervous System
The retreat is women-only and open to all life stages, with particular relevance for women in peri-menopause and menopause. An early bird rate (15%) is currently available. Places are limited.
Full details are available here:
[Thermalist® Women’s Retreat in Sweden]
Hormonal transitions are not abstract concepts.
They are lived physiological states.
Understanding them early changes how women move through the next decades of life.
With warmth (and a little cold),
Dr. Susanna Søberg
Metabolic Scientist & Founder, Thermalist Method®