Understanding Trauma and Women’s Health

Trauma. It’s a word that’s everywhere these days – on social media, in therapy rooms, and casual conversations. And while it's encouraging that we’re finally talking about it, it’s also essential to understand what trauma actually is – and how deeply it affects women’s health.

For me, understanding trauma and the nervous system is part of understanding what it means to be human. Life inevitably exposes us to experiences that can leave imprints – some subtle, some profound. And when we understand how trauma works, we begin to unlock a more profound compassion for ourselves and others.

Trauma isn’t just about the event itself. It’s not defined by what happened, but by how the body and nervous system experienced it.

Peter Levine, a pioneer in the field of trauma healing, defines trauma as a state where the body is stuck in a high-energy survival response – fight, flight, freeze, or fawn – that was never completed. The body perceives danger, mobilizes to protect itself, but isn’t able to discharge the energy that got stirred up. That energy doesn’t just disappear – it gets trapped in the body.

And so trauma is not a disorder or disease. It’s a wound. Not always physical, but one that touches our psyche, our soul, our sense of connection. It can leave us feeling fragmented – cut off from ourselves and others.

This is why when we work with energy modalities like acupuncture or massage, we’re often working with trauma, whether we name it that way or not.

The nervous system profoundly influences women’s health and how it responds to stress and trauma. Two key systems are especially relevant here:

• The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis governs the stress response.
  
  

• The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) Axis regulates reproductive function.
  

These systems don’t exist in isolation. When stress or trauma dysregulates the HPA axis, it can disrupt the HPO axis too, leading to hormonal imbalances, reproductive challenges, and mood shifts.

Let’s look more closely at how trauma shows up in the body and mind.

Nervous System Dysregulation
When we’re stuck in a chronic stress state, our nervous system may oscillate between hyperarousal (anxiety, irritability, restlessness) and hypoarousal (numbness, disconnection, exhaustion). This can affect everything from digestion to sleep to our ability to feel present in daily life.

Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn
These survival responses are the body’s way of protecting us from perceived danger. Over time, if not resolved, they can manifest as chronic tension, emotional reactivity, people-pleasing behaviours, or avoidance patterns.

Reproductive Health Impacts
Early-life trauma has been linked to increased risk for conditions like endometriosis, PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), infertility, and even complications during menopause.

Mental Health Consequences
Trauma can increase susceptibility to depression, anxiety, and PTSD – conditions that, in turn, affect physical health and hormonal regulation.

Neurobiological Changes
Studies show trauma can alter brain structure, particularly in areas responsible for memory, emotional regulation, and executive function (like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex).

Physical Health Effects
From chronic inflammation and pain to autoimmune conditions and disrupted sleep, trauma’s effects are far-reaching.

The good news: We are incredibly resilient beings. The nervous system can heal. We can re-train the body to feel safe again. Here are some evidence-based ways to support healing:

1. Trauma Therapy
Modalities like somatic therapy, EMDR, or internal family systems (IFS) can help process trauma, regulate emotions, and build inner resilience.

2. Mindfulness and Grounding
Breathwork, meditation, and other present-moment practices help anchor the nervous system and increase our sense of internal safety.

3. Movement and Exercise
Gentle practices like yoga or walking, or more vigorous activity, depending on the person, can discharge stored energy and support regulation.

4. Social Support
Connection is a powerful medicine. Safe relationships help rewire the nervous system for safety and belonging.

5. Lifestyle Medicine
Sleep, nutrition, and consistent routines play a foundational role in regulating both the HPA and HPO axes.

Stress, particularly when it is chronic, has a measurable impact on reproductive hormones.

• Fertility: Chronic stress can suppress gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), affecting ovulation and fertility.
  

• Mood Swings: Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle or perimenopause can exacerbate HPA axis sensitivity, leading to increased emotional volatility.
  

• Pregnancy and Postpartum: The HPA axis shifts significantly during pregnancy. Trauma-informed care during this time can support both mother and baby.
  

• Menopause: As estrogen declines, the stress system can become more reactive. Supporting the HPA axis is key during this transition.

Trauma has, in many ways, become a buzzword. While this has helped normalize seeking help, it can also risk minimizing the depth of what trauma truly is.

Trauma has, in many ways, become a buzzword. While this has helped normalize seeking help, it can also risk minimizing the depth of what trauma truly is.

I believe trauma deserves to be honoured for its very real impact on our bodies, our relationships, and our health. But I also believe we must not become afraid of living fully because of it.

Even when we’ve experienced great pain, we are not broken. We may never be exactly who we were before. Still, healing can give birth to greater capacity, deeper awareness, and a more profound ability to live healthy, beautiful, and meaningful lives.

If you’re curious about how trauma may be affecting your health or how your body might begin to heal, feel free to connect with me. There is a path forward, and it begins with understanding.