By Lisa Edmondson, Women’s Health and Hormonal Lead, Nurse, Master Holistic Health Coach, Global Health, Takapuna, Auckland & Online
We live in a world that has rapidly evolved — in technology, gender equality, work culture, and family structure. While progress is crucial and empowering, there’s a growing conversation about whether, in our effort to move forward, we may have overlooked something essential: our biology.
Let’s be clear from the start: this is not about pushing anyone back into outdated roles. We are not suggesting women belong barefoot in the kitchen, nor that men should bear the sole financial burden of a family. As the Women’s Health and Hormonal Lead at Global Health, and a strong advocate for women’s wellbeing, I bring this perspective with both professional experience and compassion. With a Master in Holistic Health Coaching specialising in Women’s Health, I’m deeply committed to supporting women to thrive in today’s world. This conversation is not about limiting roles — it’s about asking important questions about the mismatch between modern life and our physiological design — and how this might be contributing to widespread stress, burnout, hormonal disruption and emotional instability in both men and women.
Looking Back: The Biological Blueprint of Our Ancestors
For most of human history, our biology was shaped by survival. Thousands of years ago, during the era of early humans, roles were typically divided by biological and practical necessity.
- Men were generally the hunters — physically larger and built for short bursts of strength and endurance.
- Women, with the capability to bear and nourish children, were more often gatherers, caregivers, and community builders.
This wasn’t about oppression or inferiority. It was about division of labour based on biological advantage and collective survival.
In fact, many evolutionary anthropologists suggest that women’s ability to multi-task, organise socially, and maintain rhythm helped keep early communities functioning, while men’s linear focus and spatial awareness suited them to hunting and protection.
These patterns became embedded in our neuroendocrine systems — how our brains respond to stress, how we recover from effort, how we regulate energy. These systems evolve over thousands of years, not decades.
Fast Forward: The 1970s, 1990s and 2000s
The 1970s: The Rise of the Dual-Income Household
This era saw major shifts in gender roles. Women entered the workforce in growing numbers, access to contraception gave women greater control over family planning, and societal expectations began to shift.
Yet the domestic burden remained largely unchanged. Many women worked full-time while still managing the majority of childcare and household responsibilities. For men, there was little cultural space to step back or participate more equally at home.
The result? Rising stress levels for both sexes and the beginning of the “have it all” era that placed heavy expectations on modern families.
The 1990s–2000s: Work Harder, Do More, Be Everything
By the 1990s and 2000s, economic pressures had normalised the two-parent working household. The digital age introduced new demands: longer work hours, constant connectivity, and social comparison.
Women were now CEOs, single mothers, caregivers and primary earners — often all at once. Men were expected to not only succeed professionally but also be emotionally available, involved fathers and equal partners at home.
It’s no surprise that by the mid-2000s, research began showing increases in:
- Adrenal fatigue (though not officially recognised, often used in natural health to describe stress-related exhaustion)
- Hormonal imbalances, particularly in women over 35
- Mental health challenges, particularly burnout, anxiety, and depression in both men and women
- Infertility and menstrual irregularities
Is This Just Awareness, or Is Health Really Declining?
You could argue that we’re simply more aware — and more vocal — about health issues today. And that’s partially true.
But it’s also true that:
- Obesity rates have risen sharply in both adults and children since the 1970s【1】.
- Sperm counts have dropped by more than 50% globally over the last four decades【2】.
- Menstrual and fertility disorders have become more common【3】.
- Rates of chronic stress and anxiety have soared across all demographics【4】.
These aren’t just reporting differences. They’re physiological changes that point to deeper systemic imbalance.
Are We Living Against Our Design?
When we consider human biology — particularly hormonal rhythms — it becomes clear that modern life is not well suited to our innate rhythms.
The 5-Day Working Week vs. The Female Cycle
A standard work week is designed around a male hormonal cycle, which repeats roughly every 24 hours. Testosterone peaks in the morning and declines throughout the day, which aligns with the typical workday.
However, female hormones operate on a roughly 28-day cycle, with fluctuations in oestrogen, progesterone, and energy levels throughout the month. During the luteal and menstrual phases, many women experience lower energy, increased sensitivity, and greater need for rest and restoration.
Yet our work systems do not account for this. We expect linear productivity from a body that is inherently cyclical.
This mismatch can result in:
- Increased risk of burnout
- Worsened PMS and hormonal symptoms
- Poor recovery from stress and overtraining
- A disconnect from the body’s signals
So Where Have We Gone Wrong?
The problem isn’t with equality or shared responsibilities — it’s with ignoring the biological, nutritional, and emotional needs that underpin long-term health.
We’ve created a world where:
- Food is less nutrient-dense, with more additives and synthetic chemicals
- Rest is undervalued, and overwork is glorified
- Movement is structured, not natural
- Family systems are under strain, with both parents exhausted and children overstimulated
- And most of all, we’ve lost rhythm — seasonal, hormonal, ancestral
We are living faster than we are built for.
How Long Does It Take DNA to Catch Up?
Epigenetics — the science of how lifestyle affects gene expression — shows that our genes can respond to our environment within a single generation. But true biological evolution, such as adapting to new roles and stressors, takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
So while society has changed rapidly, our core physiology hasn’t. We are asking our nervous systems to run software they were never built to handle — and the health consequences are showing up in spiking rates of metabolic disease, anxiety, reproductive issues, and fatigue.
What Can We Do Instead?
We can’t go back in time. But we can return to balance.
At Global Health, we believe the solution lies in understanding your biology and designing your life to support it.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Honour hormonal cycles – Track your rhythm and adjust workload, exercise, and diet accordingly.
- Rethink productivity – Schedule deep work during peak energy times and allow rest when your body signals it.
- Nourish deeply – Focus on whole, unprocessed foods that support hormone production and stress resilience.
- Reclaim rest – Prioritise sleep, reduce screen time, and build in recovery moments through the day.
- Support the family system – Share responsibilities, model balance, and create boundaries around work.
- Reconnect with nature and rhythm – From circadian-friendly lighting to seasonal eating and time outdoors.
A New Way Forward
This isn’t about going backwards. It’s about moving forward consciously, with a clear understanding of how our bodies work and what they need to thrive.
It’s about asking better questions, building systems that support health, and honouring both science and lived experience.
At Global Health, we help clients explore their unique physiology and create personalised programmes that work with their body, not against it.
We don’t just chase symptoms — we look for patterns, pressure points, and possibilities. Because when you feel supported and in rhythm, everything changes.
Ready to realign with your body’s natural rhythm and feel well again?
Book a consultation in Takapuna or online – and take your next step toward balance.