Karolina Löfqvist was told by several doctors that her symptoms were stress-related and was advised to go on antidepressants
A woman has bravely stepped forward to tell her story after being wrongly labelled as ‘just stressed’ whilst battling a little-known condition. She’s now on a mission to drive medical reform.
When people reflect on their 20s, it often feels like the true beginning of life. Whether you’re exploring the world, advancing in your career, or searching for ‘The One’, it can seem like you’re finally experiencing the freedom that comes with adulthood.
However, Karolina Löfqvist’s experience was far from this ideal. Facing hair loss, exhaustion, and significant weight changes, her 20s were filled with days when she found it hard to get out of bed. And why? She had no clue.
Speaking to the Express last year, she explained: “I used to work for an investment fund in London and in general was very happy, had a good work-life balance, a lot of friends in London. But then suddenly I started to gain weight, losing hair, I had [a lot] of difficulties breathing when I went out for a long walk.
“I went to multiple doctors that said it was probably stress-related and to take a break in my career. And at that time I was 26 – I couldn’t really afford to live in London without having a salary. So, I couldn’t really find any answers to my problems.”
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Nearly four years of anguish ticked away as Karolina sought answers, repeatedly hitting walls with medical professionals who echoed similar sentiments of misguided advice.
Karolina was given the choice to either take antidepressants or go back on the contraceptive pill to manage her ‘stress’, but she remained certain that her symptoms were not stress-related. She continued: “I think one of the major issues is when you see a doctor they have maybe 10 or 15 minutes with you. They don’t have time to go through the symptoms that you’ve experienced.
“{…] So, I think in one way the system is a bit broken there. And also the waiting times which is incredibly long right now – especially in the UK – it took me half a year to see the right specialist. Even then, they had so little time with me so couldn’t really understand what was going on.”
Eventually, Karolina travelled to Brussels to consult a hormone specialist who diagnosed her with a fairly common deregulated thyroid. This condition can affect both sexes, but it’s particularly prevalent among women.
Karolina believes her condition was worsened by years of taking the pill, with her body now failing to produce enough oestrogen for itself. She added: “I was put on the pill when I was 16 years old I had no idea, I don’t even know if my hormones were balanced at that time because I was so young.
“It’s a fabulous invention it’s really good that women can be in control over their family planning and all of that but, to me, it’s not the solution to all hormonal issues.”
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Fast-forward to last year, and Karolina turned 34. While she’s gutted she missed out on most of her 20s, the whole ordeal has certainly left a lasting impression on her. With her school best friend Jasmine Tagesson, she’s crafted the very solution she once longed for.
“There was kind of a big sadness around it, that I wasted three to four years of the best time and years in my life feeling really ill and depressed,” she said. “It was kind of an awakening that so many women suffer from hormone-related issues. That can be when you’re changing pills, or when you’re trying to get pregnant or when you’re going into perimenopause.
“But there isn’t really anyone holding your hand through those massive fluctuations we go through as a woman. And to me, that was just crazy, living in a world where we don’t have that information is just absurd because it’s affecting us so much. So, I decided to set up Hormona.”
Hormona, which thousands of women in more than 100 countries use, is an app for tracking hormones to see their impact on mood and symptoms daily. With a team specialising in endocrinology, gynaecology, and nutrition, the app uses AI to offer personalised recipes, predict symptoms, and suggest activities based on each user’s individual profile.
Karolina assured that personal details are kept safe and completely anonymous, thanks to EU data protection regulations. She continued: “There’s so much data that is missing when it comes to women’s health in general. We’re spending a lot of time with universities, research partners to really see how we can improve women’s health for generations to come.”