Using ultrasound as the sole way to diagnose or rule out PCOS can lead to both over-diagnosing and under-diagnosing of this condition. Let’s talk about the important difference between polycystic ovaries and PCOS, and what is needed for a proper diagnosis to clear up this common misconception!
Read MoreWhen you think of symptoms around our menstrual cycles the first thought is often there must be something going on with my hormones. While this may be the case, it is important to remember that our hormones are impacted by every system in our body. With that in mind, the cause of your menstrual related symptoms may not actually be your hormones themselves but the way that other systems are interacting with your hormones, including our immune system.
Read MoreEnvironmental exposures in the form of “toxicants” play a role in infertility and increase the risk of negative outcomes in both the mother and the baby. There are a variety of ways that environmental toxicants can negatively affect fertility in both males and females.
Read MoreMyoinositol supplementation has been found to support healthy insulin levels, improve ovulation rates, and reduce testosterone levels in women with PCOS. Research also suggests that myoinositol supplementation may positively impact fertility outcomes in women going through fertility treatment with PCOS in multiple ways!
Read MoreHave you noticed that in the past couple of years you are FEELING your PMS or experiencing hormonal symptoms in different ways? This is not uncommon and it does not necessarily mean that your hormones are failing you. One of the biggest reasons why your periods (namely your PMS) might be worse is because of stress.
Read MoreAn ever-expanding body of research now suggests that vitamin D is more a hormone that plays a fundamental role in all aspects of our fertility from supporting healthy ovulation, improving pregnancy rates, reducing miscarriage risk and even supporting mood in the post-partum period. Read on to learn more about why Vitamin D is so essential in fertility and reproductive health, and why you should get your levels tested!
Read MoreMany women with PCOS voice concerns over period pain. But we know period pain isn’t actually a characteristic sign of PCOS. So if you have PCOS and are struggling with period pain, what’s the connection? And how does this relate to endometriosis? Read on to learn more!
Read MoreThe use of progesterone therapy to reduce miscarriage risk has been a topic of debate in the medical community for many years due to conflicting results in research. Recently, in November of 2021, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) made an exciting new recommendation! NICE now officially recommends progesterone therapy for women with early pregnancy bleeding and at least 1 previous miscarriage to reduce miscarriage risk. Read on to learn more!
Read MoreMany women don’t think about menopause, or perimenopause, until they are struggling with hot flashes, night sweats, or other hallmark signals of this hormonal shift. Unfortunately, perimenopause is rarely discussed until women are in the midst of changes that are no longer feeling manageable. It’s often in their first appointment that many women realize some (or most) of the symptoms they’ve been struggling with for years are related to this hormonal shift! Read on to learn more.
Read MoreThere is something about the holidays and holiday eating that holds a certain “stress” associated with it. If you find that you are feeling out of control with food, anxious around food, or if you are experiencing obsessions or compulsions around food, it does not have to be this way. Here are some simple things that you can try this holiday season to feel empowered around food, no matter what your actual food choices are.
Read MoreDid you know that there is an incredibly important hormone called insulin that is rarely tested in a typical fertility assessment? Insulin’s main job is to regulate our blood sugar levels and is therefore essential to our survival. However, too much insulin can cause long or missing cycles making it difficult to conceive, it can impact the implantation of an embryo and even contribute to an increased rate of miscarriages through multiple mechanisms.
Read MoreTrying to get pregnant with a PCOS diagnosis can be a very challenging, emotional, and stress-driven time. There are some of us that get pregnant easily with PCOS, and then there are others, where month after month, nothing seems to be changing. PCOS is the leading cause of infertility in women – and this means it is generally more challenging to conceive with PCOS. BUT it’s also the condition most amenable to treatment, meaning we have the most options that are likely to yield benefit.
Read MorePerimenopause and menopause can be a highly unpleasant and uncomfortable time, often leading to feelings of lack of control over our bodies. Luckily, there’s a lot we can do to help support this transition with nutritional therapy.
Read MoreThere is a new hormonal term going around that you may or may have heard of; PMDD. PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. This is a diagnosis that refers to a group of PMS symptoms that become so intense that they have extreme mood implications, and severe impacts on quality of life. It can get so bad that for that period of the month it can feel like a depressive episode.
Read MoreIf you were diagnosed with a hormone-sensitive breast cancer before you went through menopause, likely Tamoxifen is part of your long-term support plan. Tamoxifen can be a foundational part of helping to prevent a recurrence. But what options are there for women who want to stay on Tamoxifen but continue to struggle with side-effects?
Read MoreThe best way to identify fertile days and increase the odds of conceiving each cycle is to track your cervical fluid. If you've never heard the phrase cervical fluid, you're not alone! Despite this being a strong marker of health and fertility, women are very rarely taught about the importance of cervical fluid in school or by their healthcare providers.
Read MorePCOS is a spectrum condition. That means some individuals with PCOS fall into that classic presentation of ‘trouble losing weight, not getting a regular period, losing hair, etc’. But on the other side of the spectrum, there’s a very different person. This is Lean PCOS. Sadly, lean PCOS is like the ‘forgotten’ PCOS. There’s very little we know about why it happens, how to improve diagnostics, and most importantly, how to go about treating this type of PCOS most effectively.
Read MoreWelcome to week 3 of exploring the link between our mental health and our hormones. Today we are looking at how our food choices and our cravings are linked to our hormonal health and blood sugar levels. Sometimes the things that we choose to eat are not always based on our conscious control but other processes that are happening in our bodies, including our hormones.
Read MoreWelcome to week two looking at connections between our hormones and our mental health. This week we are looking at how our relationship with food can impact our overall mental wellbeing as well as the balance and production of hormones in our bodies. This is something that is especially important in disordered eating.
Read MoreWelcome to our 3-part series exploring the link between our mental health and our hormones. Over the course of the next 3 weeks we are going to look at ways in which our mental health, reproductive hormones and eating patterns interact and influence the way that we are feeling on a daily basis.
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