Birth Control Option #: Shot
The birth control shot is also known as Depo-Provera and is given at the doctors office around; every 12 weeks. The shot only contains the hormone progestin, therefore it is not suitable to be used in the treatment of PCOS. However, the Depo-Provera shot has been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of endometriosis and painful menstrual cramps as it can cause the lining of the uterus to become thinner.
Symptoms Of Vaginal Atrophy
While vaginal atrophy is common, only 20 to 25 percent of symptomatic women seek medical attention from their doctor.
In some women, symptoms occur during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause. In other women, symptoms may not appear until years later, if ever.
Symptoms can include:
The cause of atrophic vaginitis is a decline in estrogen. Without estrogen, vaginal tissue thins and dries out. It becomes less elastic, more fragile, and more easily injured.
A decline in estrogen can occur at other times besides menopause, including:
- during breastfeeding
- after removal of ovaries
- after chemotherapy for treatment of cancer
- after pelvic radiation therapy for treatment of cancer
- after hormonal therapy for treatment of breast cancer
Regular sexual activity helps keep vaginal tissues healthy. A healthy sex life also benefits the circulatory system and improves heart health.
Black Cohosh To Regulate Periods
Natures Way Black Cohosh Root is a dietary supplement that some women take to regulate periods, ease PMS symptoms, and induce labor. Black cohosh has also been used to relieve arthritis pain and help lower blood pressure. However, research has not verified how effective black cohosh is in regulating menstruation. It might be effective for some women, but ineffective for others.
How much black cohosh root do you need to take to get a regular cycle? It depends on your body and health issues. It also depends on your height, weight, age and reason that your hormones are out of balance. Taking a black cohosh dietary supplement without knowing what your body needs is not the best way to regulate your cycle. If you arent taking prescription medications and are otherwise healthy, research the effects of black cohosh on hormones of a woman your age. This supplement may affect your body differently at your age than it might in five years, or 20.
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Hormone Balancing Tip #: Tune In To The Subtle Energies Throughout Your Cycle
Our patriarchal work culture has been built around the masculine energy of high productivity every day of the month. Unfortunately, women are not designed to operate like this. Our menstrual cycles mean that we naturally go through phases of high energy and slower, more introspective times .
Learning to identify and respond to these subtle energetic changes can revolutionise your productivity and output throughout your cycle. This is a topic I am very passionate about and spend an entire module teaching my students about in Hormone Harmony Academy. I teach my students to chart their cycles, and respond to energetic changes throughout the month. This means they can stop fighting the inevitable ebbs and flows and make turn their menstrual cycles into a source of power, rather than suffering.
When first becoming aware of your changing energy throughout your cycle, start by taking time to truly rest at menstruation. Even if this means for just one hour asking someone to watch your kids, going to bed early, taking a bath or reading a book instead of tidying the house. I guarantee if you can take some time for some self-care at menstruation, you will be rewarded with overflowing energy, productivity and creativity at your next ovulation time.
How To Turn On Your Fat
Currently, a major topic in the field of obesity research is the link between obesity and the hormone leptin. Some evidence suggests that obese-prone individuals dont respond to increasing leptin levels in the same way that non-obese-prone individuals do, which is the reason obesity is now being associated with possible leptin resistance. Scientists first discovered;leptin;in 1994, after years of research focused on hormones that affect body weight and calorie intake. While initially researchers believed the discovery could be used to create powerful weight loss supplements, this has never happened.
How does leptin function in the body and where does the hormone come from? Leptin interacts with areas of the brain that control hunger and eating behavior. The nickname the starvation hormone has been given to leptin because levels tend to plummet when someone restricts their calorie intake too much, exercises more and loses body fat. These are all factors involved in whats called starvation mode.
Theres still a lot to learn about how leptin resistance develops, and what can be done to prevent or reverse it. Many experts believe that eating a highly processed, highly palatable diet especially while also leading a stressful and mostly sedentary lifestyle is the perfect storm for developing leptin resistance.
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Prioritize Sleep And Relaxation
In addition to a hormone balancing diet you can help balance hormones naturally with simple lifestyle changes, starting with a sleep routine and schedule that spans over the weekend. Theres a significant relationship between cortisol and sleep, the infamous stress hormone can leave your adrenal glands depleted when its overactive.;
Our Tip: Leave the phone one hour before bed, avoid caffeine after 2:00 PM, and make relaxation time part of your schedule.
Adequate Vitamin D Levels
Getting adequate vitamin D is critical for supporting overall health and wellness. Vitamin D functions as a hormone itself and is therefore able to influence the function of numerous organ systems.
Vitamin D influences gene expression, muscle synthesis, bone health, immune system function, and the balance of hormones in the body. Much of the population is likely deficient in vitamin D since it is so difficult to obtain from foods alone. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are the main foods that are rich in vitamin D. Smaller amounts of vitamin D are also present in eggs, mushrooms, and fortified milk and cereal.
The skin synthesizes vitamin D in response to sun exposure. However, if you live in an area that gets little sunlight, supplementation is important for keeping vitamin D at a healthy level. Vitamin D supplementation works best when paired with calcium and magnesium supplementation.
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How Menopause Disturbs Our Hormone Balance
Wondering how hormones send their messages to different parts of the body? Heres a rundown of the process!
The whole process begins when hormone production takes place in your glands. Your hormones travel via your blood to the different cells and organs in your body. When they reach their destination, they knock on your cellsgatekeepers, called receptors, where they will relay their message.
If your receptors feel like your cells need them, they allow entry to dock into your cells, and they will turn on a specific function. This is how your hormones keep the body balanced. But
During menopause, your hormone production changes big time. In the early stages, your ovaries start to falter, but they will still produce normal amounts of estrogen. On the other hand, progesterone production reduces. This causes an imbalance called estrogen dominance where estrogen is higher relative to progesterone. In the later parts of menopause, you experience declining hormone levels, which can make you deficient.
As the receiving end, your receptors will accept whats coming to them. Excessive estrogen in your body will hyperactivate your organs and the lack of progesterone may affect some body functions. Hormone deficiencies on the other hand slows down the majority of your body functions and you may experience symptoms such as:
- Changes in your monthly periods
- Slow digestion
- Sluggish metabolism
Supplements To Balance Hormones
Hormone balance is one of the most common reasons patients pay me an initial visit, and a common question is whether I recommend supplements to balance hormones. In recent years, focus on womens health has gone from just a yearly PAP smear and breast exam to discussion around optimal health and wellness. Women feel empowered to talk to their health care providers about topics that were previously perceived as normal- things like painful periods and PMS symptoms which includes cravings, mood changes, acne, and changes during perimenopause. Seeking treatment for hormone balance means that women are finally able to start the journey to optimal health and complete wellness.
I thought I would take some time to discuss some of my favorite herbs, nutrients, and nutrition options for hormone balance.
However, choosing supplements for hormone balance isnt always cut and dry. Depending on why your hormones are imbalanced can mean that is it time for a different treatment plan.
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Natural Remedies And Supplements
There are many nutritional supplements on the market that claim to treat menopause and hormone imbalance. However, few of them are backed up by scientific evidence.
Many of these supplements contain plant-derived hormones. These are sometimes called bioidentical hormones because they chemically resemble the bodys natural hormones. Theres no evidence to suggest that they work better than regular hormone therapy, though.
Some people find that yoga helps treat symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Yoga is excellent for your strength, flexibility, and balance. It may also aid in weight loss, which can help regulate your hormones.
You can also make the following lifestyle changes:
- Lose weight. A
The primary cause of acne is excess oil production, which leads to clogged pores. Acne is most common in areas with many oil glands, including the:
- face
- upper back
- shoulders
Acne is often associated with pubescent hormonal changes, but theres actually a lifelong relationship between acne and hormones.
Four Step Hormone Reset
If you are coming off the pill, there are many effective ways to balance your hormones and ease symptoms post-pill. Here is my post pill reset plan. I recommend either incorporating all of the steps simultaneously, or pacing it by implementing Step 1 for 2 weeks, adding in Steps 2 and 3 for an additional 4 weeks while continuing Step 1, and if needed, at around 6 weeks on the plan, add in Step 4 while continuing the first three Steps. Some women need 6 to 12 months on the plan for a complete hormone reset its highly variable.
Of course, also get a proper exam and consultation with a midwife, nurse practitioner, or other appropriate licensed practitioner to make sure nothing more serious is going on, especially if its more than 3 months since youve had a regular cycle, or if you have other concerning symptoms.
Most of the herbal supplements below arent appropriate while youre pregnant, but can be taken if youre TTC just discontinue when you become pregnant.
Step 1: Dietary and Nutritional Strategies
Do this step for the first ;2 weeks of the plan and then continue this step as a healthy way of life indefinitely.
Step 2: Clear Out Excess Estrogen and Reset Hormone Balance
This step is especially important if you were on a pill that contained estrogen, but is also beneficial for re-establishing healthy hormone balance generally.
Step 3: Reset Your Circadian Rhythm
Step 4: Add in Targeted Herbs and Supplements
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Learn What Foods To Eat To Balance Your Hormones
Ugh, there is nothing worse than feeling like your body is fighting you. None of your clothes feel right. Youre hot and then youre cold. You cant sleep but youre exhausted. And youre cranky. Yes, like you I know exactly what this feels like.
Its the hormones. Yes, you can blame this on the hormones! A hormonal imbalance causes chaos in your body impacting your physical and mental health. The fantastic news is, you can make changes to your daily routine and diet to help fix a hormonal imbalance.
So dont stress smile because you know youll be back in your favorite jeans and tops in no time. In this blog I explain the facts on your hormones, hormonal imbalances, the 12 signs of a hormonal imbalance, and the foods you can eat to balance your hormones naturally.
I know a lot of you have questions about hormones, perimenopause, menopause, belly fat, and your body. To get all of my insider tips and advice on how to live your healthiest and best life, . And make sure you join the to connect with people like you who want to take control of their hormones.
Wild Yam Root To Balance Hormones
Natures Way Wild Yam Root is a herbal product that contains diosgenin, which may balance progesterone. Wild yam root may effectively treat menstrual irregularities, cramps, infertility, menopause, and endometriosis. If youre taking other prescription medication, talk to your doctor before trying any natural way to regulate your period.
Be thoughtful, but dont let fear or paranoia stop you from trying natural options! For example, my massage therapist tried wild yam root to balance her hormones and found it totally ineffective. It didnt hurt her, but it didnt regulate her hormones, either. Sometimes you need to try different things and see what your body says.
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Methylation And Sulphation Pathways Explained
For an example of how these pathways work lets look at the methylation pathway in more detail. This allows methyl groups to pass through the liver and out of the body safely. This pathway detoxifies estrogen, dopamine, histamine and heavy metals. To support this pathway we can increase our intake of choline and B vitamins.
The sulphation pathway detoxifies excess neurotransmitters, steroids, thyroid hormones, phenol and excess bile acids. This pathway is often burdened by frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . We can support this pathway through an increase in high sulfur foods .
If Phase Two is not working effectively, then the highly toxic chemicals formed in Phase One cannot be converted which can cause a lot of toxicity issues in the body such as tissue damage or disease. It may also cause excess hormones to circulate through the bloodstream instead of being excreted and this can lead to hormonal imbalances which may affect the thyroid gland or our estrogen levels.
To learn more about how a sluggish liver affects your thyroid health and how to gradually detox from harmful chemicals, I recommend following the 12-Day Thyroid Detox here.
So there you have it: your liver needs to eliminate the metabolized, or used up hormones to make space for new ones. This is why I have never met a person who has a sluggish liver and is hormonally balanced.
How To Regulate Hormones Naturally
Hormones are the chemical messengers in our body that help different organ systems communicate. The network of hormones in the body is known as the endocrine system. Maintaining hormonal health is crucial for supporting overall health, since hormones are involved in the gut, nervous system, reproductive system, and more. If youre wondering how to regulate hormones naturally, then youve come to the right place.
Read on to find out how to improve hormone health and reduce symptoms of hormone imbalance.
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Birth Control Option #: Vaginal Ring
A vaginal ring is placed inside of the vagina and it releases both estrogen and progestin into the lining of the vagina. Given that the vaginal ring increases both estrogen and progestin in your body, it has been shown to be effective against endometriosis, menstrual cramps, PCOS, irregular periods and low estrogen levels.
How And Why To Control The Prolactin Hormone
Prolactin is a hormone that you find in both males and females and the gland that is responsible for the secretion of this hormone is the pituitary gland. In general, the levels of prolactin hormone in men and nonpregnant women are low.;
Its rise can significantly occur in women after getting pregnant. It is at this time that the prolactin hormone will raise its secretion levels by several times to increase the levels of breast milk in expectation for the upcoming baby.;
But the problem is that due to some unknown causes or sudden malfunctions within the pituitary gland the secretion of prolactin hormones can rise to drastic levels in both males and females even not during their pregnancy period in the case of females.;
This has some problems in both males and females as we will see them in the upcoming section
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To Decoding Your Hormones: How Long Should Your Period Be
Since we only have our own period to compare to, it can be hard to know whether what we experience is normal. Lets run through some normal cycle parameters so that you can determine where you fall:
The length of your periodrefers to the number of days from the first day of your bleed to the last day before your next bleed. A healthy range for your cycle length is anywhere between 21 and 35 days, with the average being around 29 days.
Many of my clients tell me their period is always late because it comes on day 30 . This is a huge misconception: that if your period isnt 28 days, you arent normal. If your period consistently arrives around the same day of your cycle, and it falls within the healthy range of 21 to 35 days, this is your normal, healthy cycle length.
Whether or not you fit this textbook 28 day cycle , the most important factor to consider is whether your normal has changed or not.
Our menstrual cycles are very responsive to stress in our lives and demonstrate this most clearly in the length of our cycles. Stress is not always psychological , but may be physical .
When we are more stressed, our body does not deem our environment to be a safe place to bring a baby in to the world, and can shut down ovulation all together, or delay it until it deems we are safe. The end result of this change in ovulation is a missing period altogether, or longer cycles than your normal. Think this might explain your menstrual cycle problems?