You may have heard of a particular nutritional “fad” at present called seed cycling to promote healthy hormones. This is certainly something I get asked about often in my practice.

So I thought I would share with you exactly what seed cycling is, what the research says, how to implement seed cycling and what to expect when you do. 

March is Endometriosis awareness month. A month to shine a light on this debilitating disease which affects 1 in 10 womens and with an estimates 176 million cases world wide.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which endometrial like tissue, usually found lining the uterus (endometrium), grows outside the uterus. While this abnormal growth is often found surrounding the ovaries and fallopian tubes or within the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity, in some advanced cases it has also been found in the lungs and brain.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common health condition experienced by up to 75% of women of reproductive age. PMS is a group of symptoms, both physical and emotional, experienced by a woman in the two weeks leading up to menstruation, also known as the luteal phase. With symptoms usually subsiding shortly after menstruation begins.  

In some cases PMS can develop into premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a more severe form of PMS, effecting about 3-6 % of women. PMDD be so debilitating that it impacts one's quality of life. Women who have had major depression are more at risk than others to experience PMDD.

You might be surprised to learn that there is more than just one type of oestrogen.

Oestrogens are a group of steroid hormones produced in various organs (not just the ovaries) and the level of these oestrogens change throughout life and in physiological and pathological conditions.

While oestrogen is typically thought of as a female hormone, it is produced by males also. In women, this group of sex hormones are responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts, endometrium, and regulation of the menstrual cycle.

Within the oestrogen hormone family, there are three main forms to focus on:

It’s the beginning of the year and as we all settling back into work and life the pressures and stress can begin to creep up again. 

Female reproductive health is an area I work a lot with in clinic and a very common theme with many of my clients is the impact stress has on the female reproductive system.

Before we get into how stress impacts sex hormones I really want to get to the core of what stress is and how it can present itself.

 Stress is defined as “a state in which homeostasis is threatened or perceived to be threatened.” 

Stress has become common place in our day to day lives. Whether it be associated with work, money, family, or something else, stress can have a massive impact on our lives.
While short burst of stress are actually good for you, chronic long term stress has been clinically proven to cause a vast array of negative effects on health including thyroid health.