Hormones and Fertility

Hormone-related health problems that most women face at some point in their lives and this can cover anything from heavy, painful periods or severe PMS, to bloating, fibroids, irritability, insomnia, low libido, irregular or missing periods, migraines or infertility, perimenopause or menopause.

Women have a biological rhythm and biochemistry that is very different to men. While we all live by the daily circadian rhythms of the 24-hour cycle, women have a second biological cycle running at the same time – the infradian cycle. This second cycle is based on the monthly menstrual cycle and affects most of the key systems of the body – cognition, metabolism, immune, microbiome, stress/cortisol, and reproduction.  A woman’s biological rhythm is based on four hormonal phases that affect how we function and how we feel.

The important place to start is to take time to listen to your body, to be aware of the four hormonal phases that change each month and to implement small changes to work with your body, rather than against it. Understanding one’s menstrual cycle and hormonal phases can really help with how our hormones are affecting us. This can be in relation to PMS each month or menopause when hormones are changing the most. You can find out more about women’s health hormones here.

Menopause and perimenopause are also responsible for big hormonal and physical changes with many physiological and psychological symptoms that can make it a very uncomfortable and, at times, distressing time. It is true that hormones wreak havoc on mood, sleep, and pain, but there are many things we can do to combat these difficulties.

I do not recommend HRT or antidepressants as your first port of call, without first trying some of the other treatments and remedies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), dietary changes, physical exercise and deep-breathing exercises.

1. Take different supplements to support female hormones. B vitamins, including folic acid, and Vitamin D are important for supporting female physiology.
2. Track your menstrual cycle by downloading an app like Clue. 
3. Include different supplements at different stages of your menstrual cycle. For example, magnesium helps with hormone imbalances and is especially important during the menstruation phase, while probiotics are invaluable in supplying the body’s micronutrient needs and mood during the follicular phase.
4. Eat regular meals with plenty of protein regulates blood-sugar levels, which helps balance mood. For example, oily fish boosts both Vitamin D and omega-3 fat intake which can help with muscle aches and pains. Foods rich in calcium such as dairy, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds support bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
5. Eat foods with natural oestrogen to help alleviate menopausal symptoms. Traditionally fermented soya products such as tempeh and tofu, homegrown sprouts (particularly red clover, broccoli and alfalfa seeds), flaxseed and linseed, and legumes (particularly chickpeas and lentils) all contain natural oestrogen.

You can read more about this on my blog titled ‘Perimenopause: It is not all bad news’.

Nutrigenomics and DNA testing

Nutrigenomics studies how your DNA is influenced by your diet and lifestyle. Lifecode Gx offers nutrigenomic DNA reports that consider various environmental factors and provide easy-to-understand visual diagrams alongside detailed written reports. The reports can help you identify effective lifestyle changes to reduce symptoms and mitigate inherited health risks. DNA collection takes 30 seconds with a cheek swab, and the results are ready in about 3 weeks.

Hormones report: Steroid hormones are involved in the regulation of many physiological processes in the body, including the function of the reproductive system, metabolism, inflammation and immune system. Hormone imbalances can lead to infertility, low libido, low sperm count, acne, blood clots, mood swings, depression, and weight gain. The Hormones test shows how gene variants affect hormones imbalance and how to improve this balance.

Oestrogen Balance report: Oestrogen is the hormone responsible for the development of the female reproductive system. It is also responsible for the growth and production of cells and is involved in maintaining bone density, and blood clotting. The Oestrogen Balance test analyses how gene variants affect the production, activation and elimination of oestrogen, and is specifically targeted at oestrogen imbalances that contribute to gynaecological issues.

DUTCH Complete Test: “The DUTCH Complete” urine test takes a deep look at your adrenal stress and sex hormones levels in real time.

You can find out more about hormone tests and other tests on my website here. 

With every blessing,

Emma

Emma Maitland-Carew – Registered Nutritional Therapist

Dip.ION, mBANT, CHNC Registered Practitioner,

Metabolic Balance® Coach, HeartMath Coach, Accredited Wellbeing Coach.