My story with endometriosis isn’t a story I thought I’d ever share. I’m definitely a perfectionist, and my experience with endometriosis has been far from perfect. In Part 1, we’re starting from the beginning. I’ll take you through what it was actually like to live with endometriosis, and why it took me so long to get treatment.
Read MoreDeciding that you would like to start expanding your family can be such a beautiful and exciting time in life, but if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, these feelings of excitement can start to be overshadowed by fear, frustration, and confusion. In this blog we go over exactly HOW Hashimoto’s impacts fertility so you can go into trying to conceive from a place of knowledge rather than fear!
Read MoreMaking dietary changes can be difficult and confusing because there is so much contradicting information on which foods or "diets" are best for optimizing your thyroid function and Hashimoto’s. The key to any dietary changes is ensuring that they are sustainable long-term!
Read MoreIf you have a thyroid condition and have done some Googling, you’ve probably come across many blogs saying that a gluten-free diet is a must in order for your thyroid health to improve and for you to feel better. Maybe you’ve tried going gluten-free and it made you feel much better, or maybe it didn’t make a difference at all. So is gluten-free the way to go or not?
Read MoreHave you ever been told that your thyroid function is normal since your TSH is within the "normal range"? Or maybe your TSH is higher than the range stated on the lab report, but it's not "high enough" to initiate treatment, so you're told to watch and wait. Whether you're having symptoms but your TSH appears to be "normal," or if your TSH is high but you're not comfortable with the watch and wait approach, there's more to the puzzle we can (and should) look into!
Read MoreInflammatory PCOS, Adrenal PCOS, Insulin Resistant PCOS, Post-Pill PCOS, thyroid PCOS – these are all the ‘types’ of PCOS you’ve likely read about online. The reality is that these are not real types of PCOS. In this blog, we’ll take you through the REAL types of PCOS, that way, you’ll have a way better understanding of what PCOS is and isn’t, as well as how to go about finding care that is individualized to you!
Read MoreUsing 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.
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