Female Hormones 101: What's normal and what's not
This is the first in a 2-part series on the female menstrual cycle - what is normal and what to do if your cycle isn't normal.
ReMed senior naturopath and women's health specialist Katelyn Gray goes back to basics in this first episode, detailing what a normal menstrual cycle looks like, and what to do if yours is shorter than normal, including potential causes and the tests to ask for.
Covered in This Episode
00:49 Meet Katelyn Gray
Katelyn shares her journey as a naturopath with a passion for women's health and hormones. She reflects on the misconceptions surrounding hormones and expresses excitement about breaking down the complexities of the menstrual cycle in simple terms.
1:25 Understanding the Menstrual Cycle
Katelyn dives into what constitutes a normal menstrual cycle, emphasising the importance of recognising what’s normal and what’s not. She discusses how societal perceptions and misinformation can influence our understanding of menstrual health.
2:25 Normal Cycle Length and Hormonal Phases
An in-depth look at the phases of the menstrual cycle, including the follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases. Katelyn explains the roles of oestrogen and progesterone throughout these phases and what a typical 28-day cycle should look like.
8:14 Symptoms and Hormonal Imbalances
Katelyn explains why symptoms like mood swings, breast tenderness, and pain are not normal but are signs of hormonal imbalance. She discusses how oestrogen excess and progesterone deficiency can lead to these symptoms and how they often overlap in their presentations.
16:34 Short Cycles and Implications
Katelyn explores the potential causes of short menstrual cycles, emphasising stress, progesterone deficiency, and nutritional deficiencies. She explains the impact of cortisol on progesterone levels and how stress can significantly influence cycle length.
23:38 Hormone Testing: When and How
A detailed guide on the best times to test oestrogen and progesterone levels, particularly focusing on the luteal phase. Katelyn discusses the importance of timing hormone tests accurately to get meaningful insights and how these results can guide treatment effectively.
29:10 Nutritional Deficiencies and Hormonal Health
Katelyn explains the role of key nutrients like zinc, iron, and iodine in hormone production. She compares hormone production to baking a cake—without the right ingredients, the outcome won’t be right. She also touches on how dietary choices and restrictive eating can contribute to hormonal imbalances.
33:05 Signs of Ovulation
Practical tips on how to track ovulation, including observing changes in cervical mucus and libido. Katelyn discusses how these signs can help individuals understand their cycle better and the challenges faced when ovulation is irregular or absent.
38:12 Additional Testing for Hormonal Imbalances
Katelyn outlines additional tests that can provide a clearer picture of hormonal health, including thyroid function, full blood counts, and nutrient levels. She emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach to testing beyond just hormone levels.
Resources and Links
As a practitioner, Katelyn is most passionate about female reproductive health. Recognised that women’s health, in particular menstrual health, is often brushed over and stigmatised, with a lot of very real and debilitating presentations being ignored and passed off as “normal”. Often ‘band-aid’ treatment is applied, and women can suffer for majority of their reproductive life. Katelyn sees it as her mission to empower women and get to the underlying cause of these symptoms for long-term results.
Katelyn works specifically with women who have side effects or reactions to the pill, IUDs or hormone implants such as Implanon. She is passionate about helping women who want to come off contraceptive medications without harsh or lingering side effects and re-establish their natural cycle.
