Periods All Over the Place? This Could Be Why
Join senior ReMed naturopath and women's health expert, Katelyn Gray for part two of our conversation around the menstrual cycle. This time she details irregular cycles - those that vary in length and those that are missing completely. She details the reasons why, including the potential presence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Hypothalamic amenorrhea.
Covered in This Episode
1:29 Understanding Irregular Menstrual Cycles
This episode kicks off with a big question--why are irregular cycles so common today? Katelyn explains what "irregular" means and shares her observations from clinical practice.
3:02 Impact of Modern Lifestyle of Hormonal Health
A deeper look at how processed foods, environmental toxins, stress, and disconnection from nature may contribute to hormonal imbalances.
7:39 Naturopathic Care for Hormonal Imbalances
Katelyn discusses how naturopathy can help make sense of the overwhelming, offering tailored, foundational support in a modern world.
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.
9:53 Diving into Irregular Cycles
A breakdown of what counts as an irregular cycle--not just timing, but changing symptoms and unpredictable patterns.
13:27 Polycystic Ovarian Syndrom (PCOS)
Katelyn explores PCOS as one of the most common causes of irregular cycles; its signs, hormone imbalances (especially testosterone) and diagnostic criteria.
19:23 Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Explained
An in-depth explanation of hypothalamic amenorrhea and how stress, under-eating, and over-exercising can disrupt the brain-ovary connection.
23:22 Testing and Diagnosis
Practical advice on how and when to test hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and thyroid function - especially when cycles are unpredictable or absent.
33:01 Personalised Care
Katelyn highlights the importance of individualised treatment plans and working with a practitioner who truly understands hormonal health.
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.
