Lara Briden's Blog, page 10
July 18, 2020
Roadmap to Progesterone
Progesterone is beneficial because it lightens periods. It also reduces inflammation, regulates immune function, and supports healthy thyroid, brain, bones, and breasts.
Do you make enough progesterone? Are you sure? The only way to make progesterone is with ovulation and a healthy luteal phase.
What is a luteal phase?
A luteal phase is the approximately 10-14 days between ovulation and the period. It’s named after the corpus luteum, which is the temporary ovarian gland that forms after an...
June 27, 2020
Why a Vegan or Plant-Based Diet Can Be a Problem for Periods
A vegan or exclusively plant-based diet can make periods lighter and more painful but it can also cause irregular periods due to impaired ovulation and low progesterone.
Phytoestrogens generally have an anti-estrogen, period-lightening effect but the main problem with a vegan diet is the long-term depletion of women’s health nutrients such as zinc, iodine, vitamin A, and taurine.
If you’ve been vegan for more than a year, I encourage you to share your experience in the comments.
Going off dairy ...
June 13, 2020
How Soy Affects Hormones and Health
Soy contains phytoestrogens or “plant-estrogens,” which sounds bad but by out-competing estradiol, phytoestrogens can have a beneficial anti-estrogen effect in women of reproductive age.
That’s why soy and other phytoestrogens can make periods lighter and improve estrogen excess symptoms such as PMS and heavy periods.
Food-based phytoestrogens have long been part of the human diet, so we’re adapted to them. They help to protect and buffer estrogen receptors and promote the healthy ...
June 1, 2020
How to Survive the Great Progesterone Crash of Perimenopause
In your forties, you may find you don’t cope as well with stress. It happens because losing progesterone during perimenopause can destabilize the HPA (adrenal) axis or stress response system.
This recalibration of the nervous system is why perimenopause is associated with an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
May 26, 2020
Body-Identical Hormone Therapy for Perimenopause and Menopause
Bio-identical or body-identical hormone therapy is hormone therapy that uses estradiol and progesterone exactly identical to the body’s own hormones.
It’s a modern type of hormone therapy and quite different from old types of hormone replacement therapy such as Premarin and Provera.
Here’s what you need to know.
Perimenopause or “second puberty” are the two to ten years before periods actually stop. Symptoms include heavy periods, insomnia, anxiety, and night sweats, and are th...
May 17, 2020
Is It PCOS or Hypothalamic Amenorrhea?
PCOS is the condition of androgen excess when all other causes of androgen excess have been ruled out. It can be associated with irregular periods or no periods.
Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) is the loss of periods due to undereating. It can also present with mild acne or facial hair.
The two conditions are similar enough that your doctor might mistakenly say you have PCOS when you actually have hypothalamic amenorrhea.
Is it PCOS or undereating?
Here’s a summary of the simila...
May 15, 2020
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Cannot Be Diagnosed by Ultrasound
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cannot be diagnosed by ultrasound because polycystic ovaries are not cysts. They’re follicles or eggs which are normal for the ovary.
It’s normal for all women to sometimes have a higher number of follicles. It’s normal for young women to always have a higher number of follicles because young women have more eggs. That’s why the new international PCOS guidelines state that “ultrasound is now not recommended in diagnosis in those within 8 years of the start...
May 11, 2020
Natural Treatment to Lower Prolactin
Prolactin is a pituitary hormone that promotes lactation. Its also involved in ovulation, orgasm, breast health, immune function, and mood. High prolactin is called hyperprolactinemia.
Symptoms of high prolactin include irregular periods or no periods, premenstrual mood symptoms, loss of libido, headaches, breast pain, vaginal dryness, acne, and hirsutism or facial hair. Its one of several causes of excess androgens that can be mistaken for polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS.
How to diagnose...May 7, 2020
The Dos and Don’ts of Vitex for Period Problems
Vitex (also called Chaste tree or Chaste berry) is a herbal medicine prepared from the berries of a large Mediterranean tree (Vitex agnus-castus). In ancient times, it was used to suppress the libido of monks, hence the name. Fortunately, it does not have that effect on women.
Vitex is effective medicine for breast pain, irregular periods, premenstrual mood symptoms, and some types of acne.
How does Vitex work?
Vitex promotes ovulation by boosting dopamine and therefore lowering the hormone pro...
The Do’s and Don’ts of Vitex for Period Problems
Vitex (also called Chaste tree or Chaste berry) is a herbal medicine prepared from the berries of a large Mediterranean tree (Vitex agnus-castus). In ancient times, it was used to suppress the libido of monkshence the name. Fortunately, it does not have that effect on women.
Vitex is effective medicine for breast pain, irregular periods, premenstrual mood symptoms, and some types of acne.
How does Vitex work?Vitex promotes ovulation by boosting dopamine and therefore lowering the hormone ...
