FAQs

Aging is a natural process, but many of the effects of aging are linked to declining hormone levels, accumulated cellular damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. While aging is normal, symptoms like fatigue, memory loss, thinning bones, and reduced vitality often stem from imbalances that can be supported through lifestyle changes, nutrition, and targeted therapies to help you age more slowly and healthfully.

Women have always experienced menopause and hormonal shifts. Historically, lifespans were shorter, and women often did not live long past menopause. Today, with longer life expectancies, women may spend 30–40% of their lives in a hormone-deficient state. Modern medicine provides options to maintain quality of life, reduce risks of osteoporosis and heart disease, and ease symptoms that can be disruptive.

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands like the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, and testes. They travel through the bloodstream, telling organs and tissues what to do. Hormones regulate metabolism, mood, energy, sleep, immune function, sexual health, and much more. Keeping them balanced and optimized is essential for overall wellness.

Estrogen dominance means you have too much estrogen relative to progesterone, even if your estrogen levels aren’t excessively high. This imbalance can lead to symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings, heavy periods, or increased risk of fibroids. Estrogen dominance is common during perimenopause when progesterone naturally starts to decline.

Check if you could be experiencing estrogen dominance with our questionnaire.

Birth control pills contain synthetic estrogens and progestins that can contribute to a state of estrogen dominance, especially if your body’s natural progesterone is low. They may suppress your hormone production, further disrupting your body’s natural balance over time.

While birth control pills can be very effective for preventing pregnancy and managing some menstrual symptoms, they also come with possible side effects, including:

• Mood changes or depression
• Weight changes
• Headaches
• Decreased libido
• Increased risk of blood clots, stroke, or high blood pressure (especially in smokers or women over 35)
• Potential nutrient depletion (like B vitamins and zinc)

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) often occurs due to fluctuating or imbalanced estrogen and progesterone levels in the second half of the cycle. Low progesterone relative to estrogen can lead to mood swings, irritability, bloating, headaches, and breast tenderness. Supporting healthy progesterone levels helps ease PMS symptoms.

Progesterone is a hormone primarily produced by the ovaries after ovulation. It prepares the uterine lining for pregnancy, supports mood and sleep, and balances the effects of estrogen. As women approach perimenopause or menopause, progesterone is usually the first hormone to decline.

Optimal progesterone levels can:

• Help regulate menstrual cycles
• Reduce heavy bleeding
• Support mood stability and reduce anxiety
• Improve sleep quality
• Balance estrogen’s effects, lowering the risk of estrogen-related issues like fibroids or thickened uterine lining.

Low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, is a condition in which the body doesn’t produce sufficient levels of the male hormone testosterone. Symptoms of low testosterone can include fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, loss of motivation, reduced libido, poor sleep, and mental fog. Test yourself for low testosterone to see if that’s what could be causing these symptoms.

Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to your body’s natural hormones, typically derived from plant sources like yams or soy. They fit your body’s receptors exactly, mimicking your own hormones. Synthetic or “counterfeit” hormones (like those in birth control pills and most conventional hormone replacement therapies) are slightly altered versions designed for patentability. These structural differences can lead to different effects and sometimes more side effects.