Blog
Hormones
Why Is My Anxiety High Before My Period?
Do you notice your anxiety soar the week before your period? You’re certainly not alone!
This phase of the menstrual cycle, known as the late luteal (referred to as the "PMS" week) is when we often hear women complain about anxiety (obsessive thoughts, worried about small things, overthinking, racing brain etc.) and it can have A LOT to do with the hormonal fluctuations that are happening.
➡️ It is only upon ovulation that we produce progesterone (the “calming hormone”) and when it rises, this s…
How to Optimize your Fertility (testing, nutrition, lifestyle adjustments + “smart” supplementation)
Whether you’re looking to get pregnant now -or- are interested in prepping and priming your body for a future pregnancy, we highly suggest digging into the fertility optimizing strategies outlined in this blog! This includes an overview of the main hormone imbalances and hormonal conditions linked to infertility / difficulty get pregnant.
The WHO organization's 2023 report states that 1 in 6 couples globally struggle with infertility (defined as the "inability to get pregnant after 1+ years of …
Planning to come off hormonal birth control? (Consider the following tips for a smoother transition)!
Did you know: 100 million women are currently on the pill and roughly 60 percent of them take it for non-contraceptive reasons (including heavy/ painful periods, PMS, acne, endometriosis and/or PCOS)?
This is in large part because many women are told by their doctors that hormonal birth control is the only solution for the symptoms they’re struggling with, and rarely given education or resources that would actually get to the root of the problem and relieve symptoms naturally. Since the synthet…
Daily Cortisol Balancing Habits and Rituals (For Stress Awareness Month!)
This blog in a nutshell:
If you struggle to wake up, are dragging through the day with low energy and/or feel tired and wired at night, these are signs of cortisol (“stress hormone”) imbalance, and an indication that your adrenal glands need some extra TLC. Developing cortisol balancing habits is an important first step to relieve symptoms and optimize your hormone health!
Are you experiencing symptoms of a cortisol (‘stress’ hormone) imbalance?
Considering the fast-paced, high pressure so…
5 Reasons We Prefer Saliva Testing VS Standard Blood Testing (Specifically for Measuring: Estrogen, Progesterone, DHEA, Testosterone & Cortisol)
One of the most common questions we get from our clients is: "How is saliva testing different from the standard blood test I received from my doctor?"
Typically, the main type of hormone tests provided by traditional doctors are standard blood tests (because they are covered by insurance), which unfortunately do not measure free, 'bioavailable' I.e. active hormone levels, and therefore do not shed nearly as much light on the key imbalances behind the symptoms we are presently experiencing!
W…
WTF!: Women Continue to Be Misled in Menopause (A Reaction to the NYT Magazine Article)
The New York Times Magazine recently published a front page article titled: “We Have Been Misled About Menopause,” which has been making waves for its coverage, yet the contents of the article FURTHER mislead women about their options for safe, hormone replacement therapy in menopause! (NOTE: this is a topic that is relevant to women in perimenopause also!).
…WTF!!!
Our founder, Hormone Health Educator, Candace Burch (MA), has been working in the hormone health field for over 25 years, includ…
Menopause Rescue Package: Pro Aging Hacks and Habits!
Hi there, it's Candace (YHB's founder)!...here to share my menopause rescue hacks. This is a roundup of the shortcuts and workarounds I’ve found to fan the flames of unwanted perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
Did you know that for 75- 80% of women in midlife, hot flashes are the first clue that menopause is approaching? If you've ever heard me speak on a podcast (like THIS one), you've heard me tell the tale of feeling like a “mean mommy!" In my mid-40s, I had two young daughters and a hi…
Understanding Menopause: Key Imbalances, Symptoms and Natural Tips for Rebalancing
No one likes being out of balance, especially when the hot flashes, foggy thinking, and mood swings of menopause leave us feeling like a rundown, unsexy and unsatisfied version of our former selves.
Menopause is officially defined as 12 months in a row without a period, typically in the early 50’s when cycles cease and the ovaries stop making balanced hormone supplies for good! During this hormonally challenged time, it’s important to realize that the extent to which we suffer from troublesome…
Understanding the "Fertility Awareness Method"
Whether you’re looking for a non-hormonal birth control option OR trying to conceive, the fertility awareness method (FAM), is an amazing and highly effective technique to consider (up to 99.6% with perfect use and 98-99% with typical use). See the Frank Herman pub med study to back it up HERE. 👏 👏
The Sympto Thermal Method (symptoms + temperature), requires you to track your menstrual cycle, basal body temperature and cervical fluid/mucus to determine fertile and non fertile days 👇 Keep in mind…
5 Common Hormonal Fluctuations in Pre-Menopausal Women
If you're a pre-menopausal woman (i.e. NOT yet in menopause), seeking relief from symptoms, it’s imperative that you learn about the key times in your cycle when hormones fluctuate, and begin tracking those symptoms diligently! The more you make this a practice, the more you should start to notice patterns regarding the timing and severity of your symptoms!
For example, you may notice that you get headaches right before your period (when estrogen levels drop), or that you experience anxiety …