Menstrual Problems

Functional medicine offers a holistic approach to addressing menstrual irregularities (including PCOS) by identifying and treating the root causes that may be contributing to hormonal imbalances and cycle disruptions. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses on managing symptoms with medications (e.g., birth control pills or hormone therapy), functional medicine looks at the whole body and seeks to understand underlying factors, including lifestyle, diet, environmental influences, and stress.

This individualized approach can be particularly helpful for women experiencing conditions like PCOS, estrogen dominance, thyroid imbalances, and stress-induced menstrual disruptions, offering lasting solutions for menstrual regularity and overall reproductive health.

Here is where we will start to identify your menstrual problems thru functional medicine:

Assessing Hormonal Levels: Functional medicine uses detailed testing (e.g., blood, saliva, or urine tests) to assess levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and insulin. These tests help identify imbalances that may be contributing to menstrual issues such as irregular cycles, heavy periods, or missed periods.

Addressing Estrogen Dominance: In many women, estrogen dominance (where estrogen levels are too high relative to progesterone) can lead to irregular periods, painful menstruation, and conditions like endometriosis or fibroids. Functional medicine may recommend dietary changes, liver support, and supplements to help metabolize excess estrogen and restore hormonal balance.

Supporting Progesterone Levels: Progesterone plays a key role in regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting a healthy luteal phase. If progesterone levels are low, functional medicine may focus on lifestyle changes and herbal support.

Thyroid Health: Thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, can lead to irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or amenorrhea (absence of periods). Functional medicine evaluates thyroid function (TSH, T3, T4, and antibodies) and supports thyroid health with nutritional support, supplements, and lifestyle changes.

Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones play a crucial role in regulating many processes in the body, including metabolism, reproduction, mood, and energy levels. Imbalances can manifest in various ways, such as irregular periods, weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, or thyroid dysfunction. Functional medicine can help restore hormonal balance, alleviate symptoms, and promote overall well-being. This approach empowers individuals to not just manage symptoms but achieve long-term hormonal health.

Treatment will be focused on balancing estrogen and progesterone, adrenal support/cortisol regulation, thyroid support, gut health, nutritional support, and addressing environmental toxins. Other conditions we treat include allergies, skin conditions, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, and more.

Some testing you can expect for hormonal imbalance are as follows:

Blood, Saliva, or Urine Tests: These tests measure levels of key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones (T3, T4, TSH), insulin, cortisol, and DHEA. Functional medicine practitioners use these tests to get a detailed picture of an individual’s hormonal status.

Functional Tests: Tests such as organic acids tests, stool tests for gut health, and liver function tests help identify how the body is metabolizing and excreting hormones. This is crucial for understanding whether gut or liver dysfunction is contributing to hormonal imbalance.

Thyroid Function Tests: Many hormonal imbalances are related to thyroid dysfunction, so functional medicine emphasizes testing both thyroid hormones (T3, T4) and thyroid antibodies to get an accurate diagnosis.