80. Beyond the Myths: Common Cycle & Hormone Misconceptions

In this episode of Cycle Wisdom, Dr. Monica Minjeur wraps up her myth-busting series by tackling five common misconceptions about hormonal health, irregular cycles, and fertility. Are irregular periods really “normal”? Is birth control the only solution for hormone issues? Dr. Minjeur debunks these myths and explores how restorative reproductive medicine offers natural, effective solutions. Tune in to learn how understanding your cycle can improve your health, fertility, and overall well-being.

Transcript

Monica: 0:02

Welcome back to Cycle Wisdom, where we empower women to restore natural menstrual cycles, to improve health, and promote fertility. I'm your host, Dr. Monica Minjeur, and I'm so glad you're listening today. On today's episode, I'm going to wrap up my series of debunking myths. Thanks for sticking with me through all of these myths as I know there's been a lot that we have covered. On today's episode, we're going to be talking specifically about general hormonal health and fertility. Now many women have been told that their irregular cycles are no big deal or that hormonal issues can only be solved with medication. But what if there's more to that story? What if these myths are keeping you from optimal health and fertility? On today's episode, we're going to tackle five common myths about hormonal health, irregular cycles, and fertility, while shedding light on why addressing these issues naturally can lead to better outcomes for women's health in general. So let's get started with myth number one. Irregular cycles are normal and don't need treatment. Many women are told that their irregular periods are common and don't require any attention unless they're trying to conceive. The reality is that we utilize your menstrual cycle as a vital sign that is oftentimes a reflection of your overall health. Irregularities with your menstrual cycle often indicate issues like hormone imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, PCOS, endometriosis, or even chronic stress or nutritional deficiencies. Ignoring what's going on with your irregular cycles means that we are ignoring these potential abnormalities that can go on long term to lead to troubles like fertility struggles, increased risks of cancers, or long term metabolic issues. I recently helped a young woman who had irregular periods and had been placed on birth control. She was told that this was the normal response and that this is what she should do for treatment. The reality was, she began to have some negative side effects from birth control. And when we got her off of birth control, we found out she had undiagnosed PCOS. By addressing the PCOS through restorative reproductive medicine treatments, we were able to improve her overall cycles and her overall health. We know that untreated PCOS can cause significant problems, especially with things like insulin resistance, weight gain, acne, and a myriad of other health issues. Irregular cycles aren't just normal, they are your body's way of signaling that something might be off, and it is so important to address the root cause rather than just cover it up. Myth number two, you can only fix hormone problems with medication. Hormone issues like imbalances or irregular periods can only be treated with birth control or other medications is a common myth. that we hear. The reality is that birth control acts like a temporary band aid that masks the symptoms rather than addressing root causes. Once birth control is stopped, the underlying problem often resurfaces because it never was treated the right way in the first place. Instead, there are many different interventions that we can utilize to balance hormones that don't rely on birth control or sometimes can even avoid prescription strength hormones. Lifestyle interventions, like monitoring and managing your stress, getting regular exercise, making good healthy food choices, and making sure that you get plenty of sleep every night, can make a significant impact in your long term hormone balance. Treatment with particular supplements that are focused on you and your exact needs are oftentimes beneficial as well. Restorative reproductive medicine treatments focus on identifying and treating root causes through fertility awareness charting. Utilization of targeted medical treatments timed with your cycle and bioidentical hormone therapy when appropriate. For example, patients with a progesterone deficiency oftentimes are able to balance their hormones naturally using restorative reproductive medicine approaches. And we're always addressing all of these areas, the lifestyle interventions, supplements or food sources where possible, and when needed, appropriately timed bioidentical hormone. Birth control isn't your only option. Root cause treatments can address the underlying issues and lead to lasting long term improvements in your health. Myth number three, PCOS and endometriosis are untreatable without hormone therapy. Women with PCOS or endometriosis often are told that birth control is the only way to manage their symptoms. The reality is that for PCOS, restorative treatments can target the root cause, whether it's insulin resistance or excess androgen. And we oftentimes will focus on improving ovulation function through dietary changes, certain supplements addressing inflammation, and utilizing timed treatments when appropriate. For the treatment of endometriosis, there are significant impacts we can make with anti inflammatory diets, lifestyle changes, certain medications, and restorative hormone support with bioidentical progesterone to help regulate your cycles and manage symptoms. Excision surgery is the gold standard for removing endometrial lesions, and this is the only way that we can definitively get rid of endometriosis. However, we don't always need to have surgery in order to be able to treat your symptoms. PCOS and endometriosis are often treatable without solely relying on birth control. In fact, there have been more recent studies showing that while hormonal birth control can sometimes improve symptoms, it does not suppress endometriosis and that endometriosis actually continues to grow. While you were on birth control, making the problems worse in the long run, holistic approaches can make a world of difference and treating these things from a root cause perspective can make a significant improvement, not only in quality of life, but in the longterm health of women that suffer with PCOS and endometriosis. Myth number four, cervical mucus or other biomarkers are not reliable indicators of ovulatory health. Many people dismiss cervical mucus or other fertility biomarkers as unreliable or too subjective to be useful. The reality is that there is significant scientific backing that shows cervical mucus very accurately reflects hormonal changes and the presence of estrogen and progesterone. Additionally, tracking other biomarkers like basal body temperature, luteinizing hormone, urinary metabolite surges, and cervical mucus can be highly effective in understanding and predicting your fertile window. These biomarkers provide critical insights into ovulation, cycle irregularities, and your overall hormonal health without needing to get a lab draw or an ultrasound done every single day. A woman who is tracking her biomarkers may discover that she is not ovulating regularly, which can lead to further investigation and treatment of underlying conditions, even if she is not actively trying to conceive. Biomarkers like cervical mucus aren't just reliable, they can be powerful tools for understanding your body and optimizing your health. Myth number five, you only need to think about hormones. If you're trying to conceive, or maybe if you're going through menopause. Many women think that hormone health only matters during major life stages. Like trying to conceive or going through menopause. The reality is that hormones influence so much more than reproduction. They impact your mood, your energy, your metabolism, and your heart health throughout a woman's entire lifespan. Ignoring your hormone health or covering it up or masking it or pretending like it's not there when you're in your 20s and 30s can lead to long term issues like infertility. osteoporosis, dementia, and multiple different metabolic disorders later in life. This is why it's so important to set into place good foundation for regular cycles and balanced hormones in your younger years. This helps with smooth transitions into menopause, overall health and well being, and healthy pregnancies if that is your intention. Once we help to balance your hormones naturally, we help to impact positively your mood, your energy, your metabolism, and your overall health for the long haul. Hormonal health matters at every stage of life, and proactive care can prevent issues down the road and improve your quality of life today. So let's recap these five myths about hormones and women's health. Myth number one, irregular cycles are normal and don't need treatment. False. Irregular cycles can be a signal to underlying health issues that should be taken seriously and addressed appropriately. Myth number two. You can only fix hormone problems with medication. False. Restorative reproductive medicine focuses on a multifactorial approach to treat the root cause of these hormone dysfunctions. Myth number three. PCOS and endometriosis are unable to be treated without birth control. False. Holistic approaches for treatment of both PCOS and endometriosis are highly effective, again targeting the root cause and making a positive impact on improving long term health for women with PCOS and endometriosis. Myth number four, cervical mucus and other biomarkers are unreliable. False. They are proven tools for understanding health that is based within scientific research. And myth number five, you only need to think about hormones if you're trying to get pregnant or going through menopause. False. Hormones impact your health throughout your entire lifespan, even beyond when you're having periods. If you've been told any of these myths or feel stuck in managing your cycles and hormones, know that there are alternatives. Your menstrual cycle is a great tool to look into seeing what's going on with your body. Understanding your cycle and addressing any issues at the root can unlock better health, fertility, and vitality at every stage of life. I would urge you to visit our website, RadiantClinic. com Book a free consultation or start tracking your cycle today to take charge of your health, to know that there is a better way forward for you in order to be able to manage what's going on not only with your menstrual cycles and fertility, but with your long term health. It is in your hands. If you're ready to work with our elite team of healthcare professionals, go to our website radiantclinic. com to schedule a free discovery call with me and learn more about our package based pricing for comprehensive care. We are currently able to see people for in person appointments in our Cedar Rapids, Iowa clinic or can arrange for a telehealth visit if you live in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Michigan, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, and more coming soon. Thank you so much for listening to this episode. Please share this podcast with someone in your life who would benefit from our services. Remember to subscribe to this podcast for more empowering content that I look forward to sharing with you on our next episode of Cycle Wisdom.