Why balancing hormones is the key to fertility
So often as women, we think of hormone balance in reference to our weight. If by "balancing our hormones" we can only lose the excess body fat.
Though that may be a byproduct of balancing hormones (not for everyone), there are far more important reasons to bring your hormones back into balance, especially if you're trying to conceive!
What does "hormone balance" even mean? And why it is important for fertility
When I talk about hormone balance I mean optimal levels of:
Estrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone
Leutenizing hormone (LH)
Follicle Stimulating (FSH)
Thyroid/TSH
Insulin (and glucagon)
Melatonin (and Cortisol)
Leptin (and ghrelin)
and more
“Hormone balance” can often feel like some obscure goal. How will we ever really know if we’ve achieved it?
Having balanced hormones can look like:
Consistent energy between meals
Body temperature 97.5F and higher
Strong libido, esp around ovulation
Hungry upon waking, Satiated after meals
Quality Sleep
Clear skin
Full head of hair
Pooping daily
Ovulating regularly
Having out of balance hormones can look like:
Sluggish energy
Constantly cold
Low sex drive
Absence of appetite Frequent cravings
Unrestful sleep or difficulty falling/staying asleep
Acne and skin issues
Hair loss
Constipation
Irregular cycles
Headaches/migraines
Heavy and/or painful periods
Depression/Anxiety
Becoming a mother demands a high level of resources. If your body is feeling sluggish, slow, and down all the time, carrying a baby may be too taxing on your system.
Having inconsistent ovulatory patterns is a sign that your body is prioritizing other needs (for a good reason!)
Are you interested in learning more about how you can prepare for an optimal pregnancy?
Why hormone balance is important
Every cell in your body has receptors for your sex hormones. Your hormones play a role in brain health, bone health, heart health, skin health, thyroid/metabolic health, gut health, disease prevention and most important in our conversation today: reproductive health!
Having fertility signs within the optimal ranges reflect hormone balance and on the flip-side, imbalances of hormones can result in menstrual irregularities such as delayed or skipped ovulation, reduced or no cervical mucus production, shorter luteal phases, low or high amounts of blood loss during your periods, just to name a few.
Note: Interfering with the normal expression of your hormones, can result in a lot of problems, which I'll discuss more in depth in my course, Resilient Motherhood.
Having balanced hormones increases your chances of:
Experiencing more easeful periods
Keeping sperm alive for longer after sex
Releasing an egg more consistently
Having healthier eggs
Having thick-enough endometrial tissue to allow for implantation
Maintaining a pregnancy
Carrying a healthy baby to term
Ensuring an ample breastmilk supply
If your hormones could use some more balancing and you are planning to conceive in the next 2 years, then my course Resilient Motherhood coaching is for you!
Where are you at on the spectrum of hormone balance? Are you experiencing any of the symptoms on the “out of balance” image? If so, I’m happy to help! Book a discovery call with me to see if we’re a good fit!
