Hormone Basics 101: The Crash Course We Should've Gotten in School | Ep. 96

Send us Fan MailFoundational knowledge about your menstrual cycle is essential before you can effectively address hormone imbalances causing problematic symptoms. Understanding the key hormones at play during different phases helps you recognize patterns and identify potential imbalances affecting your health.• Five important hormones regulate your menstrual cycle: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone• Your "cycle" refers to the entire month from day one of your period to the day before your next period starts• The cycle divides into two halves with ovulation as the midpoint – estrogen dominates before ovulation, progesterone after• For more detail, think of four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases each with distinct hormone patterns• Cycles naturally change as you age, especially during your 40s when progesterone decreases and later when estrogen fluctuates• Red flags include periods shorter than 2 days or longer than 7 days, cycles under 21 or over 35 days, inconsistent cycle lengths• PMS and period pain are common but not normal – they indicate hormone imbalances worth investigatingReferenced episodes:Cycle Syncing Series, Ep 6: A phase by phase break down | Ep. 45Cycle Syncing Series, Ep 4: Workshop to get clear on your phases | Ep. 437. Estrogen & Why It's Critical for Your Cyclical HealthSupport the showInstagram | imhormonal.com | www.imhormonal.com/book-a-call/