Did you know that what’s happening in your gut can affect your periods and hormones? In this episode, Lara discusses: small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and its role in IBS, how SIBO can drive or worsen endometriosis, insulin resistance, premenstrual mood symptoms, and the fibromyalgia of perimenopause, plus how to treat SIBO. Links: The curious link between estrogen, mast cells, and histamine Altered intestinal permeability in patients with primary fibromyalgia and in patients with complex regional pain syndrome

Why do antihistamines cause weight gain? And how does hormonal birth control affect metabolism? In this episode, Lara looks at: how common medications affect metabolism why birth control that is *androgenic* is more likely to cause weight gain, and whether natural progesterone is more likely to cause weight gain or weight loss. Links: The histaminergic system as a target for the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome High H1-affinity antidepressants and risk of metabolic syndrome in bipolar disorder Natural treatment of menstrual migraines Weight change among women using intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, a copper intrauterine device, or a levonorgestrel implant for contraception Impact of micronized progesterone on body weight, body mass index, and glucose metabolism: a systematic review Cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

Are you a morning person or an evening person? And could that affect your ability to lose weight? In this episode, Lara looks at chronotype, which is your individual disposition to be awake or asleep at certain times. And how that might affect your overall health and metabolism.

The supplement inositol is a superstar for treating polycystic ovary syndrome. It’s also been clinically trialled for weight loss, thyroid disease, anxiety, insomnia, and premenstrual mood symptoms. In this episode, Lara looks at: "what is inositol?" and how to get it from diet myo-inositol versus D-chiro-inositol, and why it's all a little confusing. One thing Lara forgot to mention is that to get results with inositol, you need to commit to it for at least three months. And if it works, you’ll probably want to stay on it for years. Luckily, inositol can be quite inexpensive, especially if you choose straight myo-inositol powder. Links: Myo-inositol for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes Inositol treatment for PCOS should be science-based and not arbitrary Cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

What do post-pill acne, hair loss, and weight gain all have in common? They can all be the result of a temporary surge in androgens when trying to come off certain types of hormonal birth control. In this episode, Lara discusses post-pill androgen symptoms including: why pills like Yasmin are the hardest to come off how androgens can cause weight gain, and natural treatments such as zinc, berberine, and cyclic progesterone therapy. Links: Ovulation is the main event of the menstrual cycle The central role of ovulatory disturbances in the etiology of androgenic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—Evidence for treatment with cyclic progesterone Beyond the label: A patient-centred approach to polycystic ovary syndrome Cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

Are premenstrual mood symptoms caused by progesterone or helped by progesterone? And why do antihistamines give such relief? In this episode, Lara discusses premenstrual mood symptoms including: the role of histamine and mast cell activation progesterone sensitivity, and effective natural treatments such as magnesium, iodine, and body-identical progesterone. Links: Lara Briden's mailing list Magnesium in the gynecological practice: a literature review 8 Ways magnesium rescues hormones Taurine: 5 benefits for women's health

There can be a strong hormonal component to abdominal weight gain. And in most people, that hormone is insulin. In this episode, Lara discusses insulin resistance including: why you could have insulin resistance even if your blood sugar is normal the role of mitochondria, and all the ways to lower insulin and improve metabolism. Links: Online workshop: Metabolic health and vitality for women over 40 Insulin resistance is a cellular antioxidant defense mechanism High-dose fructose can cause or worsen insulin resistance (but fruit is okay)

If you're going to take hormone therapy, it's safer to take hormones that are identical to human hormones. In other words, hormones that are body-identical or bioidentical. The concept of bioidentical used to be controversial but is now conventional and mainstream. In this episode, Lara discusses hormone therapy including: why the concept of bioidentical was controversial when it didn't need to be oral micronized progesterone for heavy periods, mood, sleep, and perimenopausal migraines, and some facts about body-identical estrogen (four uncontroversial things and one controversial). Links: The crucial difference between progesterone and progestins Cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS The central role of ovulatory disturbances in the etiology of androgenic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—Evidence for treatment with cyclic progesterone Blog post with a list of body-identical brand names Online workshop: Metabolic health and vitality for women over 40

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that’s affected by hormones but is not caused by hormones. Instead, endometriosis is, at least in part, a disease of immune dysfunction. In this episode, Lara discusses some of the new endometriosis research including: the link with genes that increase the risk of autoimmune disease the role of a bacterial toxin called lipopolysaccharide or LPS, and new targets for natural immune-modulating treatment. Links to: Blog post: Immune treatment for endometriosis Blog post: Why I prescribe iodine for breast pain, ovarian cysts, and PMDD

Were you told you have polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS based on a pelvic ultrasound? That may or may not be an accurate diagnosis because PCOS cannot actually be diagnosed or ruled out with ultrasound. In this episode, Lara discusses PCOS including: why PCOS is an umbrella term the difference between polycystic ovaries and ovarian cysts, and why some women with undereating and endometriosis are being mistakenly told they have PCOS. Links to: Blog post: PCOS cannot be diagnosed (or ruled out) by ultrasound Blog post about the 4 types of PCOS. Citation for the quote about polycystic ovaries: Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Which Criteria to Use and When? Lara's forum where you can post a comment or suggest a topic for a future episode.

In a normal period, you should not lose more than about 80 mL of menstrual fluid over all the days of the bleed. That’s equivalent to about five tablespoons spread over all the days of the bleed. In this episode, Lara discusses heavy periods including: the role of hormone imbalance, mast cell activation, and insulin resistance, simple period-lightening strategies such as iron, zinc, and a dairy-free diet, and using body-identical progesterone to lighten periods. Links to: Blog post about heavy periods. Blog post about testing for insulin resistance. Blog post with a list of brand names of body-identical progesterone. Professor Prior's document: Managing menorrhagia without surgery. Lara's forum where you can post a comment or suggest a topic for a future episode.

The pill is commonly prescribed to "regulate periods," but it can't actually do that because withdrawal bleeds from contraceptive drugs are not real menstrual cycles. In episode one of The Lara Briden Podcast, Dr Lara covers: what is a real menstrual cycle why there's no medical reason to bleed monthly on the pill, and the difference between contraceptive drugs and real hormones. Links to: Blog post about cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS. Lara's forum where you can post a comment or suggest a topic for a future episode.