Posts tagged luteal phase
Luteal Phase Deficiency
Luteal Phase Deficiency

Luteal Phase Deficiency (LPD) is also called Luteal Phase Defect, but I don't particularly like to think of the human body as "defective" so I prefer deficiency.  LPD is a hormonal condition that involves deficiency of progesterone, which makes the luteal phase (the portion of the cycle after ovulation and before menstruation) a bit too short. This may contribute to low basal body temperatures during this phase, which can make implantation and pregnancy difficult. In fact, infertility and miscarriage are common symptoms of LPD and progesterone deficiency.

If this is the first time you're hearing about LPD, then you probably have a lot of questions. What causes it? How can you tell if you have it? And what can you do to treat it? Not to worry, I'm going to break it all down for you right now.

Read More
Fertility, Pregnancy, Cycle HealthJacqueline Gabardyluteal phase, luteal phase deficiency, progesterone deficiency, progesterone, hormonal imbalance, cycle health, short cycle
The 4 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
The 4 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

If you are trying to conceive, starting to chart your cycle, or if you just want a better understanding of the changes your body undergoes each month, understanding the 4 main phases of the menstrual cycle is a good place to start. Unfortunately there is a ton of confusion about these phases, when they happen, and what each means, especially for women with irregular cycles. But I'm here to break it all down for you!

Read More
Cycle Health, FertilityJacqueline Gabardyluteal phase, premenstrual, menstruation, ovulation, cycle health, follicular phase
PMS Sucks! How to Treat it Naturally
PMS Sucks! How to Treat it Naturally

While there are phases of the menstrual cycle when our hormones can leave us feel energized, confident, and cheerful, there are also phases of our cycles that may cause us feeling depleted, irritable, and self conscious. The premenstrual phase (the one and a half to two week period prior to bleeding) is most notorious for these feelings, the dreaded PMS.

Premenstrual Syndrome can look very different for different women, but the most common symptoms are emotional changes, mood swings, general irritability, anxiety, or sensitivity, breast tenderness, digestive upset, food cravings, headaches, or acne. While one woman may complain of one or two of these symptoms, some women can attest to nearly every annoying symptom on that list.

But PMS isn't something we're sentenced to as women, in fact there are a number of things you can do to balance your hormones naturally and start feeling better!

Read More
Mental Health, Cycle Health, Hormonal ImbalancesJacqueline GabardyPMS, premenstrual, luteal phase, excess estrogen, hormones, hormonal imbalance