I sit down with board certified naturopathic endocrinologist Dr. Jolene Brighten to get more informed on an extremely important topic for female athletes: the menstrual cycle + women’s hormones, how to work with them naturally for higher performance, and how going on birth control to “control” for your period may not be the best option for female athletes.

-women’s hormones and how they affect the body

-the four stages of the menstrual cycle

-why ovulation is essential to the female body

-how food plays a role in balancing hormones

-understanding exercise with the phases of your menstrual cycle and building strength

-the possible benefits for female athletes tracking their energy throughout their cycle to identify the highs and lows for training/performance

-competing on your period: how stress/adrenaline can be affected

-concussions: worsened symptoms + longer recovery time if you sustain a head injury during specific phases of your menstrual cycle 

-the key differences in women’s hormones when on birth control vs. off birth control

-how birth control affects brain development 

-how birth control can affect body composition and hinder muscle growth/strength building

-how birth control can throw a wrench in how you handle stress/adrenaline in competition

-common physiological and behavioral side effects of birth control

Dr. Brighten Website: https://drbrighten.com

Is This Normal BOOK: https://drbrighten.com/product/is-this-normal/

Beyond the Pill BOOK: https://drbrighten.com/product/beyond-the-pill/

Dr. Brighten Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten/