Summary
DISCLAIMER: Please consult your doctor before making any decisions that could impact your health
In this episode of How To Twenty-Something I bring on hormone specialist, Rachel Hoeppner, to discuss all things hormones. Throughout our conversation we talk about common signs and symptoms to look out for that is your body’s way of telling you somethings wrong with your hormones, how to heal your hormones naturally, the top 3 things you should be addressing when working to balance your hormones, and why this is important for someone in their twenties to take seriously. Your hormones are the foundation to how you think, look, and behave so it’s time to take a look at your hormone health. We also talk about what not to do when it comes to getting off of hormonal birth control and how to minimize the impact this process has on your body,
Key Takeaways:
- Common signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalances
- Your body is communicating to you what’s wrong, you just need to learn how to listen
- The not so normal side of a menstrual cycle
- Steps to begin healing your hormones
- The number 1 prescription for young women and why it’s not actually fixing your problems
- Trends in hormonal imbalances amongst men
- Most of women’s hormones come from their adrenal glands
- Moving more and eating less is one of the worst things you can do for your hormone health
- Getting off hormonal birth control the right way and the wrong way
What are the signs of a hormonal imbalance?
Common signs include unexplained weight gain (especially around the midsection), chronic fatigue despite adequate sleep, skin issues like acne or eczema, mood swings or anxiety tied to your cycle, hair thinning or loss, low libido, and irregular periods (cycles shorter than 25 days or longer than 35 days, unusually heavy or light flow, or severe cramps). These are described as signals worth investigating rather than symptoms to just push through.
What are the four phases of the menstrual cycle?
Menstruation (days 1–7ish), the follicular phase (day 1 until ovulation), ovulation (a single ~24-hour window around day 14), and the luteal phase (from ovulation until your next period, typically about 14 days). Energy, mood, and hunger naturally shift across these phases.
What happens to your body when you stop taking hormonal birth control?
Because birth control suppresses ovulation and stores synthetic hormones in fat tissue, stopping it can cause a temporary symptom rebound — including irregular cycles, skin changes, hair shedding, or mood shifts — while the body’s natural hormone production restarts. This is sometimes referred to as post-birth-control syndrome, and it’s generally advised not to stop cold-turkey without a plan for the transition.
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