Around 2 in 3 women will develop a fibroid at some point in their lifetime, but what are fibroids, and how do they affect our lives? Don’t worry; we are taking it back to basics and giving you the lowdown on fibroids. What are fibroids? Uterine fibroids are benign or non-cancerous growths of fibrous and muscle tissue in or around the uterus (womb). They are sometimes known as myomas or…
Thyroid Hormones 101: Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism
Read moreKey takeaways: Our thyroid hormones are a trio of hormones that all have really important roles in the body. This love triangle influences a whole host of bodily functions, including our metabolism, our growth and development, our digestion, temperature, mood, heart health and of course, our periods, menstrual cycles and ovulation. Seriously, these little hormones are always busy. But just like many of our other hormones, our thyroid hormones are…
Oestrogen 101: Everything you need to know about Oestrogen
Read moreKey takeaways Skin got that golden hour glow? Feeling frisky? Looking fabulous? Chances are, you’ve got oestrogen to thank. Oestrogen truly is the matriarch of female sex-hormones. It boosts our libido, increases our levels of happy hormones (serotonin and dopamine) and can boost our production of endorphins So yeah—she’s a keeper. But like all of our hormones, if our oestrogen gets out of balance and we have too much or…
Why should you test your hormones?
Read moreFirst, let’s get back to basics… What even are hormones? Put simply, hormones are small chemical messengers that travel through the blood to different parts of your body. They help control many different functions from growth and development to metabolism (how your body gets energy from the food you eat), menstrual cycles, fertility and mood, just to name a few! Hormones are made by special cells in a network of…
Why should reproductive health be a part of your mental health benefits?
Read moreCOVID-19 and the shift to remote working has catalysed the demand for mental health benefits – it is now a “must have” for employers in 2021. In fact, in a recent survey, 91% of respondents stated that a company’s culture should support mental health. It is no coincidence that mental well-being is included in how reproductive health is defined by the World Health Organisation, stating that “Reproductive health is a…
Testosterone 101: Understanding Your Testosterone Levels
Read moreIt’s become a common misconception, that when it comes to sex hormones, those born female are driven by oestrogen and those born male are driven by testosterone. But the reality is, all sexes have these hormones running through their bodies, just in different quantities. So if testosterone isn’t just for testes-bearers, what does it do in your body? And what can the knock-on effects of an imbalance be? Welcome to…
What Do Your SHBG Levels Mean?
Read moreSex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is an important protein produced primarily by the liver but also in smaller quantities by the brain, uterus, placenta, breast and ovaries. Its role is to bind to your sex hormones including testosterone and oestradiol, and transports them around the body, but what can it mean if your levels are high or low? We’ve broken down all you need to know about SHBG levels. Why do…
Luteinising Hormone: What Do Your LH Levels Mean?
Read moreIf FSH and LH sound familiar, that’s because we talk about them a lot, especially when it comes to fertility and ovulation. Here, we’re going to talk all about LH in detail. You can read more about its partner in crime, FSH here. Let’s start with a whistle-stop tour of everything you need to know about luteinising hormone and LH levels. For more details, keep reading. What is LH? LH…
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: What Do Your FSH Levels Mean?
Read moreIf FSH and LH sound familiar, that’s because we talk about them a lot, especially when it comes to fertility and ovulation. Here, we’re putting the spotlight on FSH, so that you can understand it in detail. You can read more about its partner in crime, LH, here. Let’s start with a whistle-stop tour of everything you need to know about follicle-stimulating hormone and what your FSH levels mean. Read…