4 Leading Experts Reveal the Truth About Women’s Hormones
Summary
•
Women’s health was built on male data, and that gap still harms diagnosis and care.
•
An irregular or missing period is a system-wide warning, not just a fertility hiccup.
•
PCOS = metabolic + inflammatory problem, tightly tied to insulin resistance.
•
Endometriosis pain isn’t “normal”—long delays to diagnosis damage fertility and organs.
•
The pill masks symptoms, not causes—lifestyle foundations matter for true balance.
This post draws on the roundtable video “Hormone & Fertility Experts: We’ve Been Lied To About Women’s Health!” from The Diary of a CEO, featuring Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Dr. Natalie Crawford, Dr. Stacy Sims, and Dr. Vonda Wright. It explains how women’s health has been misframed for decades, why hormones affect the entire body (not just reproduction), and how insulin resistance, inflammation, and under-researched conditions like endometriosis drive symptoms—and what women can do to take back control.
Who’s at the table—and why they’re worth your attention
•
Dr. Mary Claire Haver (OB/GYN, menopause): reframes midlife care beyond “hot flashes.”
•
Dr. Natalie Crawford (fertility): teaches cycle literacy and evidence-based fertility.
•
Dr. Stacy Sims (exercise physiologist): coined “Women are not small men”—training, fueling, and recovery must reflect female physiology.
•
Dr. Vonda Wright (orthopedic surgeon, longevity): connects mobility, muscle, and bone with healthy aging.
“The entire medical model was built around male physiology—and women were an afterthought.”
Why this matters: It skews symptoms, labs, diagnostics, even drug side effects. Your “normal range” might be common—not optimal—for a woman.
The Big Lie: “Female = smaller male”
Shocking reality: Women weren’t required in many clinical trials until 1993.
•
“Typical” heart attack symptoms? Based on men. Women’s microvascular patterns are different—hence the label “atypical.”
•
Period pain and “vague” midlife symptoms were dismissed as mood, stress, or even “whiny woman.”
•
Underfunding persists: PCOS, endometriosis, and perimenopause remain under-researched.
Key takeaway: When the baseline is male, women’s signals look “abnormal” even when they’re biologically appropriate. That’s how red flags get missed.
Hormones = Your Body’s Messaging Network (not just “sex hormones”)
Think of hormones as push notifications for your whole body: brain , bones , heart , gut , muscle .
, bones , heart , gut , muscle .•
Estrogen receptors are everywhere. When rhythms slip, the entire system feels it: energy, sleep, mood, recovery, glucose control.
•
Dynamic by design: Levels pulse through the day and across phases. A single lab value without context can mislead.
“Your monthly cycle is a health dashboard. If it’s off, your system is asking for help.”
What “irregular” actually signals
A personally predictable rhythm (often 25–35 days) is a green light. Repeated unpredictability is not.
•
Short, long, or missing cycles can indicate:
◦
Insulin resistance (metabolic friction that disrupts ovulation)
◦
Chronic inflammation (often gut-driven; worsened by stress/sleep loss)
◦
Endometriosis/adenomyosis (pain + heavy/abnormal bleeding)
◦
Thyroid/prolactin issues (directly alter endometrium/ovulation)
No period ≠ convenience. It’s low estrogen—bad for bone, brain, and heart, especially in the teen–20s peak bone years. PCOS is a Metabolic Alarm, Not a Character Flaw
Plain English: PCOS is strongly tied to insulin resistance. When cells ignore insulin, the brain–ovary conversation breaks down—cycles slip, androgens rise, inflammation climbs.
Good news: You didn’t cause it. You can dial down its impact.
Foundations that work (simple, not sexy):
•
Plant-forward, fiber-rich meals (whole foods > ultra-processed; fruit is not the enemy)•
Build muscle (resistance training improves insulin sensitivity)•
Sleep like it’s medicine (it is—for glucose control and inflammation)•
Stress decompression (walks, breathwork, sunlight anchors; chronic cortisol = glucose spikes)Don’t: starve + overtrain. That combo raises stress hormones, phase-shifts appetite, crushes recovery, and worsens hormonal chaos.
The Pill: Helpful Tool, Wrong Fix
What it does: Mimics a “luteal-like” signal so the brain stops prompting ovulation → ovaries make less of your own estrogen/progesterone/testosterone.
Why it’s popular: reliable contraception; symptom relief for acne, heavy bleeding, ovulatory cysts.
The catch: It masks the pattern. When you stop, you may realize you never learned your baseline—and the root issue (e.g., insulin resistance, endo) remains.
Balanced view: Not “good” or “bad.” Use it on purpose (birth control), not as a universal bandage for metabolic or inflammatory problems.
Endometriosis Isn’t “Just a Bad Period”
What it is: Endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus → inflammation + scarring across pelvic organs (bowel, bladder, ovaries).
What women hear: “Normal pain.” “Have a glass of wine.”
Reality: Average 7–10 years to diagnosis; advanced cases distort anatomy, lower natural conception rates, and raise ectopic risk.
What helps (layered approach):
•
Anti-inflammatory nutrition + gut care to lower systemic burden•
Stress + sleep architecture (nervous-system downshift reduces flare intensity)•
Cold-water exposure (not ice baths): brief, learnable sessions can dampen inflammatory signaling; time around the pre-period window•
Specialist evaluation when pain disrupts daily life (work/school cancellations, GI symptoms, painful sex, anemia)“Period pain that repeatedly changes your plans is a medical problem—not a personality trait.”
“Normal” vs Optimal: Read labs with context
Lab “reference ranges” follow population averages, which shift as populations get sicker.
•
Example: Ferritin (iron storage) can be “normal” yet too low for performance, energy, hair, or thermoregulation—especially with heavy cycles.
•
Translate results into how you feel, your cycle data, and training load.
Rule of thumb: Common ≠ optimal. Track symptoms + cycle + labs together to see the signal, not just the number.
A simple, practical playbook (start today)
•
Track 3 things for 90 days: cycle dates/flow, energy/sleep, training loads.
•
Eat fiber at every meal: veggies, fruit, legumes, whole grains; anchor protein.
•
Lift 2–3×/week: prioritize compound moves; progressive overload; recover.
•
Walk after meals: 10–15 minutes to blunt glucose spikes.
•
Guard sleep: consistent schedule, dark/cool room, morning light exposure.
•
Pain rule: if cramps or bleeding routinely change your plans, escalate care.
•
Ask better questions: “What is the metabolic or inflammatory driver here?” rather than “Which pill fixes this?”
Closing thought
Women are not small men. Different isn’t a disadvantage—it’s data.
Your period is not an inconvenience; it’s an honest monthly report from your body. If it’s irregular, listen early—because the earlier you act, the easier it is to restore balance.