Written by Dr. Meghan van Drimmelen | Naturopath Victoria BC Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects many women of reproductive age. It is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, high levels of androgens (male hormones), and multiple cysts on the ovaries. PCOS can cause infertility, weight gain, and other health concerns such as insulin resistance and acne. In my naturopathic practice inositol is one of my go-to therapies for treating PCOS. I

Learn all about the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy based on the North American Menopause Society's guidelines.

When you are trying to start or expand your family, there is nothing more heart breaking then not achieving your intended goal. In Canada, 1 in 6 couples trying to conceive experience fertility challenges. Having said this, many people are turning to acupuncture to help achieve their family building goals. Acupuncture can be used to enhance your natural fertility, or can provide adjunctive support to assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) and

We live in a very busy, stressful, on-the-go society. We work long hours while juggling the demands of family life, we sacrifice sleep, we rely on coffee to keep us awake, and reach for sugary foods for an extra energy boost. Over time these habits affect us physically, mentally, and emotionally. When we engage in stressful activities our bodies enter into a ‘fight or flight’ response. Cortisol is a hormone that is released from our adrenal glands to provide us with a bur

Estrogen and progesterone are the two main sex hormones produced by the ovaries in women. These hormones are crucial components of women’s health and wellness. Not only do they contribute a woman’s menstrual cycle and the ability to conceive, and maintain a pregnancy, they also impact our mood, sex drive, bone density, skin health, heart health, and immune health. In cycling women, estrogen rises in the first half of the menstrual cycle, and contributes to the thickening o

“The key to successful perimenopausal/menopausal management revolves around patient education and empowerment. Informing women about the changes that are occurring in their bodies, as well as assessment and treatment options, allows for the patient and doctor to collaborate on a treatment protocol that will best serve the individual. Through education and empowerment, and targeting the underlying hormone imbalance, quality of life can be restored. “ ~ Dr. Meghan van Drimme