It has been refreshing to see the topic of hormones and female wellbeing get more of a spotlight this past year. Seeing period stigma campaigns during the Paris Olympics with elite athlete Megan Rapinoe for Knix or Katy Perry telling the VMAs audience that she performed on the first day of her period or Halle Berry launching a full masterclass on the Magic of Menopause has been hopeful. But it was a long road getting here and there is still a way to go before we truly integrate the knowledge of how hormones impact our life. Let’s chat about it.
So, what are hormones in the first place? In very basic terms they are the chemical messengers in the body that tell other parts of the body to do things. There are three main hormone groups - Sex Hormones, Thyroid Hormones and Insulin and Adrenal Hormones.
Seed Cycle Blend focuses on the sex hormones - Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. For example Esterogen regulates the menstrual cycle, supports bone health and vaginal lubrication for sexual health and comfort. Testosterone boosts energy and libido to get the deed done when we ovulate and Progesterone helps to maintain the uterine lining, calm the nervous system and regulate body temperature for example. And these fluctuate throughout the cycle.
An imbalance or decline of these hormones can change our experience of life. We deserve to know more about how to manage these changes so we can continue to enjoy work, sports, our social life and sex - instead of being shamed for 'being hormonal' or give up on ourselves.
The reason we have lacked such vital knowledge on female bodies is the historical marginalisation of female physiology in science.
In ancient and medieval eras the study of human physiology was focused on men. Women’s bodies were often misunderstood, with menstrual cycles and female sexuality shrouded in myth or dismissed as pathology. We were in the 'too hard' basket. The one that really grinds my gears is in the 19th century when the concept of "hysteria" was used to pathologize normal female sexuality. If you haven’t seen the movie ‘hysteria’ - give it a watch and try not to punch the screen with frustration.
We can thank the feminist movement in the late 1900’s for starting to include women in medical research. However, women were still excluded from many clinical trials due to concerns about hormonal fluctuations affecting results. Which are the very things we needed to test and understand how to thrive in life. But alas, we had to wait until 1990 to be included in clinical trials and wait another 35 years for women's health training to become mandatory for all graduating medical students. (that's this year people - 2024) Better late than never I guess.
So we're here at the end of 2024 starting to give a shit about female hormones. And I couldn't be more excited.
We have great books like The Female Body Bible one of the best I've read that merges science, fitness and medicine creating a practical guideline for living in a female body. We have products like Seed Cycle Blend and a number of other menstrual health supplements supporting our cycles. We have podcasts, experts and thought leaders discussing female physiology. And what I am most excited about is we have companies willing to book a menstrual awareness talk with me (Rochelle - founder) to educate both men and woman on the menstrual cycle. This leads to boosted productivity and reduced burnout in the workplace, which I'd argue is one of the hardest environments on female physiology.
So, I'd say we are living in the best times for female hormones so far. They are finally getting the attention they deserve and being studied as they should have been centuries ago. It's been an honour to witness this movement and be part of the change I've always wanted to see in the world of womens health. Will still have a way to go and I'll be here every step of the way.
Here's to hormones!
Rochelle x
