Why Zinc Is One of My Favorite Supplements for Women’s Health

zinc for hormones

Want a simple solution for period and hormone problems?  Consider the humble mineral zinc.

According to the 2020 paper, The Role of Zinc in Selected Female Reproductive System Disorders, zinc can be an effective treatment for many women’s health conditions, including PCOS, period pain, endometriosis, and the vaginal dryness of menopause.

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Natural Treatments to Lower Prolactin

Natural treatment for high prolactin.

Symptoms of high prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) include irregular periods or no periods, premenstrual mood symptoms, loss of libido, headaches, breast pain, vaginal dryness, acne, and hirsutism or facial hair.

High prolactin is one of several causes of androgen excess and can be mistaken for polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS. High prolactin may also play a role in pelvic pain and endometriosis.

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How Testosterone Causes Weight Gain in Women

Testosterone causes weight gain in women.

In women, too much testosterone can cause insulin resistance and abdominal weight gain.

That’s why androgen excess contributes to the weight gain associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopause, and some types of birth control.

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4 Types of PCOS (a Flowchart)

Types of PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not one disease. Instead, it’s “a heterogeneous disorder with different underlying biological mechanisms.” In other words, it’s a set of symptoms (androgen excess and anovulatory cycles) caused or driven by several underlying factors. To successfully treat PCOS, you need to identify which factor (or factors) is driving the symptoms. In other words, you need to know your functional type of PCOS.

The four functional types of PCOS include insulin-resistant PCOS, post-pill PCOS (which is temporary), inflammatory PCOS, and the far less common adrenal PCOS.

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