Hormone Health
Your body is designed for balance
When something feel different
Maybe your periods have changed.
Maybe PMS has become harder to manage than it used to.
Perhaps you're trying to conceive and wondering whether your hormones may be playing a role.
Perhaps your cycle is no longer feels predictable, or you're noticing changes in your mood, sleep, energy or skin.
Maybe you're entering perimenopause or menopause and finding that your body feels different from how it used to.
Sometimes there is a clear reason for what you're experiencing.
Sometimes there isn't.
Whatever has brought you here, you're in the right place.
At Diamond Creek Natural Medicine Centre, we take the time to understand the bigger picture of your health rather than focusing on a single symptom in isolation.
Hormonal health is closely connected to fertility, reproductive health, sleep, digestion, metabolism, stress and overall wellbeing. When one area changes, it's often worth considering what else may be influencing the picture.
Our practitioners provide individualised care through acupuncture, Chinese medicine and naturopathy, while working alongside your GP, specialist or other healthcare providers when appropriate.
Hormonal health through different stages of life
Hormones influence much more than your menstrual cycle
They play an important role in reproductive health, energy production, mood regulation, sleep, metabolism, skin health and many other aspects of wellbeing.
Because hormones naturally change throughout life, the challenges you face in your twenties may be very different from those you experience in your forties, fifties or beyond.
We support women experiencing a range of hormonal and reproductive health concerns, including:
PMS and PMDD
Painful periods
Heavy periods
Irregular menstrual cycles
PMOS (formerly known as PCOS)
Endometriosis
Adenomyosis
Fertility and preconception concerns
Perimenopause
Menopause
Hormonal changes affecting sleep, energy, mood and wellbeing
No two women experience hormonal changes in exactly the same way.
Our role is to understand your individual experience and help identify what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Looking beyond hormones
Hormonal health doesn't exist in isolation.
For some women, hormonal symptoms occur alongside fertility concerns. For others, digestive health, vaginal health, stress, sleep, nutrition or metabolic health may form part of the picture.
Depending on your individual circumstances, your practitioner may consider:
Menstrual and reproductive health
Fertility and preconception health
Vaginal health and the vaginal microbiome
Nutrition and nutrient status
Blood sugar balance and metabolic health
Digestive health
Sleep quality
Stress and emotional wellbeing
Physical activity and lifestyle
Medication use and contraception
Relevant pathology and medical history
This doesn't mean every factor needs to be addressed.
The purpose of your consultation is to help identify what may be most relevant to you.
How we support hormonal health
There is no single treatment or approach that suits everyone.
Some people seek support because of painful periods, PMS or cycle changes. Others are preparing for pregnancy, managing conditions such as endometriosis or PMOS, navigating perimenopause, or simply trying to understand why they don't feel quite like themselves.
Our role is to help you make sense of your symptoms, understand the broader picture and explore what support may be appropriate.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture may form part of an individualised approach to hormonal and reproductive health.
Treatment is tailored to your symptoms, health history and goals, and may change as your needs evolve through different stages of life.
Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine takes a whole-person approach to understanding health and wellbeing.
Your consultation may include Chinese medicine assessment and, where appropriate, Chinese herbal medicine tailored to your individual presentation.
Naturopathy
Naturopathic care may include consideration of nutrition, nutrient status, digestive health, metabolic health, reproductive health and lifestyle factors.
Where appropriate, your practitioner may also recommend relevant pathology, functional testing or further investigation to help build a more complete understanding of your health.
A whole-person approach to women's health
Hormonal symptoms are rarely confined to one body system.
Changes in hormonal and reproductive health may occur alongside changes in sleep, mood, energy, digestion, skin, fertility, vaginal health and general wellbeing.
That's why we take the time to understand where you've been, what has changed and what matters most to you.
Rather than focusing on a diagnosis alone, we aim to understand your individual health story and develop a plan that reflects your needs, goals and stage of life.
What happens at your first hormone consultation?
Your first consultation is an opportunity to talk through what you've been experiencing and what you would like help with.
Depending on your circumstances, we may discuss:
Your menstrual cycle and reproductive health
Current symptoms and when they began
Sleep and energy
Mood and stress
Digestion and bowel health
Nutrition and lifestyle
Medications and contraception
Relevant medical history
Previous investigations or pathology
From there, your practitioner can discuss which treatment or supportive approaches may be appropriate for you.
Where medical assessment or treatment is required, we encourage you to work with your GP or relevant medical specialist.
Frequently asked questions
What is hormone support?
Hormone support is a broad term for care that looks at symptoms and health concerns that may be associated with hormonal and reproductive changes.
At DCNMC, this may include acupuncture, Chinese medicine or naturopathy, depending on your individual circumstances.
Can acupuncture help with hormonal symptoms?
Acupuncture may form part of an individualised approach to symptoms associated with menstrual and hormonal health.
Whether it is appropriate for you depends on your symptoms, health history and circumstances.
Do you support PMS and painful periods?
Yes. PMS and painful periods are among the menstrual health concerns we see in practice.
Your practitioner will assess your individual presentation and discuss appropriate treatment options with you.
Do you support PMOS?
Yes. We provide support for women experiencing symptoms and health concerns associated with PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), formerly known as PCOS.
Your practitioner can discuss your individual circumstances and how complementary care may fit alongside any medical care you are receiving.
Can hormonal changes affect fertility?
Hormonal health and fertility are closely connected.
The menstrual cycle, ovulation and broader reproductive health all play a role in fertility, which is why these areas are often considered together.
Can hormonal changes affect vaginal health?
Yes.
Hormonal changes throughout life, including pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause and the use of hormonal contraception, may influence vaginal health and the vaginal microbiome.
Where relevant, these factors may form part of your broader assessment.
Can you help during perimenopause and menopause?
Yes. We support women through perimenopause and menopause, including those experiencing changes in their cycle, sleep, mood, energy or general wellbeing.
Your practitioner can discuss which forms of care may be appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Do I need hormone testing?
Not necessarily.
Whether testing is appropriate depends on your symptoms, health history and individual circumstances. If testing or further medical investigation may be useful, your practitioner can discuss this with you and may recommend speaking with your GP or relevant medical practitioner.
You don't have to figure it all out on your own
If something has changed and you're not quite feeling like yourself, it can be difficult to know where to start.
We'll take the time to listen, understand what's happening and help you determine what support may be appropriate for your circumstances.
Not sure where to start?
Book a complimentary 15-minute discovery call and we'll help guide you in the right direction.