5 Hormonally Supportive Resources Every Woman Should Know
For years, I've been on a journey to understand my body's natural rhythms and work with my hormones rather than against them. At 41, I finally feel like I've assembled a toolkit of resources that have genuinely transformed how I experience being a woman. Today, I want to share these game-changing discoveries with you.
The Femometer Ring: Natural Family Planning That Actually Works
For the past 12 years, I've successfully used basal temperature monitoring as my form of family planning—completely hormone-free. My current favorite tool is the Femometer Ring, which has made this practice easier than ever.
This natural, hormone-free family planning tool tells me exactly where I am in my cycle without the need for hormonal prescriptions. The best part? It comes with a free app and has no subscription fees. It's given me the freedom to understand my fertility without putting synthetic hormones into my body.
______________________________________________________________________________
Hormonology: The Book That Changed Everything
If you're going to get yourself ONE gift this year, make it Hormonology by Gabrielle Lichterman. I cannot emphasize this enough.
This book covers the play-by-play of what to expect emotionally and physically from day 1-28 of your cycle. Reading it has been incredibly validating and helpful—it helped me understand how the natural hormonal changes my body goes through every month (to prepare to make life!) affect my moods and capacities.
This knowledge has been particularly clarifying in my love relationship, which takes a hit certain times of the month when my body feels more internal and protective. Now that I understand why this happens, I can communicate it better and navigate those phases with more grace.
I cannot believe it took me until 41 to truly understand and validate these aspects of my menstrual cycle and the emotional fluctuations that accompany it. This book can be LIFE CHANGING. I HIGHLY recommend it! Get yours here: https://www.myhormonology.com/.
______________________________________________________________________________
Vitex: The Cycle-Regulating Supplement
Vitex (also known as Chasteberry) is a supplement that helps regulate women's cycles and alleviate PMS symptoms. The research behind it is compelling: one study of 1,634 women with various PMS symptoms found that over three menstrual cycles, symptoms like depression and cravings were reduced or disappeared completely in 93% of participants. Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that Vitex was beneficial in alleviating bloating, headaches, breast tenderness, PMS food cravings, agitation, depression, and swollen breasts.
Personally, I've seen dozens of women over the years take this supplement and start having a regular cycle again. One woman even got pregnant after taking it—after years of struggling to conceive!
______________________________________________________________________________
A Free Resource: My Mood Cycle Tracking Diagram
I created a free resource to help women track and understand the moods they're more prone to during different phases of their cycle. Not only do I not need to take hormonal birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancy, but I also get to understand and honor the natural cycles that come with being a woman.
This visual guide helps you see patterns, anticipate shifts, and extend compassion to yourself during more challenging phases.
______________________________________________________________________________
The DUTCH Hormone Test: Personalized Answers
This year, the DUTCH hormone test changed my life immensely. I discovered I have very low DHEA levels, which increased my irritation and frustration while lowering my patience in the later half of my cycle (mostly witnessed by me and, secondarily, by my beloved partner).
Since starting DHEA supplementation this year, I've noticed a significant decrease in those horrible emotional symptoms.
I want to be clear: I don't recommend all women take DHEA, as we're not all deficient in it. But taking a DUTCH hormone test can provide answers and clarity about your specific hormonal situation and what support might be helpful for you. This is a service I offer as part of my 3-month Acne Detox Program, but it can also be accessed through natural health providers.
If you can invest in this test, I highly recommend it. Getting a hormone test can be an incredible way to learn more about your body and whether key sex and stress hormones are in a healthy place.
An Important Note: Your Cycle Is Not a Problem
Here's something I want you to hear: being a woman and having a cycle does NOT mean you have hormone imbalance!
It is the design of nature that a woman's body goes through these natural fluctuations every month. There is a naturalness to this. Your body is designed to experience these hormone changes.
Now, if your body is experiencing extreme symptoms, it may be due to hormone imbalance that can likely be worked on and corrected. That's where testing and targeted support come in. But the cycle itself—with its natural ebbs and flows—is not something to "fix." It's something to understand, honor, and work with.
And by the way – men actually have the same number of hormones as women! And instead of having a 28 day cycle, male bodies have a 24 hour cycle! Hormone health is not just a topic for women's bodies.
I hope these resources serve you as beautifully as they've served me. Here's to understanding our bodies, honoring our natural rhythms, and feeling empowered in our feminine cycles!
In love, health, and community,
Elise May, CN + LE, is a holistic esthetician, acne nutritionist, wellness coach and founder of Skin Nutritious. Since 2011, she has helped over 1,800 clients finally overcome acne with a unique blend of holistic skincare, treatments, and wellness coaching.
Work with Elise at her San Francisco acne clinic or virtually worldwide! Get started on your Clear Skin Journey here >
Recommended resources:
