Ovulation, Birth Control, and Hormone Benefits

Why ovulation is a vital sign, how most hormonal contraceptives suppress estradiol/progesterone, and the protective roles of natural estradiol and progesterone for mitochondria, bone, brain, and metabolism.

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Today I’m joined by Dr. Lara Briden, a naturopathic doctor, best-selling author, and internationally recognized expert in women’s hormones for a wide-ranging conversation on cycle health and why ovulation is a vital sign of wellbeing.

We talked about how monthly ovulation creates hormones that support bones, metabolism, and brain function, and what happens when that rhythm is disrupted by stress, restrictive eating, or birth control. Dr. Briden explains why natural estradiol and progesterone are so protective, how they differ from synthetic hormones, and what that means for both younger women and women approaching perimenopause.

She also shares her perspective on missing periods, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and the four functional types of PCOS, along with the growing role of insulin resistance in hormone imbalance. We talk about how to track ovulation, what lab markers to look for, and why restoring cycles is one of the most powerful steps for long-term health.

Chapters

00:49 - Ovulation as a vital sign of female health

02:57 - Impact of hormonal birth control on ovulation and hormones

07:51 - Benefits of natural estrogen and progesterone

09:47 - Perimenopause and importance of hormones in young women

11:49 - Benefits of estradiol and progesterone

17:37 - Dysregulated or missing periods

19:50 - Anovulatory cycles and tracking ovulation

22:50 - Lag time for menstrual cycle disruption and recovery

26:50 - Differentiating between hypothalamic amenorrhea and PCOS

31:18 - Four different types of PCOS

36:25 - Lab markers for insulin resistance