Women's Fertility & Lifestyle Debate: Dangers Of Not Having A Period! Fasting Can Backfire For Women

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Oct 16, 2025

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Join fertility specialist Dr. Natalie Crawford, menopause expert Dr. Mary Claire Haver, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright, and exercise physiologist Dr. Stacy Sims as they tackle pressing issues in women's health. They discuss the critical link between hormonal imbalances and conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. The guests reveal how fasting and overtraining can disrupt hormones and emphasize the importance of having regular periods for long-term health. Plus, they share lifestyle strategies to improve hormonal balance and fertility.

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00:00 / 00:00

Research Built Around Male Physiology

Most medical research was designed around male physiology, so women's data were an afterthought.
That historical exclusion created a large knowledge gap that still harms women's health today.

00:00 / 00:00

Luteal Phase Changes Whole-Body Function

The luteal phase (post-ovulation) is hormonally distinct: progesterone rises and changes metabolism, temperature, appetite and immune function.
Women function differently across the cycle and need cycle-aware approaches.

00:00 / 00:00

Treat Irregular Periods As Red Flags

If your menstrual cycle is consistently irregular, go see a doctor because it signals systemic or hormonal problems.
Track your cycle so you can detect short luteal phases and ovulatory dysfunction early.

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The 4 leading powerhouses in women’s health break down urgent topics facing women today: irregular periods, PCOS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and the best diet for hormonal balance.

Part 1 of this 2-part female health roundtable is focused on hormones and fertility, bringing together: Menopause specialist Dr Mary Claire Haver, longevity orthopaedic surgeon Dr Vonda Wright, fertility doctor Dr Natalie Crawford, and female physiology researcher Dr Stacy Sims.

In this powerful conversation, they explain:

◼️The shocking lack of research on women’s hormones, and how it’s harming health
◼️How insulin resistance fuels hormone imbalance, irregular cycles, and infertility
◼️How coffee, fasting, and overtraining can silently disrupt your hormones
◼️The truth about cycle syncing, and why your luteal phase changes everything
◼️How stress, sleep, and muscle mass directly influence perimenopause
◼️Why birth control is not a cure, and the lifestyle tools that actually help

(00:00) Intro
(05:30) Why Do We Need to Have This Conversation?
(10:51) Why the Female Body Is More Adapted for Endurance Exercise
(12:12) Why Women's Heart Attacks Are Considered 'Atypical'
(14:51) The Research Gap on Women's Health
(19:14) Why Women Downplay and Gaslight Themselves About Pain
(21:54) Why Don’t We Understand Hormones?
(26:26) What a Normal Period Should Be Like
(28:35) What Is Progesterone?
(33:45) The Underlying Cause of PCOS
(35:15) Developing Diabetes During Pregnancy
(39:36) What Causes PCOS and How to Reduce It
(47:47) The Pill Is Not the Only Help for PCOS
(52:48) How Do We Know If It's a Normal Flow, Too Much, or Too Little?
(57:42) How to Know If You're Experiencing Abnormal Period Pain
(01:00:43) Anemia in Women and the Issues With Lab Results
(01:03:58) People Suffer Silently With Endometriosis for Years
(01:09:17) The Real Reason There's No Treatment for Endometriosis
(01:12:27) Could We Create a Cellular Marker for Endometriosis?
(01:15:22) How to Ease Pain Symptoms Before Your Period Naturally
(01:20:49) If You're 15 to 25, You Need to Know This
(01:22:10) How to Treat Your Body in Each Decade After You Start Your Period
(01:35:14) Advice to Your Daughters
(01:37:41) Should You Use The Coil?
(01:43:32) The Best Contraceptive Method
(02:02:33) The 5 Fertility Non-Negotiables
(02:04:22) Should I Freeze My Eggs?
(02:15:55) IVF Has Helped 13 Million People
(02:24:44) PCOS and Infertility
(02:28:47) Why Is Pregnancy Loss Still a Taboo?
(02:36:59) Should You Take Time Off During Your Period?
(02:41:18) People Need to Know When Perimenopause Starts
(02:42:24) Menopause
(02:49:12) Check Your Mum's Menopause Age to Know Yours
(02:57:31) The Dangers of the Year Before Menopause
(02:59:04) Suicide Rates in Women
(03:04:39) What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Really For?
(03:13:33) Should You Treat Menopause Symptoms?
(03:25:00) How to Improve Your Sex Life and Lubrication

You can follow the guests, here:
Dr Mary:
◼️Instagram - https://bit.ly/4ogsgwJ
◼️The Pause Life - https://bit.ly/48rycyv
◼️You can purchase ‘The New Menopause’, here: https://amzn.to/4nUOnt5
Dr Vonda:
◼️Instagram - https://bit.ly/46SMfvR
◼️Website - https://bit.ly/4n41GGg
◼️You can purchase ‘Unbreakable’, here: https://amzn.to/4n6xVEO
Dr Natalie:
◼️Instagram - https://bit.ly/4nbZFI9
◼️YouTube - https://bit.ly/3J5fLFw
◼️Website - https://bit.ly/3W6E0pG
◼️You can pre-order ‘The Fertility Formula’, here: https://amzn.to/3KRpobk
Dr Stacy:
◼️Instagram - https://bit.ly/4hcRuKm
◼️Website - https://bit.ly/47dqkhS
◼️You can purchase ‘ROAR, Revised Edition’, here: https://amzn.to/4nbjDmr

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