WOMEN’S HORMONE & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Root-Cause Functional Medicine for BHRT, Menopause, Cycle Support, Thyroid, and Fertility
Restore hormonal balance, support reproductive health, and improve energy, mood, metabolism, and fertility by addressing the root causes of hormone dysfunction—not just suppressing symptoms.
A Root-Cause Approach to Women’s Hormone & Reproductive Health
Women’s hormones do not function in isolation. They are influenced by stress physiology, sleep quality, gut health, thyroid and adrenal function, blood sugar regulation, detoxification pathways, environmental exposures, and nervous system balance.
When these systems are disrupted, hormonal symptoms often appear complex, inconsistent, or dismissed in conventional care.
At Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, women’s hormone and reproductive care focuses on identifying what is driving imbalance and restoring healthy physiology—rather than suppressing symptoms.
Conditions We Support
• Perimenopause and menopause
• PMS, PMDD, and cycle irregularities
• Estrogen dominance and low progesterone patterns
• Thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroid and Hashimoto’s patterns
• Adrenal dysregulation and stress-related hormone imbalance
• PCOS patterns
• Endometriosis support
• Infertility and preconception optimization
• Postpartum recovery support
• Hormone-related migraines
• Metabolic resistance involving insulin, leptin, or cortisol
• Autoimmune-related hormone disruption patterns
→ Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care
Our Approach to Women’s Hormone Health
We integrate Functional Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and evidence-based diagnostics to support hormone balance by restoring the systems that regulate endocrine function.
Comprehensive Hormone & Metabolic Assessment
Evaluation may include:
• DUTCH hormone testing
• Thyroid panels with antibodies
• Cortisol rhythm assessment
• Fasting insulin and glucose markers
• Micronutrient analysis
• Gut microbiome testing
• Environmental exposure factors, including mold and endocrine disruptors
• Mitochondrial and inflammatory markers
→ Advanced Functional Lab Testing
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
When appropriate, bioidentical hormones may be used to support:
• Perimenopause and menopause
• Low progesterone
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Sleep disruption
• Low libido
• Mood or cognitive changes
• Bone density support
Hormones are prescribed thoughtfully, with precise dosing, ongoing monitoring, and integration into metabolic, detoxification, and nervous-system support.
Cycle Regulation & PMS Support
Irregular or symptomatic cycles often reflect:
• Estrogen–progesterone imbalance
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Chronic stress and cortisol dysregulation
• Blood sugar instability
• Inflammation or gut imbalance
• Environmental hormone disruptors
Support may include:
• Herbal medicine
• Acupuncture
• Nervous system regulation
• Micronutrient repletion
• Detoxification pathways
• Cycle-specific nutrition
→ Detoxification & Environmental Medicine
Thyroid & Adrenal Optimization
Thyroid and adrenal hormones influence energy, metabolism, weight, mood, and sleep.
We evaluate:
• TSH, free T3, free T4
• Reverse T3
• Thyroid antibodies
• Cortisol rhythm
• Key nutrient drivers such as selenium, zinc, iodine, iron, and B vitamins
Support may include:
• Targeted nutraceutical protocols
• Acupuncture and nervous system balancing
• Mitochondrial repair strategies
• Detoxification support when environmental toxins impair thyroid signaling
→ Longevity & Mitochondrial Health
Fertility & Preconception Optimization
We support both natural conception and assisted fertility by addressing:
• Hormone regulation
• Egg quality and ovarian health
• Thyroid and adrenal support
• Mitochondrial function
• Gut and immune balance
• Environmental toxin reduction
• Cycle tracking and timing
• Acupuncture for fertility
Care is individualized and includes partner support when appropriate.
Nervous System & Stress Hormone Regulation
Chronic stress disrupts sex hormones, ovulation, thyroid signaling, sleep, and metabolic health.
Therapies may include:
• Acupuncture
• Vagus nerve and bioenergetic therapies
• PEMF-style regulation
• Breathwork and somatic tools
• Sleep optimization strategies
→ Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies
Nutrition, Detoxification & Metabolic Health
Hormone balance depends on liver function, gut health, mitochondria, and metabolic signaling.
Support may include:
• Anti-inflammatory nutrition
• Blood sugar stabilization
• Healthy fats for hormone production
• Detoxification of endocrine disruptors
• Gut-healing strategies
→ Metabolic Health & Weight Optimization
Who This Service Is Ideal For
This care is ideal for women who are:
• Navigating perimenopause or menopause
• Experiencing persistent symptoms dismissed elsewhere
• Preparing for pregnancy or fertility treatments
• Managing thyroid or adrenal imbalance
• Living with complex chronic conditions affecting hormones
• Seeking natural hormone support with BHRT when appropriate
• Looking for root-cause, whole-person care
Experience Balanced Hormones & Renewed Well-Being
Women’s hormones respond when the underlying systems of the body are supported. With the right strategy, symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disruption, mood changes, irregular cycles, hot flashes, and metabolic resistance can improve significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Women’s Hormone Health & Reproductive Balance
1. How do I know if my symptoms are hormonal?
Hormonal imbalance often presents as fatigue, irregular cycles, PMS or PMDD, weight changes, mood fluctuations, sleep issues, hot flashes, thyroid symptoms, low libido, or fertility challenges. Because hormones are influenced by metabolism, gut health, and stress physiology, symptoms may appear unrelated. A comprehensive assessment helps identify which systems are driving the imbalance.
2. Why do hormone imbalances occur in the first place?
Hormones become dysregulated due to chronic stress, insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction, gut inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, toxin exposure, poor sleep, mitochondrial dysfunction, and nervous system imbalance. Hormones rarely malfunction in isolation—lasting balance requires addressing these upstream systems.
3. Can hormone imbalance occur even if my labs look “normal”?
Yes. Standard reference ranges are designed to detect disease, not functional imbalance. Many women have significant symptoms despite “normal” labs. Functional testing evaluates patterns, ratios, metabolites, receptor signaling, and stress physiology that conventional testing often misses.
4. What symptoms can hormone imbalance cause?
Hormonal imbalance may contribute to fatigue, anxiety, depression, brain fog, insomnia, weight resistance, acne, hair loss, irregular or painful cycles, infertility, low libido, hot flashes, night sweats, and blood sugar instability. Symptoms vary depending on which systems are affected.
5. Do you treat thyroid conditions like hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s?
Yes. Thyroid dysfunction is a common driver of fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, menstrual irregularities, infertility, and mood changes. Care focuses on autoimmune triggers, nutrient status, gut health, detoxification, stress physiology, and mitochondrial support—not just TSH levels.
6. Can stress alone disrupt hormones?
Absolutely. Chronic stress alters cortisol rhythms, suppresses thyroid conversion, impairs progesterone production, worsens insulin resistance, and increases inflammatory signaling. Nervous system regulation is often foundational for restoring hormonal balance.
7. Can gut health affect hormones?
Yes. The gut plays a critical role in estrogen metabolism, thyroid hormone conversion, immune regulation, and nutrient absorption. Dysbiosis, leaky gut, or chronic inflammation can drive estrogen dominance, insulin resistance, PMS, and menopausal symptoms.
8. Can toxin exposure or mold illness disrupt hormones?
Yes. Environmental toxins, mold mycotoxins, plastics, pesticides, and heavy metals can disrupt endocrine signaling, impair liver detoxification, and interfere with hormone receptors. In many cases, hormone balance improves only after detoxification and mitochondrial repair are addressed.
9. What functional lab tests do you use for hormone evaluation?
Testing is individualized and may include DUTCH hormone mapping, comprehensive thyroid panels with antibodies, cortisol rhythm testing, fasting insulin and metabolic markers, micronutrient analysis, gut microbiome testing, and environmental toxin assessment.
10. Do you prescribe BHRT (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy)?
Yes, when clinically appropriate. BHRT may be used for perimenopause, menopause, low progesterone, sleep disruption, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, or hormone deficiency. Dosing is personalized, carefully monitored, and always integrated into a broader root-cause plan. We do not use synthetic hormones.
11. Do I need hormone therapy if my labs are normal?
Not necessarily. Many women improve significantly by addressing stress physiology, insulin resistance, gut dysfunction, inflammation, and detoxification without hormone replacement. When BHRT is used, it is strategic—not automatic.
12. Can functional medicine help with perimenopause and menopause?
Yes. Care supports estrogen–progesterone balance, adrenal function, sleep quality, metabolism, vasomotor symptoms, brain fog, mood shifts, and bone and muscle health using individualized, whole-body strategies.
13. Can hormone imbalance cause anxiety, irritability, or depression?
Yes. Estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol strongly influence neurotransmitters, emotional regulation, and sleep. Supporting hormonal and nervous system balance often leads to meaningful mood improvement.
14. Can you help with fertility, PCOS, or endometriosis?
Yes. Care commonly addresses PCOS, endometriosis, irregular cycles, ovulatory dysfunction, luteal phase defects, unexplained infertility, and fertility support. Treatment may include acupuncture, metabolic repair, hormone balancing, gut healing, nervous system regulation, and toxin reduction.
15. Can hormone imbalance affect weight or metabolism?
Yes. Insulin resistance, cortisol dysregulation, thyroid suppression, and estrogen imbalance all directly influence fat storage, appetite regulation, and metabolic rate. Hormone optimization is essential for sustainable weight regulation.
16. Are hormone treatments safe if I’m on medications?
Yes. Functional medicine integrates safely with conventional care. All therapies are reviewed for interactions, timing considerations, and individual risk factors.
17. Are hormone treatments safe for women with a history of breast cancer or clotting disorders?
In many cases, non-hormonal strategies are the safest and most effective option. Risk factors, genetics, medical history, and lab findings are carefully evaluated. Many women experience significant symptom relief without BHRT.
18. How long does it take to see improvement?
Many patients notice improvements within 4–12 weeks. More complex or long-standing imbalances may require several months as inflammation resolves, metabolic stability improves, and hormonal signaling normalizes.
19. Is hormone imbalance reversible?
In many cases, yes. When underlying drivers—such as stress, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, gut dysfunction, toxin exposure, and metabolic instability—are addressed, hormone signaling can often normalize or significantly improve.
20. Do hormones affect brain health and cognition?
Yes. Hormones influence neurotransmitters, blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and mitochondrial energy production. Imbalances can contribute to anxiety, depression, poor focus, memory changes, and cognitive fatigue.
21. How do you personalize hormone treatment?
Care is individualized using symptom patterns, functional lab data, metabolic markers, lifestyle factors, and treatment response. Protocols evolve as physiology stabilizes and hormone signaling improves.
22. Do you offer telemedicine for women’s hormone health?
Yes. Most hormone evaluations, functional testing, consultations, and follow-ups can be completed via secure telemedicine. In-person visits are available for acupuncture and adjunct therapies.
23. What are the early signs of perimenopause?
Early perimenopause often begins years before periods become irregular. Common early signs include worsening PMS, shorter or longer cycles, sleep disruption, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain (especially abdominal), brain fog, reduced stress tolerance, and changes in menstrual flow. These symptoms are frequently driven by fluctuating progesterone, cortisol dysregulation, insulin resistance, and nervous system stress rather than estrogen decline alone.
24. At what age does perimenopause usually start?
Perimenopause can begin as early as the mid-30s, though many women notice changes in their late 30s to early 40s. The onset is influenced by stress load, metabolic health, toxin exposure, gut health, genetics, and prior hormone use—not age alone.
25. Why do my symptoms get worse before my period?
Symptoms often worsen in the luteal phase due to declining progesterone, increased estrogen dominance, impaired detoxification, blood sugar instability, and heightened nervous system sensitivity. When progesterone is insufficient to buffer stress and inflammation, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, bloating, pain, and mood symptoms can intensify.
26. What causes estrogen dominance, and how do you address it?
Estrogen dominance can occur from excess estrogen production, poor estrogen clearance, low progesterone, insulin resistance, gut dysbiosis, liver overload, toxin exposure, or chronic stress. Treatment focuses on improving estrogen metabolism, supporting liver and gut detoxification, balancing blood sugar, restoring progesterone signaling, and reducing inflammatory burden—not simply lowering estrogen levels.
27. Can low progesterone cause anxiety or insomnia?
Yes. Progesterone has calming, sleep-supportive effects through its interaction with GABA receptors. Low progesterone can contribute to anxiety, panic, racing thoughts, insomnia, night waking, and heightened stress reactivity—especially in the second half of the cycle and during perimenopause.
28. Can hormone imbalance cause hair loss or acne?
Yes. Hair thinning and acne are commonly linked to androgen imbalance, insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction, estrogen dominance, chronic inflammation, or nutrient depletion. Addressing the underlying hormonal and metabolic drivers often improves skin and hair health more effectively than topical treatments alone.
29. Can hormone imbalance cause joint pain or inflammation?
Yes. Estrogen and cortisol influence inflammatory signaling, connective tissue health, and pain perception. Hormonal fluctuations—especially during perimenopause and menopause—can contribute to joint stiffness, inflammation, and musculoskeletal pain when combined with metabolic or immune stress.
30. Can hormone imbalance cause bloating or constipation?
Yes. Hormones directly affect gut motility, bile flow, microbiome balance, and water retention. Estrogen dominance, progesterone deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, and cortisol imbalance can all contribute to bloating, constipation, or cyclical digestive symptoms.
31. Can insulin resistance or blood sugar dysregulation affect hormones?
Absolutely. Insulin resistance disrupts ovarian hormone production, worsens androgen excess, impairs progesterone signaling, and increases estrogen dominance. Blood sugar instability also elevates cortisol, which further disrupts thyroid and reproductive hormones. Improving insulin sensitivity is foundational for hormone balance.
32. Can PCOS exist even if I’m not overweight?
Yes. Lean PCOS is common and often driven by insulin resistance, androgen excess, inflammation, and stress physiology rather than body weight alone. Normal BMI does not rule out metabolic or hormonal dysfunction.
33. Can endometriosis be driven by inflammation or estrogen imbalance?
Yes. Endometriosis is influenced by estrogen dominance, immune dysregulation, inflammation, impaired detoxification, and mitochondrial stress. A root-cause approach focuses on reducing inflammatory signaling, supporting hormone metabolism, and restoring immune balance rather than suppressing symptoms alone.
34. Can you help with PMDD specifically?
Yes. PMDD is often linked to progesterone sensitivity, estrogen-progesterone imbalance, neurotransmitter disruption, blood sugar instability, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation. Treatment focuses on stabilizing hormonal signaling, improving stress resilience, and reducing inflammatory and metabolic triggers.
35. Do you support women after stopping hormonal birth control?
Yes. Post-birth-control symptoms may include irregular cycles, acne, hair loss, mood changes, fatigue, and nutrient depletion. Care focuses on restoring ovulation, replenishing nutrients, supporting liver detoxification, rebalancing the gut microbiome, and stabilizing hormone signaling naturally.
36. Do you treat low libido, vaginal dryness, or painful sex?
Yes. These symptoms are commonly influenced by estrogen, testosterone, blood flow, inflammation, stress physiology, and nervous system tone. Treatment may include hormone support when appropriate, along with metabolic repair, pelvic circulation support, and nervous system regulation.
37. How do you decide between lifestyle support, botanicals, and BHRT?
Treatment selection is based on symptom severity, functional lab findings, metabolic health, risk profile, and patient preference. Many women improve with lifestyle, nutrition, botanical medicine, and nervous system support alone. BHRT is used strategically when needed and always integrated into a broader root-cause plan.
38. What is the difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are structurally identical to those produced by the human body, allowing for more predictable receptor binding and metabolism. Synthetic hormones differ structurally and may carry different risk profiles. When hormone therapy is used, we utilize bioidentical formulations only.