When you come to see me for the first time, one of the most important steps in understanding your health is testing — but not just any testing. The right tests, done at the right time and interpreted in the right context, can reveal valuable insights into what’s really driving your symptoms. In this post, I’ll share the key blood tests I commonly request at an initial consultation, how I interpret them, and when we might need to look further with functional testing. The Found

When standard blood tests come back “normal” but symptoms persist, it can feel frustrating — like something important is being missed. This is where functional testing comes in. Functional testing goes beyond just identifying disease, it looks at how your body’s systems are performing and why they may not be functioning optimally. By understanding these deeper patterns, we can be far more precise — and proactive — in how we support your health. Comprehensive Hormone Testing:

When we think about fibre, we usually think about digestion. But fibre does far more than just keep you regular. It plays a key role in hormone balance, gut microbiome diversity, blood sugar regulation, and inflammation — all of which are essential foundations for long-term health, especially during perimenopause. And yet, most women don’t get enough. In this article, we’ll explore what fibre actually does in the body, why it matters for hormone and gut health, and how to

Having a period that’s unpredictable, skipping altogether, or arriving too soon or too late each month can feel frustrating — especially if you’re trying to understand your cycle, manage symptoms, or support your fertility. Irregular periods are incredibly common, but they’re also a sign that your body needs something — whether that’s stress support, nourishment, or hormonal rebalancing. What Counts as an “Irregular” Period? While no two person's menstrual cycles are exactly

When most people think about blood sugar, they think about diabetes or cutting sugar out of their diet. But balanced blood sugar is about so much more than that — especially for women in their 30s, 40s and beyond. Blood sugar balance is one of the most powerful ways we can support hormone function, mental clarity, and daily energy levels. And it doesn’t require rigid rules or eliminating entire food groups. Why Blood Sugar Matters for Hormones Insulin — the hormone that helps

What Is Hormonal Acne in Women — and Why Is It So Persistent? Hormonal acne isn’t just a teenage issue. Many women in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s experience recurring breakouts — especially around the chin, jawline, neck, and back . This type of acne often flares before your period, worsens with stress, and doesn’t always respond to standard skincare. Unlike surface-level acne, hormonal acne is driven by deeper imbalances  — including androgens, inflammation, insulin resista

Ovulation is often discussed in the context of fertility, but its importance goes far beyond conception. Regular ovulation is a key marker of overall health and plays a critical role in hormone balance, bone health, metabolism, and long-term wellbeing. If you’re not ovulating regularly, it can be a sign of underlying hormonal imbalances, stress, nutrient deficiencies, or other health concerns. Understanding ovulation and its role in your body can help you take control of your

So, in a previous article we looked at what PCOS is and how it’s diagnosed. Now we’re going to talk natural treatment. Just one thing to get out of the way first, is that in my opinion the pill is not a great treatment for PCOS. In this situation it's really common to be given a prescription for the pill and told it will 'regulate' your hormones but that's not what's happening. The pill shuts down the natural hormonal cycle of your body by supplying it with replacement synthe

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that a lot of women find really confusing. To start with, the name is misleading because: You don’t need cysts on your ovaries to be correctly diagnosed with PCOS Having multiple cysts on your ovary can be a completely normal and transitory situation First up, let's talk about the normal function of your ovaries. Ovaries are cystic by nature. On the road to ovulation, multiple ovarian follicles will develop with one eventually