Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — #PMS

By Dr. Kate Placzek, ZRT Laboratory Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe, cyclical condition that affects an estimated 3–8% of menstruating women. Unlike typical PMS, PMDD causes debilitating mood and physical symptoms in the week before menstruation — symptoms severe enough to interfere with work, relationships, and daily life. If you've been told your symptoms are "just PMS" but they feel far more intense, this guide explains what's really happening hormonally and what you can do about it. Is PMDD Worse than PMS? Yes — Significantly. PMS is common. PMDD is a different level entirely. While PMS involves manageable...

The contraceptive pill is one of the most widely used medications in the world — but its effects on mood, brain chemistry and hormone balance are still poorly understood. This article explores how synthetic hormones disrupt oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol and neurotransmitters, and why some women are far more vulnerable to depression and anxiety as a result.

Explore the complex relationship between hormonal contraception, mood changes, and depression risk — particularly in teenagers and women sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. Learn the difference between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins, how estrogen and progesterone influence neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, and why some women may experience depressive symptoms, anxiety, or emotional changes while using hormonal contraceptives. Discover how hormone and neurotransmitter testing may help provide deeper insight into mood-related symptoms linked to birth control use. 

Explore the powerful connection between hormones, neurotransmitters, and mood in PMS and PMDD. Learn how progesterone, allopregnanolone, GABA, serotonin, cortisol, and estrogen fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle may contribute to anxiety, irritability, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and severe premenstrual symptoms. Discover how hormone and neurotransmitter testing can help identify underlying imbalances linked to menstrual mood disorders.