What Are Your Hormones Telling You About Your Health?

Hormones play a powerful role in a woman's overall health, affecting everything from energy levels and mood to metabolism and reproductive health. Yet many women don't fully understand the natural hormonal changes that occur throughout their menstrual cycles.

The Fertility Education and Medical Management (FEMM) program at Franciscan Health aims to change that by helping women better understand their bodies, recognize signs of hormonal imbalance and address underlying health concerns impacting reproductive and gyn health.

Key Takeaways: FEMM Program At Franciscan Health

• Hormones are an important indicator of overall health. The FEMM program helps women better understand how hormonal changes can impact their physical, emotional and reproductive well-being.
• FEMM focuses on finding the root cause of symptoms. Through cycle tracking, biomarker monitoring and comprehensive evaluations, providers work to identify and address underlying hormonal imbalances rather than simply treating symptoms.
• Hormonal imbalances can affect more than reproductive health. Conditions such as acne, weight gain, low energy, anxiety, depression, migraines and irregular cycles may be linked to hormonal dysfunction.
• Understanding your menstrual cycle empowers better health. By learning to recognize normal cycle patterns and biomarkers associated with ovulation, women can become more informed advocates for their health and wellness.

Understanding Hormones As A Vital Sign

When it comes to monitoring health, many people think of vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature. However, Franciscan Physician Network OB/GYN Vicky Sherman, MD, believes ovulation deserves a place on that list.

"I start with the premise that ovulation is an indicator of health, so essentially is another 'vital sign' to be monitored in women," Dr. Sherman said.

Dr. Sherman, who serves as the medical director of Franciscan Health's FEMM program and practices at Franciscan Physician Network Mooresville, said women can benefit from learning about their hormonal health throughout every stage of life, from puberty through menopause.

"Some people have the misconception that FEMM is just for women trying to conceive or wanting to prevent pregnancy, but it is really for any woman who wants to potentially improve their metabolic health in addition to understanding their natural biological rhythm," she said.

What Is The FEMM Program?

The FEMM program is based on scientific research from the Reproductive Health Research Institute and focuses on helping women develop body-health literacy.

At Franciscan, women can work one-on-one with a FEMM educator to learn how to track biomarkers that occur during their menstrual cycles. By understanding these reproductive biomarkers, women can gain insight into the hormonal fluctuations that naturally occur throughout the month and identify potential hormonal imbalances.

The FEMM program emphasizes understanding the root causes of health concerns rather than simply managing gyn symptoms.

"The goal with FEMM is to restore healthy hormonal function and therefore restore ovulation and preserve the health of the woman," Dr. Sherman said. "FEMM is also a more holistic approach to women's care that encompasses mind, body and spirit and so includes lifestyle changes, mental health support and natural supplements if needed. FEMM searches for the 'why' instead of just putting a Band-Aid on the problem."

Health Conditions Linked To Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances can affect many areas of a woman's health, not just gyn concerns. In addition to educating women about hormone changes throughout their cycles, FEMM-certified providers can offer comprehensive evaluations and laboratory testing to help identify the root causes of symptoms and conditions. These may include:

• Acne
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Low energy
• Weight gain
• Migraines
• Autoimmune disorders
• Cycle irregularities

Franciscan Health FEMM providers can help patients manage a variety of medical conditions, including:

• Menopause
• Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Endometriosis
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Metabolic disease
• Insulin resistance
• Autoimmune disease
• Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance, including acne, weight gain and depression

By identifying and treating underlying hormonal concerns, providers can help women better manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

Building A Better Understanding Of The Menstrual Cycle

A key goal of the FEMM program is helping women understand what a healthy menstrual cycle looks like and how to recognize important biological markers associated with ovulation.

Dr. Sherman said many women have never been taught how their menstrual cycles function or how hormonal changes impact their health.

"There is a huge knowledge gap in women when it comes to understanding what a normal menstrual cycle is, when ovulation occurs and when their fertile window occurs," she said.

Women participating in FEMM learn how to monitor biomarkers such as cervical mucus and luteinizing hormone (LH) surge testing to better understand their cycles and confirm ovulation.

Empowering Women Through Education

Understanding your menstrual cycle can provide valuable insight into your overall health. By learning to recognize hormonal patterns and changes, women can become more informed advocates for their own well-being.

The FEMM program at Franciscan Health empowers women with education, tools and medical support designed to help them understand their bodies, identify concerns early and address the root causes of hormonal health issues.

Our FEMM-trained educators help guide women through the process of learning about their cycles and understanding how hormones influence their overall well-being.

"We are excited to offer the FEMM program, which is committed to advancing women's health and education," said Sister M. Emmanuel Kurtzweg, OSF, RN. "Services include the free FEMM mobile app, a certified FEMM teacher and a medical provider network."

Franciscan Health has expanded the FEMM program with the goal of training providers across multiple specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN and endocrinology.