My Hormonal Health Journey

Oct 13

In 2019, I embarked on a journey that would change the course of my life. After 14 years of taking birth control, I decided it was time for a change. My motivation was twofold: I was curious about my natural cycle and wanted to try out a cycle app tracker with body basal temperature measurements as my new form of pregnancy prevention.

Birth control had never been my initial choice as a contraceptive. It was suggested by my dermatologist as a means to combat my persistent acne. So, I eagerly took that final birth control pill, armed with a cycle tracking app. Little did I know what lay ahead…

It wasn't until seven months had passed that my period made a sporadic return, accompanied by a few concerning symptoms. I suffered from heavy acne on my face, back, and chest. Hair loss had become extreme, and I experienced heavy and a lot of menstrual bleeding. To the point where I bled 16 days out of the 26 days and my relationship with both my partner and myself, went downhill from there. I felt so insecure in my own body and the only thing I could think of was "What the hell is happening to me?!"

I sought help from my gynecologist, who, despite my extreme symptoms, couldn't pinpoint the root issue. Eventually, I was referred to a 'specialist,' a term that initially left me in a state of anxiety. It was only after some research that I realized I was being directed to a uterus oncologist and that was one of the most stressful parts of my life. Again that question, "What is happening to me?!"

With the guidance of the specialist, we eventually identified a hormonal imbalance. The suggested solution, however, was not what I had hoped for – going back on the pill for a year to reset my hormones. I didn't want to, but there was no other option - so he told me. I couldn't bear those symptoms anymore and trusted the specialist that this was the only way to solve it, so I went back on the pill. The symptoms vanished, but others came in return: heavy night sweats, weight gain and constant bloating. I felt that the pill couldn't be the answer to heal my hormonal imbalance but I was scared to stop it as I didn't want to experience these symptoms again.

During the time of my pill journey, I was working as an HR leader in a fast growing start-up and I noticed that many women struggled with their period or PMS during work hours. This triggered me to do research on female health at work and create change in the workplace. In 2020, I was the first in Europe to make Period Leave a health benefit at a company. From there, I learned lots about Women's Hormonal health and just finished my first study about it. I now understand the underlying root causes for many symptoms and have knowledge to heal them naturally.

I wanted to test it on myself first, to make sure that this was true.

In May, I stopped the pill again (this time for good), and prepared myself properly for healing. Not only didn't I experience any symptoms, I also bled after one month. I have a healthy cycle and feel confident in my body.

ChatGPT

In 2019, I embarked on a journey that would change the course of my life. After 14 years of taking birth control, I decided it was time for a change. My motivation was twofold: I wanted to get to know my cycle better, and I sought an alternative to the hormonal acne that had been a constant presence since my teenage years.

It wasn't until seven months had passed that my period made a sporadic return, accompanied by a host of concerning symptoms. Acne had resurged, hair loss had become extreme, and my menstrual bleeding was excessively heavy, occupying an alarming portion of my days. This turmoil began to take a toll on my relationship as I grappled with profound insecurity in my own body.

I sought help from my gynecologist, who, despite my myriad symptoms, couldn't pinpoint the root issue. Eventually, I was referred to a 'specialist,' a term that initially left me in a state of anxiety. It was only after some research that I realized I was being directed to an oncologist. The question that had loomed over me for months persisted: "What is happening to me?"

With the guidance of the specialist, we eventually identified a hormonal imbalance. The suggested solution, however, was not what I had hoped for – going back on the pill for a year to reset my hormones. I didn't want to, but there was no other option - so he told me. I couldn't bear those symptoms anymore and trusted the specialist that this was the only way to solve it, so I went back on the pill. When I started the birth control again, the horrific symptoms vanished, but other symptoms came in return: heavy night sweats, weight gain, and constant bloating. I felt that the pill couldn't be the answer to heal my hormonal imbalance but I was scared to stop it as I didn't want to experience these symptoms again.

During this time, I held a position as HR leader in a fast-growing start-up and I noticed that many women struggled with their period or PMS during work hours. This triggered me to do research on female health at work and create change in the workplace. In 2019, I took a groundbreaking step by implementing Period Leave as a health benefit at one of the first companies in Europe. This marked the beginning of my in-depth exploration of women's hormonal health, culminating in the completion of my first study to become a Holistic Women’s Hormonal Health Practitioner. I now understand the underlying root causes for many hormonal symptoms and am equipped to heal hormone imbalances naturally.

My first test subject? Myself. In May 2022, I took the brave step of discontinuing the pill for good, well-prepared to begin my healing journey. Not only didn't I experience any symptoms when I quit the pill for good, but I also got my period back right after the first month of quitting. To this day, I’m proud and love my healthy menstrual cycle and the confidence in my body grows with each day!

Today, I'm living proof that putting focus on women's hormonal health can be transformational. If you're eager to begin your own journey towards holistic success, I'm here to guide you. Let's heal your hormones together.

love, Roos

PS: would love to read about your hormonal health journey. Feel welcome to share your experience with me by sending an email to hello@roosand.co or DM me on Instagram