Today I’m joined by Dr. Lara Briden, a naturopathic doctor, best-selling author, and internationally recognized expert in women’s hormones for a wide-ranging conversation on cycle health and why ovulation is a vital sign of wellbeing.

We talked about how monthly ovulation creates hormones that support bones, metabolism, and brain function, and what happens when that rhythm is disrupted by stress, restrictive eating, or birth control. Dr. Briden explains why natural estradiol and progesterone are so protective, how they differ from synthetic hormones, and what that means for both younger women and women approaching perimenopause.

She also shares her perspective on missing periods, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and the four functional types of PCOS, along with the growing role of insulin resistance in hormone imbalance. We talk about how to track ovulation, what lab markers to look for, and why restoring cycles is one of the most powerful steps for long-term health.