In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson explains how IV nutrient therapy can support fertility when diet and supplements aren’t enough. She breaks down why nutrient deficiencies persist despite “doing everything right,” how IVs bypass absorption barriers, and how targeted IV formulations can improve egg quality, sperm quality, implantation, and surgical recovery.

💉 Why IV Therapy Matters in Fertility Care Dr. Sarah explains why many fertility patients remain deficient in key nutrients despite optimal diet and supplementation:

• Poor gut absorption
• Digestive inflammation or dysfunction
• Liver metabolism limiting nutrient availability IV therapy allows nutrients, antioxidants, and hydration to be delivered directly into the bloodstream—bypassing the gut and liver for faster, more effective results.

🧪 Key Nutrients Commonly Low in Fertility Patients Frequently identified deficiencies include:

• Folic acid & B vitamins
• Vitamin C and other antioxidants
• Glutathione These nutrients are essential for:
• Cellular energy and metabolism
• Egg and sperm quality
• Detoxification and inflammation reduction

🥚 Egg Quality IV Designed to support ovarian health and cellular protection:

• High-dose antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress
• Supports mitochondrial function and egg integrity
• Can be used weekly or monthly depending on fertility goals Sarah explains that while we’re born with all our eggs, egg quality can be supported through targeted antioxidant pathways.

🌱 Implantation & Uterine Blood Flow IV Created for patients with:

• Thin uterine lining
• Recurrent miscarriage
• Chronic inflammation or endometritis This IV focuses on:
• Improving blood flow to the uterus
• Supporting implantation before and after ovulation
• Working alongside diet, supplements, and medication—not replacing them

🩺 Pre- & Post-Surgical Recovery IVs Dr. Sarah discusses why surgery should be restorative—not depleting:

• Surgery places stress on the body and increases dehydration
• Nutrients and electrolytes support healing and circulation
• IVs help reduce recovery time and support fertility-preserving outcomes These IVs are now integrated into Vera’s fertility-sparing surgical protocols.

👨 Sperm Quality IV Men benefit from IV therapy too. This IV supports:

• Sperm morphology (normal head and tail structure)
• Motility and progressive motility
• Hydration and reduced sperm agglutination
• Blood flow to the testes Ideal for men who have optimized diet and supplements but still have suboptimal semen parameters.

🧠 IV Therapy as an Adjunct—Not a Replacement Dr. Sarah emphasizes:

• IVs do not replace good nutrition or supplements
• They enhance and accelerate results when absorption is limited
• Best used as part of a comprehensive fertility plan

• Persistent nutrient deficiencies often stem from absorption issues—not effort
• IV therapy delivers targeted nutrients directly into circulation
• Antioxidants play a critical role in egg and sperm quality
• Blood flow and hydration are essential for implantation and recovery
• IV therapy can support fertility at multiple stages for both men and women

If you feel like you’re doing “all the right things” but still struggling with egg quality, implantation, recovery, or sperm parameters, IV therapy may be a supportive next step.

📍 Westminster, Colorado 🌐 Learn more or schedule: verafertility.com 📧 Follow along: @verafertility

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Pederson breaks down the three most common female hormone profiles—low estrogen & progesterone, estrogen dominant, and progesterone dominant/low estrogen—and explains how each one affects mood, energy, cycles, fertility, and overall health. This episode empowers women to understand their symptoms, test hormones properly, and align nutrition, exercise, supplements, and treatment with their unique hormone profile.

🧪 The Three Core Hormone Profiles Dr. Sarah explains how estrogen and progesterone work together—and what happens when they fall out of balance:

• Low Estrogen + Low Progesterone (“Low–Low”)
• Estrogen Dominant (Relative Low Progesterone)
• Progesterone Dominant / Low Estrogen

Each profile presents differently and requires a different approach to treatment, lifestyle, and supplementation.

🩺 Why Proper Hormone Testing Matters

• Best timing for hormone labs:
  • Cycle day 3: Estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone
  • 5–7 days after ovulation (depending on luteal phase length)
• Why checking progesterone at the wrong time leads to misdiagnosis
• How incorrect supplementation can worsen symptoms instead of helping

🌱 Low Estrogen & Low Progesterone (Low–Low Profile) Common symptoms include:

• Depression, brain fog, low stress tolerance, fatigue
• Light or skipped periods, long cycles, short luteal phase
• Recurrent miscarriage, poor cervical mucus, thin uterine lining
• Low libido, vaginal dryness, UTIs, hair thinning, brittle nails
• Hot flashes, cold intolerance, poor circulation

Root causes may include:

• Chronic stress
• Under-eating or poor nutrient absorption
• Excessive exercise
• Postpartum or breastfeeding states
• Perimenopause or ovarian insufficiency

Support strategies:

• Adequate calories and protein
• Gentle exercise (yoga, Pilates, barre)
• Stress reduction and sleep prioritization
• Targeted supplements (omega-3s, magnesium, vitex)

⚖️ Estrogen Dominance Common symptoms include:

• Anxiety, irritability, mood swings
• Heavy or painful periods, clots, PMS
• Breast tenderness, fibroids, endometriosis
• Migraines, acne, bloating, weight gain
• Poor sleep, constipation, joint inflammation

Key contributors:

• High sugar or refined carbohydrate intake
• Low protein consumption
• Poor liver or gut estrogen metabolism

Support strategies:

• Higher protein intake (≈80g/day)
• Strength training, HIIT, frequent movement
• Fiber-rich diet for estrogen detoxification
• Supporting liver and gut health
• Reducing alcohol and excess sugar

🌡️ Progesterone Dominant / Low Estrogen Common symptoms include:

• Sedation, brain fog, low motivation
• Excessive sleepiness, low blood pressure, dizziness
• Weight gain, insulin resistance, cravings
• Heat intolerance, nausea, constipation
• Vaginal dryness, low libido, breast fullness

Key focus areas:

• Supporting ovulation and estrogen production
• Balanced, moderate exercise
• Stress reduction and adequate sleep
• Avoiding progesterone-only supplementation when estrogen is low

🧠 Why Hormone Ratios Matter Dr. Sarah emphasizes:

• Hormones must be balanced—not treated in isolation
• DIM, progesterone, or bioidentical hormones can be harmful if mismatched
• Nutrition, exercise, and supplements should support—not fight—your hormone profile
• Ongoing lab monitoring ensures treatment is helping, not harming

• Most symptoms are clues to your hormone profile—not random
• Estrogen and progesterone must be evaluated together
• Timing of hormone testing is critical
• One-size-fits-all hormone advice often backfires
• Aligning lifestyle and treatment with your hormone profile leads to better mood, energy, cycles, and fertility

If you suspect hormone imbalance or feel stuck with persistent symptoms, proper hormone testing and individualized care are essential.

📍 Westminster, Colorado 🌐 Schedule a consultation: verafertility.com 📧 Follow along: @verafertility

In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson is joined again by Kelly Sinning, licensed professional counselor and perinatal mental health specialist, to explore how women’s mental health fluctuates across the menstrual cycle. From hormonal highs and lows to how to communicate needs with partners and friends, this episode provides actionable insights for thriving mentally and emotionally throughout your cycle.

💬 Talking About Your Cycle with Friends and Partners

• With friends: opening up often encourages mutual sharing, creating understanding and support.
• With partners: conversations require context, clear explanation, and understanding of differences in perception.
• Men and women experience emotional rhythms differently — women operate on a 28-day cycle, men on a 24-hour clock.

Key strategies:

• Explain what different phases of your cycle feel like
• Give concrete guidance for your needs (e.g., “I just want to rest tonight”)
• Use humor and timing strategically
• Help partners anticipate moods rather than reacting to them

❤️ Aligning Needs with Hormonal Phases

Understanding the cycle allows better mental health and relationship dynamics:

• Ovulation: Higher energy, more romantic and social
• Luteal phase (pre-period): Irritability, fatigue, introspection
• Period: Need for rest, downtime, lower energy

By planning and communicating your needs during each phase:

• Relationships feel smoother
• Self-care is easier
• Partners can participate constructively without feeling “in the dark”

🧠 Hormonal Fluctuations and Mental Health

• Mood, energy, and motivation naturally vary across the cycle.
• Weeks of low motivation or fatigue are normal, not personal failure.
• High energy phases can be leveraged for productivity and social connection.
• Low energy phases offer rest, reflection, and introspection — which have value.

Planning for each phase reduces guilt, pressure, and stress.

🌿 Thriving Through the Cycle

• Identify the purpose and opportunity in each phase.
• Use introspective, quiet phases for planning, learning, and rest.
• Use high-energy phases for action, productivity, and social engagement.
• Embrace natural rhythms instead of fighting them.

Kelly emphasizes that leaning into these biological patterns improves mental health and overall alignment with your body.

Key Takeaways:

• Mood changes across the menstrual cycle are normal and biologically driven.
• Open, clear communication with friends and partners is critical.
• Recognize the value of low-energy phases — they are productive in different ways.
• Planning around your hormonal rhythm helps reduce stress and improve relationships.
• Embrace your cycle rather than trying to power through it.

Resources & Next Steps:

If you find certain phases of your cycle mentally or emotionally challenging, a mental health professional specializing in perinatal and hormonal health can provide guidance.

📍 Westminster, Colorado 🌐 Schedule a consultation: verafertility.com 📧 Follow along: @verafertility

In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson, holistic OB-GYN at Vera Health and Fertility, is joined again by registered dietitian Callie to discuss how nutrition and lifestyle choices can significantly reduce period pain. They cover anti-inflammatory foods, key nutrients for cramp relief, what to limit during your cycle, and how to support your body throughout the entire menstrual cycle so your period doesn’t disrupt your life.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

💡 Foods That Help Reduce Period Pain Focusing on anti-inflammatory and nutrient-dense foods can lower cramping and discomfort:

• Anti-inflammatory foods: turmeric, nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado oil
• Magnesium-rich foods to relax muscles and reduce cramps:
  • Pumpkin seeds (2 tablespoons daily)
  • Spinach, almonds, dark chocolate
• Iron-rich foods, especially for heavier bleeding:
  • Spinach
  • Grass-fed beef and other quality meats
• Hydrating and “cooling” foods:
  • Berries
  • Cucumbers
  • Watermelon

Starting these foods before your period begins can help prevent pain rather than just reacting to it.

🩺 Foods to Limit During Your Period Certain foods can increase inflammation and worsen cramps:

• Excess caffeine, especially in the first few days of your cycle
• Highly processed and fried foods
• Alcohol, particularly leading up to your period
• Excess added sugars without protein

🍓 How to Handle Period Cravings Without Worsening Pain

• Choose real carbohydrate sources like fruit instead of refined sugar
• Pair carbohydrates with protein to stabilize blood sugar
• Water-based fruits (berries, watermelon) are ideal
• If having chocolate or sweets, always eat protein alongside it to prevent blood sugar spikes and increased cravings

🌿 What to Eat Throughout Your Entire Cycle to Prevent Pain

• Balanced meals with protein, healthy fats, and high-fiber carbohydrates
• Emphasis on variety for optimal micronutrient intake
• Iron-rich foods throughout the cycle to prepare for menstrual blood loss
• Warming foods leading up to and during your period:
  • Bone broth
  • Warm herbal teas
• Prioritize diverse vegetables, seeds, and whole foods to support B vitamins and anti-inflammatory pathways

🚶 Lifestyle Tips to Reduce Period Pain

• Hydration is critical during menstruation:
  • Aim for at least 64 oz daily
  • Enhance water with cucumber, berries, herbal teas, or bone broth
• Gentle movement to improve uterine blood flow:
  • Walking
  • Light stretching
  • Easy daily activity
• Stress reduction and rest:
  • Allow extra rest during the first days of your cycle
  • Gentle self-care and reduced demands support hormone balance

🍵 Helpful Teas for Menstrual Support

• Red raspberry leaf tea for uterine support
• Herbal teas to encourage warmth, hydration, and relaxation

Key Takeaways: Painful periods are not normal and should not disrupt daily life. Anti-inflammatory foods, magnesium, iron, hydration, and gentle movement can significantly reduce cramping. Nutrition throughout the entire cycle plays a major role in how your period feels. Small, consistent lifestyle and nutrition shifts can dramatically improve menstrual comfort.

Resources & Next Steps: If you experience painful periods or want personalized nutrition support for cycle health, schedule a consultation with Callie. She works one-on-one with patients to build practical, sustainable nutrition plans tailored to their cycles and symptoms.

📍 Westminster, Colorado 🌐 Schedule a consultation: verafertility.com 📧 Follow along: @verafertility on Instagram & TikTok