Kyri Unfiltered

Understanding when to test progesterone is crucial for getting accurate insights into your menstrual health and fertility. While Day 21 testing is often recommended, this only works if ovulation occurred on Day 14—something that doesn’t apply to many women. In reality, progesterone should be tested around 7 days after your ovulation, not a textbook one. That’s why tracking your cycle (for example, using your basal body temperature) can make all the difference, ensuring you test at the right time for your body, not someone else’s.

Night shifts don’t have to wreck your hormones — here’s how to support your cycle while working around the clock.
In our previous blog, we explored how night shifts can disrupt your circadian rhythm and ripple out to impact your hormonal and menstrual health. But now it’s time to shift gears — because while you may not be able to avoid night shifts, there are practical steps you can take to support your body.

From protecting your melatonin production to nourishing your nervous system and tracking your cycle, even small, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference. Whether you’re working nights regularly or just occasionally, these tips are designed to help you restore balance, protect your hormones, and stay connected to your cycle — no matter what your schedule looks like.

Night shifts might keep the world running — but they can throw your hormones off track.
Whether you’re a nurse, midwife, paramedic, police officer, or working in hospitality, night shifts are often part of the job. What rarely gets talked about, though, is how working against your body’s natural circadian rhythm can impact everything from metabolism to menstrual health and fertility.

Your body is designed to be awake during the day and asleep at night — with key hormones like cortisol and melatonin regulating that rhythm. Flip this pattern (hello, night shift), and you can disrupt hormone production, ovulation timing, and even egg quality over time.

If you’re a shift worker and noticing changes in your cycle, you’re not imagining things. In this blog, we break down exactly how night shifts affect reproductive health — and what you can do to support your hormones while still doing the work you love.

Your gut does so much more than digest food — and taking care of it is essential for hormone and reproductive health.
In our last blog, we explored the deep connection between gut health and your menstrual cycle. Now, we’re diving into how you can actually support your gut. From the food you eat and the way you manage stress, to your daily movement and environment — each of these plays a powerful role in shaping your microbiome and supporting digestive function.

The gut is a living, breathing ecosystem that responds to every part of how we live. The good news? Small, intentional changes can have a huge ripple effect. Let’s explore the foundations of gut health and how to build a routine that supports your hormones from the inside out.

Want balanced hormones? Start with your gut.
While gut health has become a hot topic in wellness circles, what often gets overlooked is just how deeply it connects to your hormonal and menstrual health. From nutrient absorption and hormone elimination to inflammation and microbiome balance — your gut plays a starring role in keeping your cycle running smoothly.

Whether you're struggling with PMS, period pain, PCOS, or fertility challenges, supporting your gut could be the missing piece. Because when your gut isn’t functioning optimally, your hormones feel it. So if you're working on your hormonal health, don’t forget to show your gut some love — it’s all connected.

Perimenopause and menopause are not the same thing — and it’s time we stopped treating them like they are.
Despite what pop culture might suggest (looking at you, And Just Like That), saying you’re “in menopause” because you haven’t had a period in four months just isn’t how it works. What most women experience first is perimenopause — a hormonally chaotic transition that can last up to a decade before menopause officially begins.

Perimenopause is marked by fluctuating estrogen, irregular cycles, mood swings, hot flushes, and disrupted sleep. Menopause, on the other hand, isn’t declared until you’ve gone a full 12 months without a period — and it’s defined by consistently low hormone levels, not erratic ones.

These are two very different phases of a woman’s reproductive life, and understanding the difference is crucial for proper care, support, and body literacy. Let’s stop lumping them together and start giving women the nuanced support they truly deserve.