Reclaiming Your Cycle

Your Presenter

Paula Fortin

APRN, Family Nurse Practitioner

Direct Primary Care Lead

Paula is known for identifying root causes that other practitioners miss. Her functional medicine approach and genuine listening have earned her consistently…

About This Workshop

This workshop, "Beyond the Pill," features a family nurse practitioner from Secoya Health and a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) who owns a compounding pharmacy. Together they discuss understanding the menstrual cycle, what happens to the body after stopping hormonal birth control, what the speakers describe as a healthy cycle, and foundational lifestyle supports for hormone balance. The presenters share their perspectives on estrogen dominance, environmental exposures, and personalized testing and support, followed by an audience Q&A.

What's Inside

1. 1Welcome and Introductions
2. 2What the Workshop Covers
3. 3"Is This Normal?" — Perspectives on the Pill
4. 4What Happens When You Stop the Pill
5. 5Pheromones, Mood, and Mental Health
6. 6The Four Phases of a Healthy Cycle
7. 7Cycle Benchmarks and When to See a Provider
8. 8Common Post-Pill Symptoms
9. 9Four Foundational Pillars: Nutrition and Stress
10. 10Movement, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythm
11. 11Supportive Options and Personalization
12. 12When to Seek Further Care
13. 13Signs of Ovulation and Gaps in Sex Education
14. 14Xenoestrogens and Environmental Exposures
15. 15Q&A Break and Transition to Discussion
16. 16Estrogen Dominance: Presentation and Symptoms
17. 17The History of the Pill — Speaker Opinions
18. 18Carcinogen Claims and Bio-Identical vs. Synthetic Hormones
19. 19Personal Reflections and Continuous-Use Birth Control
20. 20The Compounding Pharmacy Practice
21. 21Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
22. 22Testing Timing and Hormone Replacement Dosing
23. 23Q&A: Soy, Flaxseed, and Moderation
24. 24Q&A: IUDs and Hormonal Devices
25. 25Synthetic Hormones, Normalized Symptoms, and Industry Views
26. 26Depo, an Audience Member's History, and Closing Q&A
27. 27Wrap-Up and Thanks

What You'll Take Away

• The presenters describe learning to understand your cycle—including recognizing ovulation—as central to their approach, and they view the cycle as a window into overall health.
• According to the speakers, the body typically recalibrates over roughly three to six months after stopping the pill, though this varies by individual and depends on lifestyle, stress, nutrition, and sleep.
• The presenters emphasize four foundational supports: nutrition and blood-sugar stability, stress and nervous-system regulation, movement, and sleep aligned with circadian rhythm.
• The speakers describe circadian health, light exposure, and reduced blue-light exposure as important tools for hormone balance in their view.
• The pharmacist frames 'estrogen dominance' as a ratio of estrogen to progesterone considered alongside symptoms—not a single lab value—and recommends testing before choosing between supporting progesterone or an estrogen detox.
• The presenters stress personalization and working with a qualified team for testing and support, since supplements and herbs are not tightly regulated and individuals differ.
• Several strong claims in this workshop (e.g., 'class one carcinogens,' pheromone and psychiatric effects, hysterectomy outcomes, and the 'nine out of nine' pregnancy figure) are the speakers' opinions or anecdotes and are not presented as established medical fact; participants should consult a provider for individual guidance.

Materials Included

• Reclaiming Your Cycle Handout

Downloadable after purchase, alongside the workshop.