Women’s Hormones, Thyroid Health & Functional Medicine with Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer
In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer, a chiropractor and certified functional medicine practitioner, to talk all things women’s hormones.
And I loved this conversation because it was both deeply personal and incredibly practical.
Gabrielle doesn’t just study hormones professionally; her passion was born out of her own health journey.
From Holistic Upbringing to Personal Health Crisis
Gabrielle shared that she was raised by parents who were very invested in holistic healthcare. Growing up, going to chiropractors and functional medicine doctors was normal. It wasn’t “alternative.” It was just how her family approached health.
But it wasn’t until later after walking through her own major health challenge that women’s hormones became personal.
Gabrielle went through six months of chemotherapy, which placed her into medically induced menopause. During treatment and for several months afterward, she experienced what it was like to live without a normal hormonal rhythm.
When her cycle eventually returned, her hormones were all over the place. And it was in that season of trying to understand what was happening inside her own body that she began deep diving into women’s hormonal health.
Interestingly, she said she didn’t grow up hearing conversations about women’s hormones at all. So much of what she learned came later through her functional medicine training, her own research, podcasts, and education.
The Belief That Changed Everything
One of the biggest mindset shifts for Gabrielle?
Before her health crisis, she thought if she could avoid having a cycle altogether… that would be ideal.
She didn’t see her period as connected to her overall health.
But that completely changed when she read the book The Fifth Vital Sign, which frames a woman’s menstrual cycle as a vital sign, just like heart rate, blood pressure, or temperature.
That idea was transformative.
Your cycle isn’t an inconvenience.
It’s not something to disconnect from.
It’s information.
Your hormone health reflects your overall health.
And your body is constantly communicating.
What Your Cycle Can Tell You
Gabrielle explained that there are simple, practical ways to start tuning into what your body is doing without immediately jumping to supplements or hormone replacement therapy.
Two of her favorite markers to pay attention to:
1. Basal Body Temperature
Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your resting temperature when you first wake up.
You can track it with:
A thermometer
A wearable device like an Oura ring
Certain smart watches
In the luteal phase (after ovulation), your temperature should rise, ideally into the 98°F range.
If it doesn’t rise appropriately, it may indicate low progesterone or metabolic issues.
Even chronically cold hands and feet can point toward underlying hormone or metabolism imbalances.
2. Cervical Mucus Changes
Your hormones operate in four phases throughout your cycle.
As you approach ovulation, cervical mucus should change in consistency to support conception.
If you notice no change at all, or signs that ovulation isn’t occurring, that could point toward anovulatory cycles or hormone imbalance.
Gabrielle emphasized that these aren’t random details. They’re clues.
Other signs to watch:
Headaches
Energy shifts
Increased hunger before your period
Hair shedding
Digestive changes
Your body is constantly signaling.
Where to Start: The Three S’s
If someone notices something seems “off,” Gabrielle does not start with supplements.
She starts with what she calls the Three S’s:
1. Sleep
Women generally need more sleep than men - ideally 8–10 hours.
Quality matters:
Dark room
Cool temperature
Avoid blue light before bed
Avoid scrolling first thing in the morning
Sleep regulates cortisol, supports hormone production, and helps detoxification pathways function properly.
2. Stress
We can’t eliminate stress, but we can support our response to it.
Chronic stress affects the HPA axis (hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal system), which impacts thyroid hormones, estrogen, and progesterone.
She recommends:
Grounding (especially at sunrise or sunset)
Prayer, meditation, or yoga
Cycle syncing workouts
Women are not designed to train intensely every single day of the month.
During the follicular phase (after your period), higher intensity workouts are often well tolerated.
In the luteal phase, gentler movement like walking or Pilates is often more supportive.
If a workout leaves you feeling drained instead of energized, it may be too much for where you are hormonally.
And she made this clear:
If you are trying to regain a lost cycle, cutting high-intensity workouts may be essential. There is no shame in choosing hormone health over fitness goals.
3. Sugar (Blood Sugar Regulation)
Blood sugar spikes and crashes are perceived stressors.
When cortisol is constantly elevated to manage blood sugar instability, your body prioritizes stress survival over sex hormone production.
Gabrielle recommends:
Eating within 60–90 minutes of waking
Prioritizing protein, fat, and carbs at each meal
Avoiding extended fasting
Walking after meals
Eating protein and fat before carbs when possible
Simple habits. Huge impact.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Hormone Support
We also talked about how this advice translates into pregnancy and postpartum.
During pregnancy:
Eat when you’re hungry.
Weight gain is not the enemy.
Nervous system regulation matters; your baby’s nervous system is developing inside yours.
Rest is not laziness, it’s biological demand.
Postpartum:
Breastfeeding requires more calories.
“Bouncing back” culture is not aligned with physiology.
Recovery deserves gentleness.
Sleep support (when possible) is foundational.
She emphasized that perfection is not the goal. Doing what you can, when you can, matters.
Every small effort counts.
Thyroid Issues: What Women Aren’t Told
As a doula, I see thyroid issues come up often, and many women are told they have a thyroid problem without much explanation.
Gabrielle explained that stress and gut health are huge contributors.
Chronic stress impacts the hypothalamus and pituitary which influence thyroid function.
Digestive health also matters because:
Hormones must be properly eliminated.
Poor bowel movements can lead to estrogen recycling.
Inflammation affects thyroid production.
She stressed:
Daily bowel movements matter.
Don’t blindly supplement iodine.
Food sensitivities (gluten, dairy, corn, oats) can inflame the thyroid.
Sleep and stress management are foundational.
Again: basics first.
Common Hormone Misconceptions
Gabrielle sees several recurring misunderstandings:
1. Women Should Function Like Men
Men operate on a 24-hour hormone cycle.
Women operate on a roughly 28-day rhythm.
Energy shifts are normal.
Needing slower days is normal.
You are not broken for not functioning the same every day.
2. Everyone Has “High Cortisol”
Cortisol isn’t evil.
It should naturally rise and fall throughout the day.
Sometimes women have:
High cortisol in the morning
Too low in the afternoon
Flatlined patterns due to burnout
Not all cortisol imbalance is “high.”
Supporting adrenals with minerals, proper sleep hygiene, reducing phone exposure upon waking, and gentle morning transitions (like sunrise alarm clocks) can make a major difference.
3. Birth Control Is the Only Option for Painful Periods
Painful, debilitating periods may be common, but they aren’t normal.
Suppressing hormones isn’t the same as fixing the root cause.
Restoring mineral balance, identifying inflammation, supporting detox pathways, and investigating deeper testing can often address underlying dysfunction.
And perhaps most importantly, reconnecting with your cycle can be empowering.
If You Take One Thing Away…
When I asked Gabrielle what she wants women to remember most, her answer was simple:
Keep it simple. Focus on the controllables.
Don’t let social media overwhelm you.
Don’t chase perfection.
Don’t assume you need complicated protocols.
Start with:
Sleep
Stress support
Balanced nutrition
If you’re doing those consistently and still struggling, then pursue deeper testing with a trusted practitioner.
But don’t skip the foundation.
Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer
Dr. Gabrielle practices at Alliance Spine and Physical Medicine.
She offers free phone consults and works with patients locally in Georgia.
You can find her on:
Instagram: @dr.gabriellewesemeyer
This conversation was such a helpful reminder that women’s hormone health doesn’t require panic or complexity.
It requires awareness.
Consistency.
And a willingness to honor the way our bodies were designed.
And that’s empowering.
