Female Hormone Imbalances & Weight | O'Keefe Matz Saint Paul, MN

Female Hormone Imbalances and Weight Gain: Testing, Root Causes, and Personalized Care

O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic in Saint Paul Minnesota
Phone: 651 292 8072 • Website: https://improveurhealth.com

A Warm Welcome

Balancing your hormones is one of the most important steps you can take for overall health energy and well being. At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic in Saint Paul Minnesota we often see women struggling with symptoms like fatigue mood swings hot flashes irregular cycles and stubborn weight gain. Whether you are navigating PMS PMDD PCOS or the transition through perimenopause and menopause these issues are not just part of life. With the right testing personalized nutrition and Functional Medicine support it is possible to restore balance and help your hormones work for you not against you.

Why This Matters

Hormone imbalances in women are very common and often misunderstood. Research shows:

20 to 40 percent of women have significant premenstrual symptoms (PMS).
Source: Epidemiology of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) – National Library of Medicine (PMC is a free public database of scientific research)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3972521/
3 to 8 percent have PMDD which is a more severe form of PMS that can cause disabling mood changes and physical symptoms.
Source: For Hers – PMDD overview
https://www.forhers.com/conditions/pmdd-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder
6 to 13 percent of women of reproductive age have PCOS a hormonal condition that affects ovulation and can cause irregular periods acne excess hair growth infertility and weight gain.
Source: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – StatPearls NCBI Bookshelf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459251/
Up to 85 percent of women report a menopause related symptom at some point such as hot flashes sleep disturbance or mood changes.
Source: Menopause – National Institute on Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause
At O’Keefe Matz we use Functional Medicine and targeted testing to look deeper at why symptoms are happening and create a personalized plan that addresses the root cause.

The Four Core Hormones We Evaluate

Estrogen (estradiol estrone estriol)
Estrogen regulates menstrual cycles bone health memory mood and cardiovascular function. Estradiol is the most active form and helps prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy.
Source: Estrogen overview – Endotext NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279105/
Progesterone
Made after ovulation progesterone calms the nervous system supports the thyroid helps with sleep and prepares the uterus for pregnancy. Low levels can increase anxiety and disrupt cycles.

FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)
Made in the brain this hormone tells the ovaries to mature eggs and helps raise estrogen before ovulation.

LH (Luteinizing Hormone)
Also made in the brain LH triggers ovulation and helps the body produce progesterone. Levels rise in menopause when estrogen and progesterone fall.

How Imbalances Affect Health
- Mood and mental health: Fluctuating estrogen and low progesterone are linked to PMS and PMDD
- Reproductive health: Hormone imbalances can lead to painful or irregular periods PCOS difficulty getting pregnant or fibroids
- Bone health: Low estrogen increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures
  Source: Estrogen and Bone Health – NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
  https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/bone-health/estrogen
- Cardiometabolic health and weight gain: Estradiol protects the heart and blood vessels. When estrogen declines women often gain weight especially around the middle and face higher risks of cholesterol problems insulin resistance and diabetes
  Source: Menopause and Heart Disease – American Heart Association
  https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/menopause/menopause-and-heart-disease
- Common Signs and Symptoms
  - Irregular or heavy periods
  - PMS or PMDD symptoms
  - Hot flashes night sweats or sleep trouble
  - Low sex drive or vaginal dryness
  - Hair thinning hair loss or excess hair growth
  - Acne or oily skin
  - Breast tenderness or fibrocystic changes
  - Bloating or digestive upset
  - Infertility or trouble conceiving
  - Headaches mood swings anxiety or depression
  - Endometriosis
  What We Test (and When)
  
  Comprehensive Blood Panel
  We often begin with a broad lab panel that covers 50 to 60 markers to evaluate overall health. This includes:
  - Complete Blood Count (CBC for red and white blood cells)
  - Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (liver kidney and electrolyte health)
  - Cholesterol and triglycerides
  - Inflammation markers like C reactive protein (CRP)
  - Vitamin D
  - Ferritin and iron levels
  - Full thyroid panel including TSH free T4 free T3 reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies
  - Hemoglobin A1c and fasting insulin for blood sugar and diabetes risk
  - Vitamin B12 folate and other essential nutrients
  This broad panel helps us see how your hormones connect with other systems such as the liver gut thyroid and immune system.
  
  Direct Hormone Measurement
  - Blood tests: Estradiol progesterone LH and FSH at specific times in your cycle
  - Saliva tests: A simple non invasive way to check free hormone levels
  - Urine (DUTCH test): Measures both hormones and their metabolites to show how your body is processing them
    Source: DUTCH Test Validation – Precision Analytical
    https://dutchtest.com/research/
  - Root Cause Functional Testing
    - Stool testing (GI MAP): Looks at gut bacteria and an enzyme called beta glucuronidase that can recycle estrogen back into the body
      Source: Gut Microbiome and Estrogen Metabolism – Frontiers in Endocrinology
      https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.544887/full
    - - Genomic testing: Genes such as MTHFR and COMT affect how estrogen is broken down
      - Thyroid testing: Low or high thyroid function can throw off hormone balance
      - Toxin and chemical exposure: Endocrine disrupting chemicals can mimic or block hormones
      - Blood sugar and insulin: Important for PCOS and menopause related weight changes
      Treatment Options We Use at O’Keefe Matz
      
      Conventional or co-managed Care
      - Hormone replacement therapy (HRT or bioidentical BHRT) when appropriate
      - Oral contraceptives to regulate cycles or reduce severe PMDD symptoms
      - Medications for bone density blood pressure or other related issues
      Functional Medicine Strategies
      - Nutrition: We recommend an anti inflammatory Mediterranean style diet rich in vegetables fruits lean protein and healthy fats to support hormone balance
      - Supplements and Botanicals (personalized):
        
        Myo or D chiro inositol: Improves ovulation and insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS
        Source: Greff et al Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2023
        https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-023-01055-z
        
        Vitex (Chaste Tree): Shown to reduce PMS symptoms by balancing brain hormone signals
        Source: Chasteberry and Premenstrual Syndrome – American Family Physician
        https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2005/0901/p821.html
        
        Calcium D glucarate: Helps the body clear excess estrogen through the liver and gut
        
        Complementary Therapies:
        
        Acupuncture: Research shows it helps with hot flashes sleep problems and mood in menopause
        Source: Acupuncture for Menopausal Symptoms – Cochrane Review
        https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007410.pub2/full
        
        Our Process
        
        A detailed intake of your health history lifestyle and symptoms
        
        Testing at the right time in your cycle or stage of life
        
        A personalized care plan that may include diet lifestyle supplements and medications if needed
        
        Follow up visits to track your progress and adjust your plan
        
        Meet Dr. Shannon O’Keefe DC DCBCN
        
        Dr. Shannon O’Keefe is a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Functional Medicine clinician with advanced training in internal diagnosis and clinical nutrition. She focuses on women’s health thyroid and adrenal balance perimenopause and menopause support and metabolic health.
        
        Together with Dr. Janell Matz our clinic offers a boutique setting that blends functional medicine, chiropractic, neurofeedback, and Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) with personalized one on one care.
        
        Ready to Take the Next Step
        
        Call: 651 292 8072
        Visit: https://improveurhealth.com
        
        Location: Saint Paul Minnesota