Ep. 87/Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, AI in Women's Health, and What Recovery Really Takes With Dr. Nicola Sykes

Written By Cynthia Donovan
 

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Today we are so excited to have Dr. Nicola Sykes revisit the podcast! She's here to encourage women with a missing period to get the care they need by clearing up some all-too common misunderstandings. 

Dr. Sykes also shares insights from her article Where AI Gets it Wrong: https://www.noperiodnowwhat.com/post/where-ai-gets-it-wrong

HA Studies referenced in the podcast:

Amenorrhea-Related Cardiovascular Health (ARCH) study: http://noperiod.info/ARCH - intake questionnaire

https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20538611

This study aims to evaluate heart health in young women with missed menstrual periods. It is a non-interventional, observational study that hopes to further understand how young women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea may be at a greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease through a non-invasive test that assesses blood vessel health. In addition to exploring heart health, the study also aims to measure the patterns of psychosocial stress (patient reported questionnaires), physical activity (Fitbit Versa 4 watch), and caloric nutrition (3-day food diary) that contribute to the development of the condition. Participation involves two in-person visits in a three-month period to Mayo Clinic Florida with a study-provided travel stipend. 

Registry of Very Early Estrogen Loss and AnovuLation (REVEAL): http://noperiod.info/REVEAL - intake questionnaire

https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20570285

This study involves completely remote participation, where we hope to build a registry of women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea to understand the prevalence, racial and ethnic diversity, underlying causes, risk factors, prognosis, and recurrence of this condition. With a goal of 100,000 women with HA, we hope that the registry reflects the widespread distribution of the condition, and its subsequent need for attention from the medical community. In summary, participation involves a series of online questionnaires and 3-day food diary submissions at Baseline, Month 3, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4. To confirm eligibility, we ask participants to submit bloodwork for review by our expert panel to determine if their hormone levels fall within the range associated with hypothalamic hypoestrogenism. If participants do not have recent bloodwork, we will provide a study-funded at-home fingerstick blood test kit for screening purposes.

Apply for coaching w/Cynthia:  https://0u8h3wddwmr.typeform.com/StrategyCall

Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Website: https://www.periodnutritionist.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist


Dr. Sykes has a PhD in computational biology from MIT. After graduating she worked for a biotechnology company while pursuing her dreams of a family, which were thwarted by a diagnosis of hypothalamic amenorrhea. She spent the next 18 months trying to conceive and immersed herself in research to learn how to recover from hypothalamic amenorrhea. Concurrently, she tried the medical route to pregnancy, with multiple doctor visits, injections, and ultrasounds resulting only in failure. Ultimately, she was able to achieve a natural pregnancy. 

Since that time, Dr. Sykes has shared her knowledge of the path to recovery, helping hundreds of others achieve their dreams of womanhood and pregnancy.

Listen Now:

 
Cynthia Donovan
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Ep. 86/From Wedding Weight Pressure to True Wellness: Kaitlin’s HA Recovery Story