Lara Briden's Podcast

If you’ve struggled with irregular periods, you might have noticed it can be a little tricky to figure out exactly what’s going on—and, therefore, exactly what you need to do to get your period back. In this episode, Lara discusses:the two most common explanations for irregular periods,how to tell them apart, andhow hypothalamic amenorrhea is frequently misdiagnosed as PCOS. Links:Prof Jerilynn Prior's paper about hypothalamic suppressionPCOS cannot be diagnosed by ultrasoundCyclic progesterone therapy for PCOSLara's metabolism book

If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, the big question is: What type of lesions?In this episode, Lara challenges long-held assumptions to explore:the three types of endometriosis lesions, emerging evidence that superficial lesions may not explain pain or other symptoms, alternative explanations for pelvic pain and infertility, including pelvic congestion, immune dysfunction, and gut microbiome imbalance, and an update on the bacterial contamination hypothesis.Links:Could pelvic congestion syndrome explain your pelvic pain?Prevalence of endometriosis in asymptomatic women (1991 study)Surgical removal of superficial peritoneal endometriosis for managing women with chronic pelvic pain: time for a rethink? (2019 BJOG article)Bacterial contamination hypothesis (2018 paper)Fusobacterium infection facilitates the development of endometriosis (2023 paper)ANZCA 2024 Statement on pelvic pain and endometriosis 

Is your low blood sugar a symptom of insulin resistance or mild dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system?In this episode, Lara returns to the topic of hypoglycemia to discuss:the difference between insulin resistance and dysautonomia,why unstable blood sugar does not automatically mean insulin resistance, and her concerns about continuous glucose monitoring. Links:Dr Andrew Maxwell's presentation about dysautonomia, hypermobility, and mast cell activation.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar include light-headedness, headaches, and anxiety. Hypoglycemia can even feel like panic attacks. In this episode, Lara discusses:why young women are more prone to hypoglycemia,the importance of the autonomic nervous system and a "blunted glucagon response," and what you can do to feel better. Links:Prevalence of self-reported symptoms attributed to hypoglycaemia within a general female population of the UKHypoglycemic symptoms in the absence of diabetes: Pilot evidence of clinical hypoglycemia in young women

Do you feel hungry all the time? Abnormally hungry? If so, it’s worth trying to figure out why. Potential drivers of abnormally high hunger include insulin resistance, gut and microbiome issues, low blood sugar, and food addiction—just to name a few.In this episode, Lara explores food addiction and some of the controversy around the term. She also discusses the next best steps on the road to recovery. Links: Lara's new book about metabolic healthPoll: Addiction to highly processed food among older adultsDr. Jen Unwin's Resource page