How Gut Health Shapes Hormone Balance and Fertility

In addition to digestion, gut function plays a role in hormone balance, metabolism, and reproductive health. Disruptions in the gut microbiome can contribute to symptoms such as PMS, cycle irregularities, and thyroid imbalance, which can influence fertility.

The Gut–Hormone Connection: Why It Matters

Your gut does far more than digest food. It’s home to trillions of bacteria that influence:

• Estrogen and progesterone balance

• Cortisol (stress hormone) levels

• Insulin sensitivity

• Inflammation throughout the body

A healthy gut helps hormones stay balanced. A disrupted gut can contribute to hormone-related

symptoms like:

• Irregular periods

• PMS or painful cramps

• PCOS or endometriosis symptoms

• Fatigue, bloating, and brain fog

Gut Health and Estrogen Balance

One of the most important links between gut health and fertility involves estrogen metabolism.

The gut microbiome contains a group of bacteria known as the estrobolome, which helps regulate

how estrogen is processed and eliminated from the body. When gut bacteria are out of balance:

• Symptoms like heavy periods, mood swings, acne, or fibroids may worsen

Supporting gut health helps the body maintain healthy estrogen levels.

How Acupuncture Supports Gut Health and Hormone Balance

Acupuncture works through the nervous system to regulate digestion, hormones, and stress response. Benefits may include:

• Improved gut motility and digestion

• Reduced inflammation

• Better regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis

• Improved blood flow to reproductive organs

The Chiropractic Role in Hormonal and Digestive Health

Chiropractic care supports the gut–brain connection by improving nervous system communication. When the spine is restricted or misaligned, nerve signals to digestive organs can be disrupted.

Chiropractic care may help by:

• Enhancing nervous system balance

• Supporting healthy digestion and elimination

• Reducing stress-related hormone disruption

• Improving pelvic and spinal alignment for reproductive health

Simple Ways to Support Gut Health Naturally

Alongside acupuncture and chiropractic care, these habits can help improve gut and hormone balance:

• Focus on fiber-rich foods such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, avocado, and leafy greens to promote healthy digestion and support balanced estrogen levels.

• Include prebiotic foods like garlic, onions, leeks, and asparagus to feed the beneficial gut bacteria that help regulate hormone metabolism.

• Incorporate omega-3–rich options such as salmon, sardines, walnuts, and flaxseed oil. These healthy fats help protect the gut lining and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

• Prioritize quality sleep and stress management, as ongoing stress can disrupt the gut–brain connection, slow digestion, and interfere with healthy hormonal signaling.

Please contact the office with any questions. Feel free to reach out via email or by phone.

Take care!

info@clechiropractic.com

216-952-3830

Dr. Alex

Supporting Your Fertility, Naturally: How We Help at CC&IHC

When you’re trying to conceive—or even just starting to think about it—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by information, options, and emotions. But here’s the truth: your body is wise, and it often just needs the right support to come back into balance.

At Cleveland Chiropractic & Integrative Health Center, we take a holistic, personalized approach to fertility. Whether you're preparing for pregnancy naturally or supporting IUI/IVF cycles, we’re here to help you feel empowered, connected, and cared for.

Here are a few of the ways we support fertility in our practice:

Nervous System Support Through Chiropractic

Your spine and nervous system control every function in your body—including your hormones and reproductive organs. Gentle chiropractic adjustments help reduce stress, regulate hormones, and optimize communication between your brain and body. We especially focus on pelvic alignment and reducing tension that could impact reproductive function.

Fertility Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a powerful tool for enhancing fertility. It can:

• Regulate menstrual cycles

• Improve ovarian and uterine blood flow

• Reduce stress and support emotional health

• Support egg quality and endometrial thickness

• Complement IUI/IVF treatments

Our providers customize each treatment to your cycle and your unique needs.

Mercier Therapy

Mercier Therapy is a gentle abdominal therapy designed to increase blood flow, mobility, and function in the uterus, ovaries, and surrounding tissue. It’s ideal for anyone with:

• Unexplained infertility

• Painful periods or pelvic tension

• A history of abdominal surgery or trauma

• Recurrent loss or difficulty conceiving

Many of our patients have found this therapy to be a turning point in their fertility journey.

Whole-Body Wellness

We also support fertility through:

• Nutritional counseling (think whole foods, healthy fats, and hormone-supportive nutrients)

• High-quality supplements like folate, magnesium, omega-3s, and vitamin D

• Lifestyle support including sleep, cycle tracking, and stress management

Your Fertility Journey Is Unique

You deserve care that honors your whole story—body, mind, and heart. If you're ready to explore holistic fertility support, we’d love to be part of your team.

📍 Located in Brecksville, OH
📅 Book your first visit → BOOK!

How Does Acupuncture Help PCOS?

September is PCOS Awareness Month!

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a condition due to insulin resistance.  Women with PCOS experience a hormonal imbalance as insulin stimulates secretion of testosterone by the ovaries.   Diet and stress are major risk factors to PCOS.  Diets high in refined carbohydrates (starchy, sugary foods) can lead to insulin resistance.  When we are in a state of chronic stress, we pump out a lot of cortisol regularly.  Cortisol raises our blood sugar and requires out body to produce insulin to manage it. 

Symptoms of PCOS can include weight gain, irregular periods, unwanted facial hair, hair thinning, hair loss, acne, and infertility. 

Metformin is frequently prescribed to patients with PCOS.  Metformin helps get blood sugar under control.  However, there are ways to regulate your blood sugar with diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes.

How does acupuncture fit in?

Regular acupuncture sessions can reduce testosterone, regulate ovulation (and regulate menstruation), and reduce stress.  Acupuncture is recommended for 3 months prior to TTC to be more effective. 

When I am working with anyone with hormonal imbalance or trying to conceive I will order labs, including hormones on cycle day 3 and cycle day 21.  These labs include full thyroid panel, hormone levels, vitamin D, and maybe a few others depending on your history.  Why CD3 and CD21?  Well, looking at CD3 of your menstrual cycle helps us determine the “baseline” of your hormones.  On CD21 (or 7 days past ovulation), we look at progesterone to see if you have ovulated.  Depending on your labs, an individualized supplementation plan will be recommended.

Reducing environmental hormonal exposure and making changes to your diet have been also shown in research to be very effective in managing PCOS and improving overall health.

Questions?  Email me!

In health,
Dr. Candace

Acupuncture for IVF

If you are reading this, I’m sorry.  You were brought here for a reason.  Looking for more answers, looking for hope, maybe looking to “do everything you can do”.  This may be your first round of IVF or this may be your last round.  Every couple or person undergoing IVF does it for a different reason.  You (and your partner) may have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility or an ovarian disorder, you may be working with a sperm or egg donor, you may have a genetic disorder and are planning to test your embryos.  Whatever brought you here, I want to thank you for being here and considering alternative medicine.  This journey is not easy and IVF is not easy.  I want to remember that you are strong.  I hope this blog can provide information on acupuncture and Chinese medicine methodology so that you can have a better understanding on what to expect during acupuncture treatments and can decide if acupuncture is something you would like to incorporate into your treatment plan. 

How can acupuncture help?

Acupuncture is beneficial before and after both an egg retrieval and embryo transfer.  It can improve overall fertility, regulate hormones, and normalize the menstrual cycle. 

·      Acupuncture can help improve blood flow to the pelvis and reproductive organs. 

·      Undergoing fertility treatments is stressful: from the appointments, to the medications, to the constant fluctuations of emotions, and the financial burden, acupuncture can help your body respond to stress.  It helps your muscles relax, it slows your breathing, and it calms the mind.  Sometimes during treatments, some people are so relaxed they fall asleep.

·      Acupuncture improves the changes of having a baby:  we are looking at more than just getting you pregnant.  We want you to bring a baby home.  Acupuncture doesn’t stop after the embryo transfer. 

What does an initial acupuncture appointment for preconception look like?

An initial acupuncture appointment for preconception will typically last about 1.5-2 hours.  Your practitioner will want an in depth understanding of your medical history and fertility journey.  Your provider will use visual inspection, feel your pulse, and look at your tongue in their assessment.  A Chinese medicine diagnosis will be given based on your history and examination. The acupuncture needles may be placed in your arms, legs, head and face, abdomen, back, and even your ears depending on your Chinese medicine diagnosis.

What do follow up treatments look like?

Expect your entire appointment to last about 1 hour.  Your acupuncturist will likely ask about any symptoms you are experiencing, check your pulse and tongue while they perform a visual assessment, and then he or she will insert the needles!  The needles are retained about 30 minutes and then your practitioner will remove them and discuss any of your concerns.  No two women are the same.  Even when working with two women, both diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve from a Western Medicine doctor, their acupuncture treatments may look very different.  When supporting women using the Chinese medicine methodology, many providers will give women dietary recommendations, lifestyle recommendations, and supplementation as this takes a whole systems approach.  

What will my fertility doctor (or reproductive endocrinologist) say about this?

Honestly, it depends on the provider.  I have had some patients have their RE say they are “wasting their money”, but can “do what they want” and I have seen other RE’s strongly encourage their patients to do acupuncture.  Some fertility clinics have an acupuncturist on site that patients work directly with.  Over the last few years, however, I have been noticing more and more RE’s suggest acupuncture and other types of alternative medicine for their patients.

Quick Details:

·      Dr. Candace prefers acupuncture weekly leading up to IUI or IVF.

·      She recommends acupuncture before and after IUI or IVF.  

·      Dr. Candace recommends continuing acupuncture throughout the first trimester.

Stay turned for Part 2: Acupuncture to support early pregnancy.

Candace Gesicki is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture.  She has been supporting women .  She is offering free 15 minute phone consultations for those wondering how acupuncture can support them on their fertility journey.  Email Dr. Candace directly to schedule a phone consult or schedule your initial appointment online.