Blog - Dr. Alexandra MacKillop

Gut Feelings: The Relationship Between Endometriosis and IBS (and Strategies You Can Use to Help Your Health at Home)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and endometriosis are two chronic conditions that often co-occur in women, leading to significant discomfort and impacting quality of life. While they are distinct diagnoses, emerging research suggests a complex interplay between the two, influenced by factors such as food sensitivities, inflammation, estrogen levels, the gut…
Your Period Is Missing But You’re Not Pregnant. Why?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothalamic amenorrhea often have overlapping symptoms, with a hallmark of missing or irregular periods. Given this, it can be challenging and confusing to figure out which of the two is going on. After all, they are two distinct conditions affecting women’s reproductive health, each with…
The Benefits of Inositol for Hormones and Metabolism

Inositol, a naturally occurring sugar alcohol, plays a critical role in various biological processes and has gained attention for its potential health benefits, particularly in relation to metabolism, anxiety, blood sugar control, hypothyroidism, and oxidative stress. Inositol exists in several forms, with myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol being the most studied. This…
Herbal Supplements for Low Progesterone (so you can lengthen your luteal phase & have a successful pregnancy)

Have you been diagnosed with low progesterone? Or maybe you have symptoms of low progesterone, like a short luteal phase, spotting before periods, fertility struggles and more. In a world of hormone drugs and providers who are too quick to prescribe the birth control, it’s natural to wonder what you…
How to Survive The Mirena Crash

If you’ve been on social media lately, you might have come across the term “Mirena Crash.” If you’ve ever considered a Mirena IUD or another type of IUD, orT you already have one in place, you might (understandably) be wondering, what is the Mirena Crash and How do I prevent…
Natural Alternatives to The Birth Control Pill

Hormonal contraceptives cause a slew of problems, but so does a pregnancy that you aren’t emotionally, physically or financially ready for. So, what’s a woman to do? In today’s post, I’ll be presenting two viable alternatives to hormonal birth control for preventing pregnancy. Then, at the end, we’ll cover what…
Why Does My Period Stop and Start Again?

Usually, we know what to expect from month to month. But what do you do when your period starts behaving differently than usual? In my office, I frequently see women dealing with period problems. Unfortunately, many providers have told these women that their experiences are “normal” even though they are…
Here’s How Your Gut Health Affects Acne, Eczema, Hives and More

Gut health is a hot topic right now in natural health circles, and for good reason…it affects just about every other system of our bodies! But particularly with regards to skin health, our gastrointestinal system (i.e. “gut”) is of crucial importance. There are three main mechanisms for this, which include…