We will be running more Endo Groups over the next few months. A monthly Endo Group for existing patients (a monthly endo group), or people who have seen Hannah before. Also a new intake for Endo patients - this will be fortnightly for 6 sessions for those new to their endo journey or naturopathic treatment.
If you're interested in taking part please get in touch, fill out the intake form and lets get started!
Places are limited, each group only has a few spots!
Anyone who has been diagnosed with endometriosis or adenomyosis
Existing New Leaf Patients
For the first time we are opening the group for New patients of the clinic, but we'll need to get a bit of info from you first which involves an additional intake session (so you'll have 5 group sessions plus one individual 30min appointment with Hannah)
Monthly Group Naturopathic appointments & education sessions. In-person and live this is not pre-recorded content you have to ingest!
Personalised naturopathic care. These are appointments, not just info sessions!
Limited places per group! Our group sessions are intimate and personal.
By signing up you are committing to all five sessions it's not a drop-in group - you get the most out of it when we're all together each month.
If you miss a session you'll be sent a recording of the education session and your auto payment will continue to be deducted.
Pay in full at the time of booking for all 5 (or 6) sessions for a 20% discount or as a monthly auto-recurring payment through our secure system.
The 5-session program is non-refundable (contact us if extenuating circumstances)
For existing patients, each appointment is $90, a total of $450 for 5 months of naturopathic treatment (or a one-off charge of $360)
New patients of the clinic will also have a one-on-one intake appointment with Hannah prior to starting the group so she can get to know you before the group sessions start, meaning they'll receive 6 sessions per term (still $90 per session, and a total of $540).
All session are held online viz Zoom, conveniently so you can get treatment from the comfort of your own home.
During each session, participants receive individualised care through "Check-Ins." These are shorter consultations conducted in front of the other group members. Initially, this may seem unusual, but it allows participants to learn from each other's experiences. The focus is on addressing one area at a time, such as helping with prescriptions or going through pathology or test results if necessary.
Group Naturopathic Consults are sessions where a group of individuals come together to receive education and personalised care from a naturopath. The sessions include providing each patient attention to their own personal clinical needs, as well as naturopathic education specific to the needs of the group and people with endometriosis.
While the consultations are primarily conducted in a group setting, there is an opportunity for a private one-on-one session with Hannah if there are specific concerns that individuals prefer not to discuss in front of the group.
In addition to Hannah, a trained group facilitator named Sophia Gerontakos is present in each session. Sophia coordinates the groups, ensures the sessions stay on schedule, takes notes, and assists participants with any needs they may have.
Endometriosis and adenomyosis are complex conditions and we'll be addressing all of this - gut, immune, mental health, sex, body-mind life - all of it. We will not specifically be addressing fertility cases - what I mean by this is that if you are actively trying to fall pregnant or undergoing fertility treatment this will have to be carried out in one-on-one consults. Please let me know if you have questions about this.
Group consultations do not replace one-on-one consults - but you may not need both. Many of the existing Group members learn when something is specific for the group but also when you may more targeted support. Ideally, I want you to get the most benefits from the group work as your primary place of care.
Group consults are not group therapy - we all come with our own experiences and life decisions - there is always a place to offer support, we are there to hear one another’s experiences rather than give and receive advice and we encourage listening without judgement.
So, the results aren't super magical - but there WAS a reduction in the hot flushes by eating ½ cup of cooked soybeans every day (hello phytoestrogens), and there WAS some changes in the gut microbiome, which may or may not have contributed...more science needs to be done but we love that people are looking at hormone health holistically.
What we do know is that there are a few things that help:
👉 Managing stress is a HUGE factor in reducing these flushes
👉 Herbal medicine can take the edge off like nothing else!
👉 Some research shows reflexology & aromatherapy can help
👉 Getting adequate sleep!
👉 Reduction in alcohol
👉 Phytoestrogens in your food (and herbal tonics)
The exact cause is unknown but likely influenced by various factors:
➡ It is believed to involve changes in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates body temperature.
➡ Low oestrogen levels, especially after menopause, contribute to these changes.
➡ The temperature regulation set point in the hypothalamus is thought to be altered.
➡ This alteration is linked to low oestrogen levels.
➡ A small increase in core body temperature may be a key trigger.
➡ Neurons in the brain, which undergo hypertrophy after menopause, play a role in this thermoregulatory dysfunction.
➡ Neurons cause increased signalling to heat dissipation effectors in the central nervous system (CNS).
➡ Signals also affect gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons related to reproductive hormones.
➡ Oestrogen interacts with neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, endogenous opioids, and serotonin.
This interaction is considered part of the mechanism leading to hot flashes and night sweats.
Hope this helps!
The study's primary objective was to identify clusters of women with endometriosis based on their comorbidities. To achieve this, the researchers analysed data extracted from the Spanish National Health System, including all visits of women aged 16-65. The result? Six distinct clusters of women with endometriosis emerged, each characterized by specific comorbidities:
Cluster 1: Less multiple chronic conditions.
Cluster 2: Anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders.
Cluster 3: Allergy or immediate hypersensitivity.
Cluster 4: Multiple chronic conditions.
Cluster 5: Anemia and infertility.
Cluster 6: Headache and migraine.
The data used for this study included 4,055 women aged between 21 and 50 with endometriosis. Notably, Cluster 1, characterized by less multiple chronic conditions, had the second-largest number of patients, with 1,212 individuals.
Meanwhile, Cluster 2, comprising patients with anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders, had lower numbers but a high frequency of clinical visits related to their multiple chronic conditions. This cluster's multiple chronic conditions included anxiety (73.85%), headache/migraine (68.55%), urinary infection (51.59%), chronic/allergic rhinitis (48.6%), bursitis/tendinitis (44.88%), anemia (31.1%), and elevated cholesterol (31.8%).
Cluster 3, focusing on anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders, was the largest in terms of patients, with 1,334 individuals.
This research reveals that endometriosis isn't a one-size-fits-all condition. By categorising patients into clusters based on their presenting conditions, it opens up the possibility of tailoring treatment approaches to specific patient profiles. Understanding these relationships could lead to breakthroughs in clinical, biochemical, and molecular research.
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the intricate connections between endometriosis and comorbid conditions, offering hope for more tailored and effective treatment strategies. It underscores the need to view endometriosis not as a monolithic condition but as a multi-faceted disorder with diverse "endometriosis routes" that can be better understood through careful clustering and analysis.
We see people with endometriosis every day in our clinic, and to be honest, we don't really need a study to confirm what we know BUT we love have science prove that
We wanted to let you know a little about how we structure our fertility appointments at New Leaf. All our appointments are carried out via Telehealth, and with the utmost care and support for your Naturopathic Fertility Journey.
We structure a long initial fertility appointment because we avoid one-size-fits-all ‘protocols’, and want to do more than simply skim the surface of your case. These appointments can be made for individuals, or for couples if your fertility journey involves a partner. Fertility is not just about egg quality, we assess many areas, especially male factors.
During your first appointment, we comprehensively review your reproductive health and explore the relationship between your reproductive and overall health. We’ll take a thorough look at any investigations you’ve already had done, and determine if you’d benefit from further investigations such as blood tests, ultrasound, semen analysis, and vaginal microbiome profile - we can work collaboratively with your GP to arrange these. We’ll also explore the ways your environment and diet can influence your fertility.
Your individualised treatment plan may involve dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as herbal and nutritional medicine. All treatments are safely prescribed alongside any current medication, including IVF medications.
Follow-up fertility appointments are held every 4 - 6 weeks, or appropriately timed around your IVF egg collection / embryo transfer. These appointments provide the opportunity for us to discuss your progress and any results, and to review and reassess your treatment plan.
We take this very thorough approach to fertility appointments at New Leaf because your fertility doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We know that egg, sperm and uterine health are affected by your broader overall health and environment and that we can make changes to optimise fertility outcomes.
Adding a naturopathic lens to your fertility care is suitable for anyone trying to conceive - whether you are in a preconception phase, or if your needs are more complex, such as those with PCOS, endometriosis, those needing IVF treatment, doing egg/sperm donor cycles, those with diminished ovarian reserve, with recurrent implantation failure, or experiencing miscarriage or baby loss. Where partnered, ideally both partners are evaluated and treated.
We look forward to working together towards your goals on your Naturopathic Fertility Journey.
