Courtney D.

For as long as I can remember, I struggled with excruciating period pain. When I was younger, the first day of my period often meant sharp, stabbing cramps that left me doubled over in agony. I’d vomit (TMI, but keeping it real here), miss school and sometimes even end up in the hospital because the pain was unbearable.

Doctors prescribed naproxen and suggested birth control as the solution. While this dulled the pain from an 11 to maybe a 9, it was still there—and every month, I braced myself for what I thought was “normal.” But here’s the thing: period pain may be common, but it is not normal. It took me years to unlearn this belief and realize that what I was experiencing was not okay.

After diving into hormone health through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition’s program, devouring books on cycle syncing and making lifestyle changes to support my hormones, I finally saw a shift. While I still experience occasional mild cramps or PMS, I’ve left behind the debilitating pain that once ruled my life.

Now, it’s my mission to help other women do the same.