Coven Women's Health

Is your Monday feeling extra "Monday"?

If you're heading into another work week wondering... 

"What the hell is happening to my body?" or “Why is everything so hard?” 
..well, welcome to midlife, where your hormones threaten to derail every aspect of your life. 

For many women, perimenopause begins during the very years they're stepping into leadership, taking on more responsibility, and doing the biggest work of their careers. 

At the same time, they're navigating brain fog, poor sleep, hot flashes, anxiety, and many other life and work disrupting challenges. 

As Dr. Michelle Jacobson OBGYN discusses on Hysterical Women, these symptoms don't just affect how you feel. They can affect how you show up. 

In short, your hormones may be at the root of your imposter syndrome.

Some women start turning down opportunities, taking more sick days, or questioning whether they can keep performing at the level they're used to. 

It doesn't have to be that way. Understanding what's happening in your body is the first step.

The next is knowing there are evidence-based treatments that can help. 

🎧 Listen to Episode 2 of Hysterical Women wherever you get your podcasts.

You don’t have to just “deal” with hormone symptoms or find the answers on social media. If you’re feeling off and suspect hormones are the culprit, here’s what you can do:

• Track your cycle: Knowing your patterns is the first step to understanding what’s “normal” for you.

• Talk to someone who gets it: At Coven, we get that hormonal health isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you're just starting to feel off or deep in the throes of perimenopause, our team is here to help you feel like yourself again.

• Optimize, don’t obsess: It’s not about “perfect balance” it’s about helping your body find the support it needs.

If you’re looking for support, book a Health Navigation Consult with our team to get clarity, compassion and a personalized roadmap to feeling better. Link in bio.

We know these aren't the only questions keeping you up at night.

What are you Googling at 2 a.m while your partner sleeps peacefully? 🤬

Leave it below (judgment-free), and Dr. J will answer as many as she can in an upcoming Hysterical Women Pod episode. 👇

You might just help another woman who's searching for the exact same thing. 💞

What do Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton, and Lena Dunham have in common?

Endometriosis.

Different generations. Different stories. One condition that has caused millions of women to suffer in silence.

Historically, women with endometriosis were labelled dramatic, difficult, emotional, or "too much" when they were actually living with chronic pain, fatigue, fertility challenges, and symptoms that were poorly understood. 

You try being patient or demure when you feel like your bowels are exploding.

Celebrities are sharing their stories and the new documentary, End Of The Cycle is helping bring these stories into the spotlight.

Awareness matters. Stories matter.

But access matters most.

As Coven's co-founder Dr. Michelle Jacobson OBGYN recently shared on Global News, the goal isn't simply awareness. It's identifying symptoms earlier, putting women on the right pathway sooner, and avoiding years of unnecessary suffering.

What questions do you have for Dr. Michelle Jacobson about endometriosis diagnosis or treatment? 👇

HormoneHealth ChronicPain

Histamine does a lot more than make you sneeze (and then p*e your pants).

A recent Chatelaine article, featuring our very own Dr. J,  explored a viral TikTok trend claiming that a combination of allergy medications and antacids may help with perimenopause symptoms.

As it turns out, the science is a little more interesting (and a lot more complicated) than social media would have you believe.

According to Dr.J, estrogen and histamine appear to have a relationship that goes both ways. Estrogen can stimulate histamine release, while histamine can stimulate estrogen production, creating a potential feedback loop.

And histamine isn't just involved in allergies. It also plays a role in sleep, mood, body temperature regulation, digestion, and more.

Which might help explain why some women notice worsening congestion, itchiness, bloating, reflux, sleep disruption, or other seemingly random symptoms during perimenopause.

The important caveat - A biological explanation is not the same thing as a proven treatment.

While there is real biology behind the trend, research is still limited, and antihistamines and antacids are not currently considered standard treatments for perimenopause symptoms.

One thing we do know for sure: hormones affect a lot more than periods and hot flashes.

Swipe through for Dr. J's take on the estrogen-histamine connection.

This week, Melinda French Gates announced a landmark investment in women's health with the goal of improving access to care for women around the world 🌎 🎉❤️

With all the challenges women continue to face, especially for those without the means to access healthcare, those are some receipts. 🧾

Real investment. Real action. Real change.

The kind of receipts that prove progress is possible.

The kind left behind by people willing to challenge bias, push back on stigma, fund research, ask harder questions, and refuse to accept that "it's normal" is a good enough answer.

So we wanted to share a few receipts from the Coven.

🦀 From Cindy Eckert's fight to bring treatment options to women whose sexual health had long been dismissed.

🌸 To Joanna Griffiths using her platform to spark bigger conversations about women's health and helping bring The Pink Pill to life.

🩺 To our co-founder, Dr. Michelle Jacobson (aka Dr. J), who has dedicated her career to advancing menopause care, hereditary cancer prevention, survivorship, research, education, and a better standard of care for women.

Progress doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when people challenge outdated systems, invest in better solutions, and refuse to accept the status quo.

Women's health isn't a niche issue.

It's a health issue.

Who else is showing their receipts? We'd love to hear about the clinicians, researchers, advocates, founders, policymakers, and organizations helping move women's health forward.

Show your receipts in the comments 👇