Hormone Imbalance, PMS, Perimenopause & Menopause in San Diego, CA
At Thrive Wellness, hormonal imbalance across the female lifespan — from PMS and PCOS in the reproductive years to the complex transition of perimenopause and menopause — is one of our core areas of expertise. Our integrative San Diego, CA team combines functional medicine, acupuncture, herbal therapy, and nutritional support to restore hormonal balance and help you feel like yourself again. Call (619) 984-4317 or book a free initial consultation to get started.
Book OnlineUnderstanding Hormonal Imbalance in Women
Female hormonal health involves a delicate, dynamic interplay between estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, insulin, thyroid hormones, and the brain-body signaling system that orchestrates them all. When any of these systems falls out of balance — as they frequently do in response to chronic stress, dietary patterns, gut dysfunction, environmental exposures, and age-related changes — the downstream effects can be profound: irregular periods, severe PMS, PCOS, fertility challenges, perimenopausal mood swings, hot flashes, sleep disruption, weight gain, brain fog, and loss of libido.
At Thrive Wellness, we approach hormonal health with the depth it requires. Our practitioners don’t just measure estrogen and progesterone — they evaluate the full hormonal ecosystem, including how hormones are being metabolized and cleared, the role of gut health and liver function in estrogen balance, the adrenal contribution to sex hormone production, and the insulin sensitivity that profoundly affects PCOS and perimenopausal weight management. This comprehensive view is what allows us to build protocols that actually work.
Hormonal Conditions We Treat
- PMS and PMDD (severe premenstrual syndrome)
- Irregular periods and menstrual dysfunction
- PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
- Estrogen dominance
- Progesterone deficiency
- Fertility support and preconception optimization
- Perimenopause (hot flashes, mood changes, sleep disruption, irregular cycles)
- Menopause (symptom management and long-term hormone health)
- Postpartum hormonal recovery
- Low testosterone in women (fatigue, low libido, mood changes)
- Hormonal acne and skin changes
How Thrive Wellness Treats Hormonal Imbalance
Functional Medicine: Caitlin Fuller, MSTOM, HHP is one of our primary practitioners for women’s hormonal health, with deep training through the Kresser Institute’s ADAPT program in PCOS, endometriosis, fertility, and menopause management. Her approach involves comprehensive hormone testing at the appropriate phase of the cycle, evaluation of estrogen metabolism pathways, gut and liver function assessment, and adrenal status. Treatment protocols are built around your individual hormonal picture and may include targeted supplementation, herbal medicine (both Western and Traditional Chinese), dietary modifications to support hormone metabolism, and blood sugar regulation. Learn more on our Functional Medicine page.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture has a well-documented influence on hormonal regulation — particularly in regulating the menstrual cycle, reducing PMS and menopause symptoms, supporting ovarian function, and modulating the stress hormones that disrupt sex hormone balance. At Thrive Wellness, Dr. Adam Fuller’s acupuncture treatment for hormonal conditions draws on Classical Chinese medicine point protocols for gynecological health combined with modern understanding of neuroendocrine regulation. Learn more on our Acupuncture & Sports Medicine page.
EMDR Therapy: For patients whose hormonal symptoms have a significant stress, anxiety, or trauma component — including PMDD driven by heightened stress sensitivity and perimenopausal mood dysregulation with an underlying trauma history — EMDR Therapy & Counseling with Mandy Pfaff provides the psychological support that makes physical treatment more effective and durable.
Hormone Imbalance, PMS & Menopause FAQs
What is estrogen dominance and how is it treated at Thrive Wellness?
Estrogen dominance occurs when estrogen levels are high relative to progesterone — either due to excess estrogen production, impaired estrogen clearance, or insufficient progesterone. It drives symptoms including heavy or irregular periods, severe PMS, breast tenderness, weight gain around the hips and thighs, and mood changes. At Thrive Wellness in San Diego, CA , we address estrogen dominance by supporting liver detoxification pathways, improving gut health (the gut plays a critical role in estrogen recirculation), reducing inflammatory load, and using targeted nutrients like DIM and calcium D-glucarate to support healthy estrogen metabolism.
Can acupuncture help with PMS and menstrual irregularity?
Yes — acupuncture is one of the most effective tools for regulating the menstrual cycle and reducing PMS symptoms. By influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, acupuncture helps normalize the hormonal signals that govern cycle length, ovulation, and the luteal phase — reducing the estrogen-progesterone imbalance that drives PMS. Many patients at Thrive Wellness notice significant improvement in cycle regularity and PMS severity within 2–3 months of regular acupuncture treatment.
What is the Thrive Wellness approach to PCOS?
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) involves a complex interaction of insulin resistance, elevated androgens, and disrupted ovarian function. At Thrive Wellness, our functional medicine approach to PCOS addresses all three components: insulin resistance through dietary modification and targeted supplementation (inositol, berberine, magnesium), androgen excess through adrenal and ovarian support, and cycle regulation through acupuncture and herbal medicine. This multi-system approach consistently produces better outcomes than single-intervention approaches.
Can Thrive Wellness help with perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes?
Yes — perimenopause is one of the conditions our Thrive Wellness practitioners treat most frequently and successfully. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood instability, brain fog, sleep disruption, and irregular cycles respond well to a combination of acupuncture (which modulates the vasomotor instability driving hot flashes), herbal medicine (particularly Traditional Chinese and Western botanicals for estrogen transition support), and functional medicine protocols addressing estrogen metabolism, adrenal support, and nutrient optimization for the perimenopausal transition.
What testing does Thrive Wellness use for hormonal assessment?
At Thrive Wellness, hormonal testing is ordered based on your symptom picture and the phase of your cycle. Assessment may include a comprehensive sex hormone panel (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, LH, FSH), estrogen metabolite testing to assess how estrogen is being cleared, adrenal stress index with diurnal cortisol, full thyroid panel, insulin and blood sugar markers, and nutrient status. For perimenopausal patients, testing is timed to capture the hormonal transition accurately.
Can hormonal imbalances be treated without pharmaceutical hormones?
For many patients — particularly those in earlier stages of hormonal transition or with lifestyle-driven imbalances — significant improvement is achievable through the functional medicine and acupuncture approaches at Thrive Wellness without pharmaceutical hormone intervention. Some patients ultimately benefit from bioidentical hormone support alongside these approaches, which our team can discuss based on your individual assessment and preferences. The goal is always to use the least intervention necessary to achieve optimal results.
Are women’s hormonal health services at Thrive Wellness covered by HSA or FSA?
Yes — functional medicine, acupuncture, and EMDR therapy at Thrive Wellness are all covered by HSA and FSA accounts. We offer functional medicine follow-up packages and integrative care packages combining acupuncture with functional medicine at a discounted rate. Visit our Pricing & Packages page or call (619) 984-4317 in San Diego, CA .