Why Women Feel Different Throughout the Month — The Science Explained with Dr. Sarah E. Hill

What if the way you feel every month isn’t “just hormones” — but your brain doing exactly what it was designed to do?
For decades, women’s health research has treated female bodies like smaller versions of men’s, leaving critical questions about hormones, birth control, mood, energy, and even attraction unanswered. Brigid sits down with research psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Sarah E. Hill to unpack the science behind your menstrual cycle, hormonal birth control, and why understanding your biology can transform your health.
From blood sugar changes during your luteal phase to the surprising ways birth control may influence attraction, libido, and emotional wellbeing, this episode offers practical insights every woman deserves to know.
What You’ll Learn In This Episode:
Why women have historically been underrepresented in medical research
How hormonal birth control works—and what it does to your brain and body
The surprising connection between estrogen and energy, libido, confidence, and attraction
What happens when you stop taking hormonal birth control
How progesterone affects mood, cravings, gut health, and stress sensitivity
Why blood sugar and insulin sensitivity change throughout your menstrual cycle
Nutrition strategies to support hormone health during the second half of your cycle
The role of walking, stress management, and recovery in supporting healthy ovulation
The important differences between hormonal birth control and menopausal hormone therapy (HRT)
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Functional Nutrition and Women's Health
01:23 The Historical Oversight in Women's Medicine
06:06 Personal Journey: The Impact of Hormonal Birth Control
09:01 Understanding Hormonal Birth Control Mechanisms
14:11 The Disconnect in Modern Medicine Regarding Birth Control
19:03 Navigating Life After the Pill
23:26 Attraction Dynamics: The Pill's Influence on Partner Choice
31:26 Men's Attraction to Women: The Role of Hormones
37:33 The Invisible Luteal Phase
40:09 Understanding the Menstrual Cycle
44:57 Symptoms of the Luteal Phase
57:07 Nutrition and Insulin Sensitivity
01:01:06 Stress and Hormonal Health
01:07:05 Hormone Therapy vs. Birth Control
01:10:35 Resources and Further Learning
Resources & Links:
+ Watch the full episode on YouTube
+ Dr. Sarah’s Website
+ Dr. Sarah’s Instagram
+ Dr. Sarah’s Podcast (The XX Lab)
+ Join The Being Collective
+ Brigid’s Website
+ Brigid’s Instagram
If this episode helped you better understand your hormones and health, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another woman who deserves to know this information.