Dr. Jolene Brighten, ND - Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, PMDD, PMOS and Postpartum Hormones

Women are often told that painful periods, irregular cycles, bloating, mood changes, fatigue, brain fog, postpartum symptoms, and hormonal shifts are “normal.”

But common does not mean something should be ignored.

In this episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten, ND joins me for a practical deep dive into female-specific conditions that are too often missed, minimized, or treated in isolation, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, PMDD, PCOS/PMOS, fibroids, postpartum thyroid changes, and the gut-hormone connection.

Dr. Brighten explains why endometriosis is not just a reproductive condition, how adenomyosis differs from endometriosis, why PMDD is not simply “bad PMS,” how histamine may play a role in cyclical symptoms, and why PCOS is now being reframed as a broader metabolic and endocrine condition.

Join the most comprehensive female-specific community for health and longevity optimization. After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.

https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/female-longevity-community

This episode is sponsored by Zen Basil. Their certified edible basil seeds are designed for human nutrition, deliver 15g of fiber per serving, and are batch-tested for glyphosate and over 400 pesticides. 

Use the code KAYLA20 for 20% off.

https://zenbasil.com/shopzenbasil/zenbasilseedbag

In this conversation:

  • Why endometriosis is a full-body inflammatory condition

  • The difference between endometriosis and adenomyosis

  • The three types of endometriosis and why imaging matters

  • Why painful periods, ovulation pain, gut symptoms, and fatigue deserve investigation

  • The connection between histamine, estrogen, progesterone, and cyclical symptoms

  • Why PCOS is now being reframed as PMOS

  • Insulin resistance, GLP-1s, estrogen metabolism, and inflammation

Chapters

00:00:00 Trailer / Cold Open

00:01:13 Why Female-Specific Symptoms Need Better Answers

00:02:14 Endometriosis Is Not Just Period Pain

00:05:20 Why Endometriosis Can Take Decades to Diagnose

00:07:38 Imaging, Laparoscopy, and Better Surgery Planning

00:10:18 Dr. Jolene Brighten’s Endometriosis Story

00:14:10 The 3 Types of Endometriosis

00:17:46 Birth Control, Hormone Suppression, and What It Does Not Fix

00:19:13 Ovulation Pain, IBS Symptoms, and Gut-Hormone Clues

00:41:18 Supplements, GLP-1s, Progesterone, and Emerging Endometriosis Research

00:49:55 How to Choose the Right Endometriosis Surgeon

00:59:48 Adenomyosis, HIFU, Fibroids, and the Reproductive Microbiome

01:11:57 PMDD, Histamine, and Why PMS Is Not the Same Thing

01:24:10 PCOS/PMOS, Insulin Resistance, GLP-1s, and Myo-Inositol

01:39:09 Creatine, Endometriosis, and Individual Risk

01:42:38 Postpartum Hormones, Thyroid Screening, and Final Takeaways

Connect with Kayla:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity

Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity

Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054

Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227

Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com

Connect with Dr Jolene:

Website: https://drbrighten.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoleneBrighten   

Order Her New Book: https://drbrighten.com/adhd-in-women/

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Dr. Izabella Wentz: IBS Root Causes, Leaky Gut, Autoimmunity, and How To Start Healing Your Gut