Hormone Happy Hour with Dr. Heather Rhodes

66. Understanding H. Pylori | The Overlooked Root Cause of Gut, Thyroid, & Hormone Imbalances

This episode of the Hormone Happy Hour podcast, is a deep dive into something that gets missed way more often than people realize: H. pylori. A lot of women think of it as only an ulcer or reflux bacteria, but it can actually impact so much more things like digestion, minerals, iron levels, skin, thyroid health, hormones, and even fertility.
I talk about why H. pylori can make it harder to absorb nutrients like iron, B12, and fat-soluble vitamins, how it connects to things like Hashimoto’s, histamine issues, acne, sluggish digestion, and immune stress, and why gut health matters so much when it comes to fertility for both women and men. We also get into testing, treatment options, biofilms, nervous system support, and the foundational lifestyle pieces that often get overlooked.
In this episode, I cover:
What H. pylori actually is
Signs and symptoms that often get missed
Gut health, skin issues, and histamine reactions
The connection between H. pylori and Hashimoto’s
Biofilms and hidden gut infections
GI-MAP testing and treatment options
Foundational healing support for the gut and nervous system
Mentioned referenced episode for you to binge: 
Iron Copper Episode #15
Sperm Quality Episode #18
Gut Episode #65
Frequency Episode #16
 
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.
 

65. Gut Health & Hormones | Why Restrictive Protocols Aren’t Actually Healing Your Gut

In this episode of the Hormone Happy Hour, I’m connecting the dots between gut health, the immune system, and hormonal imbalances that so many women are dealing with things like Hashimoto’s, eczema, acne, endometriosis, fertility struggles, anxiety, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, and even recurrent miscarriage connected to low progesterone.
I also talk about why so many women stay stuck even after trying restrictive gut protocols and supplements. Because a lot of gut healing starts with foundations that are often missed, especially low stomach acid. When stomach acid is low, it impacts mineral absorption, fat-soluble vitamins, cholesterol production, hormone health, skin health, and even the integrity of the gut lining itself. We also talk about nervous system safety, stress, eating habits, and the spiritual side of stewardship and healing.
In this episode, I cover:
The connection between gut health, the immune system, and hormones
Why gut protocols often fail to create lasting healing
Low stomach acid and how it impacts minerals and nutrient absorption
Leaky gut, inflammation, and immune-driven symptoms
Acne, eczema, anxiety, brain fog, fertility struggles, and stubborn weight gain
A top-down approach to gut healing and rebuilding
Why stress and nervous system dysregulation impact digestion
Stewarding your body through mindset, words, prayer, and healing rhythms
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

64. Fearfully & Wonderfully Made | Why So Many Symptoms Come from Living Outside God’s Design

This episode is a little more faith-centered, I’m recording while traveling and preparing for a women’s conference around Psalm 139, and this message has been on my heart. We hear “fearfully and wonderfully made” often, but I want to invite you to see it as something deeper an invitation into safety, identity, and intimacy with God.
Because when your body doesn’t feel safe, it impacts everything…your hormones, nervous system, energy, and overall healing. In this episode, I talk about how true healing isn’t just physical, it’s body, mind, and spirit working together. And so many symptoms are actually signals that we’re living outside the design God created us for.
In this episode, I cover:
What “fearfully and wonderfully made” really means
The connection between safety, hormones, and the nervous system
Why healing has to include body, mind, and spirit
How lack of safety can show up physically
Speaking life-giving, identity-based words over yourself
Strengthening your spirit through prayer, Scripture, worship, and community
Living outside your design vs. returning to it
Being made for slower rhythms, deep roots, and true nourishment
Feminine design, receiving, and creativity
If this resonates, I also share ways to work together, including consult calls and updated programs around hormones, minerals, and fertility.
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

63. Q&A Chat: Life Updates, Hormone Trends & What I’m Loving Right Now

This episode is a little bit of everything in the best way! I’m answering your questions, sharing behind-the-scenes life updates, and opening up about a deeply personal “wilderness” season that shaped so much of where we are today…from loss and uncertainty to the restoration I couldn’t have planned on my own.
I also share what this current season looks like how I’m approaching workouts, style, business, and boundaries along with what I’m seeing right now with hormones, fertility, and the nervous system. If you’ve been feeling stuck or discouraged in your healing, this one will meet you there.
In this episode, I’m sharing:
A behind-the-scenes look at this season of life and business
My personal “wilderness” testimony and what it taught me about trust, identity, and timing
What restoration has looked like on the other side
Current routines: workouts, style shifts, and creating structure with flexibility
My recent favorite products (and a few “not-so-crunchy” confessions)
What I’m seeing right now with hormones + fertility (including low stomach acid trends)
Why some nervous systems actually feel safer in chaos and how that shows up in healing
Encouragement for when you feel stuck, discouraged, or like nothing is working 
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Things Mentioned in This Episode: 
Clear Stem Skincare 
Cozy Earth use code DRHEATHER
Amazon PJs
Follow Jammie Baker for Style 
CRZ Yoga on Amazon 
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

62. Upgrading Your Standards to Match the Version of You That Is Already Thriving (It’s Time to Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Body)

If you’re waiting for a supplement or a specific lab value to change your life, you’re looking at the wrong map.
We’re diving into the one thing that actually moves the needle when everything else…the protocols, the AI-generated advice, and the "experts" feels like a total mismatch for your real life. It turns out that rapid results (whether we’re talking about fertility wins or just finally feeling like a human again) don't come from working harder at a plan you hate; they come from a ruthless upgrade of what you’re willing to tolerate. I’m breaking down how to stop making decisions based on your past "stuck" self and how to start acting like the woman who already has the energy, the marriage, and the health you’re currently just wishing for.
In this episode, we’re getting into:
Why "good enough" is the silent killer of your hormone and fertility progress.
The difference between just changing your behavior and actually shifting your identity.
A somatic exercise to help you get out of your over-analytical brain and into what your body is actually telling you.
Real-life stories of how raising the bar led to a conception in eight weeks and a massive emotional "softening" for another client.
How to spot the "misalignment" in your current routine that’s draining your battery.
How to make decisions today based on the future version of you, not the version of you that’s tired and frustrated.
 
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

61. Good Sex, Nervous System Healing & Why Intimacy Feels Hard | Getting Out of Your Head and Back Into Your Body | Conversation with Leisha Drews

This episode is a little more open and honest than usual  so quick heads up to grab your headphones.
Leisha Drews joins me for a real conversation around sex, libido, and connection and how intimacy can actually support your nervous system, hormones, and overall healing. This builds on last week’s episode, because one of the ways women move out of stress and back into their bodies is through safe, connected intimacy.
We talk about what “good sex” actually means (hint: it’s not about performance), and some of the deeper blocks that can make connection feel hard — like perfectionism, polarity shifts in marriage, and unprocessed resentment or shame held in the body.
This isn’t about pressure… it’s about safety, presence, and connection.
In this episode, we cover:
Why intimacy can support nervous system regulation
What “good sex” really means 
Getting out of your head and back into your body
Common blocks: perfectionism, polarity shifts, and hidden resentment
The connection between the pelvic floor, emotions, and stored tension
Orgasms, release, and nervous system support
A simple “bring it to the light” conversation for more honesty and trust
 
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Follow Leisha on Instagram 
Subscribe to Happily Hormonal Podcast 
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.
 

60. Metabolizing Stress to Regulate Your Nervous System… The Missing Piece in Hormones, Gut Health & Fertility

If you’ve ever been told to “just relax,” lower your stress, or try another nervous system tool and it still didn’t fix your hormones, gut issues, energy, libido, or fertility struggles, this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Hormone Happy Hour, I’m talking about something I don’t hear discussed enough, the difference between trying to lower stress and actually metabolizing stress. Because the goal isn’t to eliminate stress from your life (that’s impossible), it’s to close the stress loop so your body can return to safety.
When we stay stuck in fight-or-flight, cortisol stays elevated, and your body will literally divert blood flow and nutrients away from things like your gut and reproductive organs. Over time, this can contribute to things like estrogen dominance, low progesterone, poor bile flow, histamine issues, mineral imbalances, pelvic floor tension, and even fertility struggles.
We talk about:
Why most stress tools don’t actually solve the problem
The difference between minimizing stress and metabolizing stress
What fight-or-flight really does to your hormones and digestion
The three biggest reasons women stay stuck in stress patterns
Fear, faith, and making decisions from safety instead of survival
The problem with doing “all the protocols” but still feeling stuck
What it actually means to close the stress loop
The steps of metabolizing stress: trigger, immobilization, action, expression, resolution, and safety
How movement, crying, prayer, breathing, and nourishment help complete the stress cycle
The masculine and feminine parallel in stress and healing
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Episodes Related to Masculine/Feminine Energy:
16. The Role of Energy in Fertility & Healing
43. How to Have Better Sex
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

59. Before Your Next Fertility Cycle (LISTEN to THIS) | IVF, IUI, Implantation & the Fertility Environment

If you feel stuck repeating fertility cycles or constantly trying the next step, sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is pause and look deeper at the environment behind fertility, not just the next procedure.
In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m talking to the women who feel like they’re stuck in a cycle of trying, testing, and moving from one fertility step to the next without stepping back to ask what might be underneath it all. Many approaches focus on egg quality, sperm quality, toxins, parasites, and supplements, but sometimes we need to look at the deeper “axle” behind fertility, not just the visible pieces. This conversation is about stepping back, reducing pressure, and supporting the body at a deeper level.
In this episode, I talk about:
Why some women feel stuck repeating fertility cycles
The Ferris wheel analogy and focusing on the “axle,” not just the “seats”
What IUI and IVF actually do and their typical success rates
Why implantation still depends on the uterine and vaginal environment
The impact of always being in “doing” mode and not enough “receiving”
Masculine and feminine energy and relationship polarity during fertility
Functional labs like hair mineral testing and iron/copper balance
Why sometimes the most helpful step is a reset and rebuilding phase
Follow Me on Instagram 
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Episodes Related to Masculine/Feminine Energy:
16. The Role of Energy in Fertility & Healing
43. How to Have Better Sex
29. Hannah's Story 
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

58. What I’d Do Differently If I Started My Fertility Journey Today

If I were starting my fertility journey today, I would approach it very differently and much more simply.
In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m sharing what I would do differently if I were starting my fertility and hormone healing journey right now. After years of walking this out personally and working with clients, I’ve seen what actually moves the needle and what tends to keep women stuck or spinning their wheels.
I also open up about some of the patterns I had to work through myself, especially around control, undernourishing my body, and missing key signals like libido and cycle health. This episode is about stepping back, simplifying the process, and focusing on the areas that truly create a supportive environment for fertility.
In this episode, I walk through:
The spiritual and nervous system roots that can impact fertility, including fear and control • Why masculine and feminine energy (and relationship alignment) matter more than we think • How libido can be an important signal of hormone health and fertility • The key labs I would run early, including a full iron and copper panel and hair mineral testing • Why mineral balance often needs attention before jumping into complex protocols • The impact of under-eating and why adequate nourishment is foundational for hormone production • Why male partners should be evaluated more thoroughly from the beginning • How to find practitioners who understand the full body while still applying a fertility lens
 
Follow Me on Instagram 
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Episodes Related to Masculine/Feminine Energy:
16. The Role of Energy in Fertility & Healing
43. How to Have Better Sex
28. Girl, You’re Not in Perimenopause
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.
 

57. The Immune System Connection to Fertility

For high-achieving women especially, fertility struggles can sometimes reflect an immune system that’s working overtime and a body that needs deeper support.
In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m digging into a conversation about fertility that I don’t hear talked about enough: the role of the immune system and mineral balance. Many women are told to focus only on hormones or jump straight into complicated gut protocols, but often the body needs a different kind of support first.
I’m also talking about something I see often with the women I work with high-achieving, high-output women whose bodies are dealing with chronic stress, inflammation, and immune overactivity. When the immune system is constantly on high alert, it can make it harder for the body to support implantation, hormone balance, and pregnancy.
In this episode, I walk through:
How the immune system and gut health influence fertility and hormone balance • Why high-achieving women often experience immune overactivation and inflammation • The role progesterone plays in helping calm the immune system • How pathogens, biofilms, toxins, and heavy metals can contribute to immune stress • Why iron, copper, and trace minerals are often an overlooked starting point • The connection between chronic inflammation, implantation challenges, and miscarriage risk • The emotional and spiritual side of fertility, including learning how to receive and release fear
 
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.