I am so excited about today's episode. I cannot wait to share this conversation with you guys. My guest today is Dr.

Jolene Brighton. She is a doctor of naturopathic medicine. She's one of

the leading experts in women's medicine and she's a pioneer in her exploration of the leading experts in women's medicine and she's a pioneer in her exploration of the far-reaching impact of hormonal birth control and the little known side effects that impact health in a large way.

So I want to tell you guys a little bit

about how this episode came to be

and a little bit about my own journey

with hormonal health.

So I went on the birth control pill when I was maybe 15 or 16.

I went on it for my skin.

I didn't have terrible skin, but like any hormonal teenager, I had some breakouts.

And that was pretty much what every doctor did for acne at that time,

and it might still be, I'm sure all of my friends did it so I did it too and it

cleared my skin right up and so I was on birth control until my early 20s, I believe.

I don't really know why I stopped.

I just did.

At that time, also, I became heavily addicted

to drugs and alcohol.

And throughout my 20s, I was basically a trash can

for substances, and it was a very hostile environment.

I was never worried about getting pregnant.

I was careless, but it never did happen.

And I had really irregular periods,

...