Dr Nicole Shortt, ND - Integrative Fertility and Hormonal Health

Dr Nicole Shortt, ND - Integrative Fertility and Hormonal Health My passion is educating women about their bodies. I specialize in fertility and hormone support.

I am passionate about naturopathic medicine and the choices it gives people in healthcare. So many women experience fertility struggles, PMS, painful periods, hormonal imbalances, PCOS, thyroid issues, and struggle with extreme stress. I am here to help bring clarity to confusion and guide you on your journey to optimal health. Visit https://linktr.ee/drnicoleshortt to see the services I offer, educational resources, and to learn more about my practice.

If you’re navigating fertility challenges, please know that your experience is not a reflection of your worth, your stre...
12/19/2025

If you’re navigating fertility challenges, please know that your experience is not a reflection of your worth, your strength, or your future.

Fertility is an intricate dance between hormones, stress, nutrition, emotional wellbeing, and the environment around you. When even one piece feels off, the whole system can feel overwhelming.

In my clinic, I help you understand why things might not be working the way you want them to, and we build a plan that supports your hormones, your cycle, your nervous system, and your overall confidence.

You deserve answers and you deserve a practitioner who listens deeply.

If you’re ready to explore your fertility from a holistic perspective, you can book an initial consult through the link in my bio.

So many women hit perimenopause or menopause feeling like their bodies are betraying them.But the truth is that your hor...
12/12/2025

So many women hit perimenopause or menopause feeling like their bodies are betraying them.

But the truth is that your hormones are doing exactly what they’re meant to do. They are simply trying to adapt to the stress and all the moving parts of a busy life.

As ovarian hormones naturally decline, your body leans more on the adrenal glands for the small amount of hormone precursors it still makes.

This shift makes you more sensitive to stress, under-eating, poor sleep, and over-scheduling. And when the stress-response system (the HPA axis) is overactive, symptoms flare:
👉restless sleep
👉mood changes
👉anxiety
👉fatigue that won’t quit

Hormone balance isn’t ever going to be a quick fix because it requires supporting the systems that regulate your hormones naturally. As an ND, that means focusing on:
• replenishing nutrients
• supporting adrenal function
• stabilizing blood sugar
• improving sleep and recovery

When your whole body is supported, your hormones follow and symptoms ease.

If you’re ready to feel more grounded and confident in your body again, click the link in my bio and let’s get started.

I know the holidays are right around the corner, and you might have the tendency to want to just continue to go, go go.B...
12/10/2025

I know the holidays are right around the corner, and you might have the tendency to want to just continue to go, go go.

BUT your body doesn’t heal by doing more. It heals when you allow yourself to actually rest. Hormones regulate during downtime, not while rushing from one task to the next.

Rest isn’t laziness. Rest is true medicine.

Give yourself permission to pause this season. You might be surprised how much your body thanks you for it.

Take this as your reminder to schedule intentional rest. Even a single quiet evening can help your hormones recalibrate.

How can you give your body rest this week? Let’s share our ideas in the comments below ⬇️

Progesterone doesn’t get as much attention as estrogen, but it’s just as important, especially during the transition to ...
12/08/2025

Progesterone doesn’t get as much attention as estrogen, but it’s just as important, especially during the transition to menopause.

While estrogen often gets the spotlight, progesterone is usually the first hormone to decline, because it’s only produced after ovulation.

As ovulation becomes irregular in perimenopause, progesterone levels begin to drop earlier and more noticeably than estrogen, which can still fluctuate significantly.

Progesterone plays a major role in regulating the menstrual cycle, promoting deeper sleep, calming the nervous system through GABA pathways, and balancing estrogen’s stimulating effects. When progesterone starts to fall, many women notice heavier or more unpredictable periods, PMS-like mood changes or anxiety, sleep disturbances, and that familiar “wired but tired” feeling.

Because progesterone has a naturally calming, restorative influence, its loss can make the body feel out of rhythm both physically and emotionally.

Understanding this shift is the first step toward supporting hormone balance, better sleep, and steadier moods throughout the menopausal transition.

What symptoms are you experiencing in this stage of life? Which are the most difficult for you to navigate so far? Share in the comments 👇

Do you regularly hit that 2–3pm energetic slump? 😴If so, there may be a chance your meals aren’t supporting your hormone...
12/05/2025

Do you regularly hit that 2–3pm energetic slump? 😴

If so, there may be a chance your meals aren’t supporting your hormones or your blood sugar as well as they could be.

As a naturopathic doctor, I see this all the time including afternoon crashes, sugar cravings, irritability, and that wired-but-tired feeling. These are often signs your adrenals and blood sugar are working overtime.

When the weather gets colder, your body naturally shifts toward foods that are warming, grounding, and stabilizing. Think of slow-cooked proteins, root vegetables, hearty soups, and seasonal produce.

These foods help keep blood sugar steadier and support the same circadian rhythms your hormones rely on.

Eating seasonally is biologically aligned with how your body is designed to function.

When you give your body what it actually needs, you feel nourished instead of depleted.

Drop a “ME” in the comments if you can relate to this mid afternoon slump. 🙋‍♀️

Many women start to notice changes in mood, sleep, or PMS symptoms long before their periods actually stop.This is often...
11/28/2025

Many women start to notice changes in mood, sleep, or PMS symptoms long before their periods actually stop.

This is often due to a gradual decline in progesterone which is one of the first hormones to shift during perimenopause.

When progesterone drops while estrogen remains relatively high, it can create feelings of anxiety, irritability, restless sleep, or heavier cycles.

Understanding these early changes is empowering. It means your body isn’t “out of balance”. Instead your body is communicating that hormones are shifting and need a little extra support.

Through testing, lifestyle adjustments, botanical medicine, and individualized care, I can help smooth this transition and restore a sense of calm and steadiness.

I’m accepting new patients and it’s a great time to use up your remaining benefits! Click the link in my bio to learn more!

I don’t know who needs to here this but hormones 👏aren’t 👏a 👏marketing 👏trend. They’re COMPLEX signals that affect your ...
11/27/2025

I don’t know who needs to here this but hormones 👏aren’t 👏a 👏marketing 👏trend.

They’re COMPLEX signals that affect your sleep, stress, mood, metabolism, and more.

I see so much misinformation online, and it’s alarming how easy it is for untrained coaches to sell “hormone balancing” content or products without understanding the full picture.

If you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, or any hormonal concerns, your health deserves evidence-based guidance from a licensed practitioner who can assess, test, and support your body SAFELY.

Be curious, ask questions, and choose your sources wisely. Your hormones are too important to leave to guesswork.

Drop a comment below if you agree!

Many people think fertility support starts when you’re “ready to try” but your body actually begins preparing months in ...
11/21/2025

Many people think fertility support starts when you’re “ready to try” but your body actually begins preparing months in advance.

Women are born with all their eggs, but each egg goes through an approximate 90–120 day maturation window before ovulation. The egg selected for ovulation starts its final development phase roughly 3 months before it’s released.

The months ahead is a critical time for:
🥗 Nutrition that supports egg health
🌿 Hormone and cycle balance
😌 Stress reduction and sleep optimization
🚫 Reducing exposure to toxins

At Balance Natural Health Clinic, I help women use this time intentionally to give their bodies the best possible start for conception and a healthy pregnancy.

Even small changes now can make a big difference later because fertility is all about creating a strong, balanced foundation.

If you’re interested in preconception care, reach out and book your initial consultation. I would love to support you on this journey. 🌱

Perimenopause isn’t something you suddenly “enter.” It’s something you gradually grow into and your body has been whispe...
11/19/2025

Perimenopause isn’t something you suddenly “enter.” It’s something you gradually grow into and your body has been whispering the signs long before anyone tells you to pay attention.

For many women, it starts in your late 30s or early 40s with changes you can’t quite put your finger on:
• Your energy doesn’t feel predictable
• Your sleep isn’t as restorative
• Your mood feels more sensitive
• Your cycle feels heavier, shorter, or more intense
• Stress hits differently than it used to

These shifts don’t mean you’re aging poorly.
They don’t mean your body is failing you.
They mean your hormones are beginning a transition, not a decline.

Here’s what most women AREN’T told:

🌱Your body is still adaptable
Perimenopause is a phase where your physiology is trying to find a new rhythm. With the right support, you can feel grounded, clear, and strong instead of chaotic or “out of control.”

🌱You’re not supposed to suffer through these changes
Mood swings, PMS intensification, and sleep issues are common but not “normal.” They’re signs your body needs more support, not signs you’re doing anything wrong.

🌱You are allowed to advocate for yourself
You can have normal labs and still not feel normal. Symptoms are data and they really matter.

🌱There are natural, evidence-informed ways to support this transition
From regulating stress physiology, to supporting healthy ovulation, to improving nutrient status, to balancing bleeding patterns, you have options beyond “wait it out.”

Perimenopause is not the beginning of the end.
It’s the beginning of a new hormonal era which is one you can enter with clarity, confidence, and support.

If you’ve been feeling “off,” overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, you’re not alone and you don’t have to navigate this phase blind. I’m here to help you understand your body, trust its signals, and move through this next chapter with strength and ease.

Your period isn’t just a “monthly thing to deal with.”It’s one of the clearest windows into your hormonal, metabolic, an...
11/18/2025

Your period isn’t just a “monthly thing to deal with.”

It’s one of the clearest windows into your hormonal, metabolic, and stress health. It also responds quickly when something shifts.

Here’s what I want you to remember ⤵️
• Irregular or missing periods often reflect stress or disrupted ovulation
• Heavy flow or clotting may point to hormone imbalances
• Painful cycles can be linked to inflammation or nutrient depletion
• Thyroid changes frequently show up in your cycle long before other symptoms

These patterns don’t diagnose anything on their own…
but they do give us clues.

Clues we can test, support, and work with.

If your cycle has changed recently, or if something just feels “off”, you’re not imagining it.

Your body is communicating and it’s my job to help you interpret the message.

If you’re ready to understand your cycle on a deeper level, hop over to the link in my bio and book an appointment. Let’s get you the answers you deserve.

Vernon BC | Naturopathic Doctor | Menstrual Health | Periods | Women’s Natural Wellness

If your patience is wearing thin, your sleep feels off, or your menstrual cycle has become unpredictable, your stress ho...
11/13/2025

If your patience is wearing thin, your sleep feels off, or your menstrual cycle has become unpredictable, your stress hormones may be running the show.

When cortisol stays elevated for too long, it can interfere with progesterone production and slow thyroid metabolism.

The result = feeling tired yet wired, emotionally reactive, and physiologically “stuck” in go-mode.

The goal isn’t to remove stress because that’s nearly impossible. The goal is actually to help your body recover from stress better.

Supporting your nervous system, nourishing your body with balanced meals, and creating daily moments of regulation can help restore hormonal balance.

If you feel trapped in survival mode, we can work together to reset your stress response and rebuild hormonal resilience from the ground up.

How does your body feel today? 👇

Menopause isn’t just about hormones changing (and even then, estrogen is just one of the hormonal factors at play!).  Me...
11/07/2025

Menopause isn’t just about hormones changing (and even then, estrogen is just one of the hormonal factors at play!).

Menopause really is a whole-body transition.

As a naturopathic doctor, my goal is to help you move through this season of life feeling balanced, resilient, and informed. We’ll look at your hormones, thyroid, adrenals, and nutrition to understand what your body needs right now.

Together, we create a personalized plan that may include nutrition and lifestyle support, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal remedies, stress management, or hormone therapy when appropriate.

My focus is helping you feel comfortable in your body again and confident about this next chapter.

I have space in my calendar for new clients, so if you’d like to get a jump start on feeling better before the holidays, now is a great time to reach out!

You can find me at in Vernon, BC.

Address

3105 36th Avenue
Vernon, BC
V1T2V7

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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