Hello, my friend!

I hope March has been good to you!

If you're between 18-65 and want to learn how to take control of your hormones read on!

Hint: there's an exciting new way to test hormones! Scroll to the bottom for your discount code!

But first: an admin task:

This newsletter brings you health tips, information, special offers, and personal stories I don't share anywhere else. This is intended to enhance the experience for patients working with me + provide plenty of value for non-patients too.

**For clinic updates (price updates, move notifications, etc), I have a separate mailing list. To be added to this list, simply reply to this email requesting to be added.

So many hormone complaints, so little time!

Hormone-related complaints are among the top issues I see. Hormones are behind many common health concerns, including:

Period problems (cramps, mood changes, heavy periods, irregular periods)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Hot flashes & night sweats
Mood changes (anxiety, depression, irritability)
Weight gain
Fertility challenges

Getting to the root of hormone issues can be challenging. Many doctors are unable (or unwilling) to order testing, and even if they do, blood markers can be minimally helpful.

While comprehensive hormone testing is available, the cost can be out of reach for some and a single-day snapshot has some limitations.

Two ways I commonly assess hormones include:

Blood testing (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, FSH, LH, cortisol) - ~$155
Comprehensive hormone testing through urine like Hu-Map or DUTCH Complete - ~ $440-525

Assessing hormones is totally doable - but there’s no perfect one-size-fits-all option and it can be pricey if paying out of pocket.

That’s why I’m excited to share an exciting new option.

Mira: a smarter way to understand your hormones––from home!

No visits to the lab, no long waits

Mira is an at-home hormone testing system that measures several key reproductive hormones through urine testing:

Estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G) - a primary urinary metabolite of estradiol (E2), the main estrogen produced by the ovaries
Pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) - a urine metabolite of progesterone used to confirm ovulation
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Leutenizing Hormone (LH)

It’s like having a mini lab in your very own home!

The basics: You pee in a cup, stick a test wand in the sample, stick the test wand in the sensor, and 15 minutes later, you know your hormone levels. Voila! Like magic.

No subscription fees required.

Mira offers tracking systems that can be used during every phase of your hormone journey from your first period until menopause.

To start, you need a test kit consisting of the hormone monitor and as many test wands as you want. The company offers different kits for different goals. Learn more about how it works here.

Once you have purchased a hormone monitor, you can purchase new test wands, making long-term hormone assessment affordable.

This allows for a much more personalized and accurate understanding of your cycle—wherever you are in your hormone journey––for a great price!

For Fertility & Conception

If you're trying to conceive, a few common hormone-related factors can get in the way:

high estrogen
low progesterone
lack of ovulation (called anovulation)
low egg production

Mira is able to track all of these things.

Mira can:

Predict your fertile window more accurately
Confirm ovulation (not just predict it)
Identify irregular or delayed ovulation
Provide insight into cycle patterns over time

This can be especially helpful if:

Your cycles are irregular
You’ve been trying without success
You want more precise data than standard ovulation strips

Adding basal body temperature readings to the app allows even better understanding of the factors affecting fertility.

For Perimenopause & Menopause Transition

One of the most overlooked uses of Mira is in perimenopause, when hormones can fluctuate wildly and unpredictably.

During this phase, many women experience:

Shorter or longer cycles
Skipped ovulation
Symptoms like weight gain, sleep disruption, mood changes, or heavy periods

Mira allows you to:

Track whether ovulation is still occurring
See how hormone patterns are shifting over time
Better understand the why behind your symptoms

This can be incredibly validating—and helps guide more personalized treatment strategies.

For Fertility Awareness (Natural Birth Control)

Understanding your cycle and knowing when you ovulate can also be invaluable to those using the fertility awareness method for pregnancy prevention.

If you’re using a Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) for contraception, Mira can add an extra layer of confidence.

By tracking real hormone levels, you can:

More accurately confirm when ovulation has occurred
Better define your fertile vs. non-fertile window
Reduce guesswork, especially in less predictable cycles

This is particularly useful in:

Postpartum cycles
Coming off hormonal birth control
Perimenopause (when cycle variability increases)

A Tech Tool I Actually Like (and use)

I've been using Mira personally and have been finding it incredibly convenient and insightful! I look forward to seeing my daily hormone levels.

Clinically, this kind of tool helps me:

Make more informed decisions about your treatment
Tailor recommendations to your actual hormone patterns
Track progress over time

And for you, it creates a deeper understanding of your body—which is always the goal.

Is Mira right for you?

Mira can be a great fit if you:

Want to conceive (now or in the future)
Are navigating perimenopause and want clarity
Prefer a non-hormonal approach to birth control
Love data and want to better understand your cycle

What does it cost?

A starter pack costs $281-352 CAD for 1-2 months of testing.

Using code 2ERICAVOLK20 gets you 20% off all Mira products.

If you're an existing patient, reply to this email to get a code that gives you 30% off, or let me know which products you're interested in and I can order them in at an even greater discount.

I'm delighted to support women as they navigate hormonal complexities and "strive to thrive." If you'd like help with symptoms related to your menstrual cycle, perimenopause, or menopause, please book an appointment.

That's all for this month!

Comments? Questions? Just reply to this email! I'd love to hear what you think!