Why talk about “functional medicine practitioner”?

Not all doctors practice functional medicine, because this approach requires additional training that is not included in the traditional medical curriculum.

There are therefore doctors who have added this approach to their practice, and other non-medical health professionals are training in the functional approach in their field of expertise.

To find someone serious, Carole suggests finding out about the training courses taken (recognized organizations, content), about the production of content (conferences, books, resources) and about the practitioner's experience with women and fertility.

Concrete examples: deficiencies, thyroid and supplements

Carole Donne The example of the thyroid: this gland needs “raw material” (such as iodine, among other nutrients) to properly manufacture its hormones.
If the gland is intact but nutrients are lacking, thyroid function may be slowed down without the solution necessarily being a medication at the outset, in some people

• Some people especially need deficiencies to be identified and corrected (iodine, iron, certain vitamins, cofactors, etc.);
• For others, medical treatment is essential, and the functional approach complements, not in place of it.

Carole insists: The idea is never to “demedicalize” yourself

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It is a team effort between classical medicine (diagnosis, treatments) and, when relevant, a functional approach that optimizes the field (diet, nutrients, lifestyle).

The three main “root causes” of hormonal imbalances

Carole describes three main areas that she often sees as “root causes” of hormonal imbalances:

1. Imbalance in the energy balance
   • Intakes too low or too high in energy (calories)
   • Disproportionate expenditure (for example a lot of sport without sufficient intake)
   • The idea is to see if I am eating “up to” what I am spending, not too much, not too little
2. Chronic stress and adrenal fatigue
   • Long-lasting stress can deplete the adrenal glands, disrupt hormones, sleep, and energy.
   • Certain signals can alert: poor sleep, a feeling of being “on edge”, those around me who notice my stress
   • In practice, this point is confirmed by specific analyses, prescribed and interpreted by a trained professional
3. Unexplored hyperprolactinaemia
   • Prolactin that is too high can disrupt the cycle by “turning off” certain hormones.
   • Carole notes that this approach is sometimes little explored, even though it can explain non-optimal cycles.
   • This point is clearly a matter of medical follow-up and must be evaluated with a doctor.

👉 Knowing these three axes is not enough for self-diagnosis, but can give me ideas to discuss with the pros who follow me.

Oocyte quality, mitochondria and key nutrients

On the subject of oocyte quality: to have “good oocytes”, you need a well-orchestrated cycle, but also good energy production in the cells.
Mitochondria, these “power plants” present in every cell (and in large numbers in oocytes), are essential for the maturation and quality of oocytes.

She highlights several important points:

• Have sufficient intakes of certain nutrients (coenzyme Q10, B vitamins, iron, copper, etc.) which contribute to the proper functioning of mitochondria
• Have an adapted physical activity, a good sleep and limit what can “poison” the mitochondria, such as certain heavy metals or environmental toxins

Carole also recalls that The thyroid plays a role in fertility and oocyte quality: Thyroid function “just below optimal” can affect the cycle, ovulation and hormonal balance, even if standard analyses seem “within the norm”.

For her, a true complete thyroid checkup (including T3, when medically indicated) should be discussed with a doctor who is aware of these issues, especially in the planning of pregnancy.