Georgia Hartmann is dedicated to helping women achieve hormonal balance through diet, lifestyle, and stress management.
Name: Georgia Hartmann
Day job: Naturopath, Founder of Hormone Health Studio
Location: Newcastle-based (*available for worldwide consultations)
Describe your work in one sentence.
Our team helps women understand their hormones so they can feel their best at every stage of life - whether they’re navigating periods, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, or beyond.
What sparked your interest in hormone health?
It was my sister who prompted me to become a naturopath. After a diagnosis of stage 4 endometriosis and the subsequent journey of several laparoscopies, the best relief she had came through the combination of both medical and complementary interventions. This was the start of my passion for women’s health and hormones.
Then, some years later, I was diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency. I remember sitting across from my specialist, who said, “It looks like you’re in menopause.” As a woman in my early 20s, I was in shock. Although I was told my only option for starting a family would be through donor eggs, I have since gone on to conceive all three of my children naturally.
At Hormone Health Studio, we now see many people like my sister and me and are incredibly passionate about supporting them on their journey.
What shapes your approach to hormone health?
Hormonal health isn’t just about oestrogen and progesterone - it’s about gut health, exposure to stress, the quality of sleep, the types of foods we eat and the timing of when we eat, the way we exercise, the state of our metabolism, our relationships, exposure to toxins, how much we drink, and the medications we take. The body does not function in isolation. It works as a whole. My job is to understand what causes dysfunction and address the underlying cause.
What is a common issue you often encounter?
Unfortunately, most women don’t start paying attention to their hormones until they’re experiencing issues - painful periods, debilitating PMS, trouble conceiving, postpartum depletion, or perimenopausal weight gain. I wish more women were taught about hormone health early on so they could be proactive rather than reactive.
What do you wish more womxn knew about health advocacy?
Period pain and irregular cycles aren’t “just part of being a woman” - they’re signs that your body is out of balance. I wish more women knew they don’t have to suffer in silence and deserve to be taken seriously when seeking support. Even if you’ve been experiencing pain or irregularities for years, it can be turned around in a matter of months.
How does birth control affect long-term hormonal health?
In some cases, hormonal birth control can be a helpful tool, but it doesn’t “fix” underlying hormonal imbalances - it just suppresses symptoms. Many women experience nutrient depletion, thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, or post-pill acne when stopping hormonal birth control. I have seen it take years for a natural cycle to return, particularly after the oral contraceptive pill, because the brain (hypothalamus) essentially had to relearn how to communicate with the ovaries again to ovulate and make adequate hormones. I advise women to consult with one of our Naturopaths to understand their birth control options and ensure they are well-supported on their hormonal health journey.
What’s your top advice for managing endometriosis and PCOS?
For endometriosis, reducing inflammation, supporting the immune system, and optimising estrogen metabolism and detoxification is key. This involves an anti-inflammatory diet, assessing for histamine intolerance, supporting liver detoxification and gut microbiome health, and ensuring the use of appropriate supplements and herbal medicines. For PCOS, it’s more about metabolic health. Addressing underlying insulin resistance is key. You can start by focusing on adequate protein and healthy fats, avoiding refined sugars, and engaging in regular physical activity.
Can you briefly explain adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is sometimes called the “cousin” of endometriosis. It occurs when the lining of the uterus grows into the muscle wall, causing severe pain and heavy periods. It’s often overlooked because its symptoms overlap with other conditions, but a simple ultrasound is the first step in understanding if adenomyosis is present. From here, our approach is very similar to endometriosis, and we’ve had some beautiful results.
What adenomyosis symptoms are often overlooked?
Chronic pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, bloating, and pain during penetrative sex can be signs of adenomyosis. While some cycle changes are normal, if pain or bleeding is disrupting your daily life, it’s worth investigating. I would also note that ‘normal hormonal fluctuations’ should be relatively minor - a bit of a drop in energy, mood being a little flat, and some slight bloating the day before the period. A twinge is okay, but stabbing pain is not. Anything more than this requires support.
What holistic tools do you recommend for adenomyosis?
We love to see people before offering advice, particularly because our treatment strategy can change depending on the person in front of us. For example, we may see someone who has painful periods, headaches, nausea, and hay fever, who responds incredibly well to a low-histamine diet. Or we may see someone with painful periods, breast tenderness, clotting, and constipation who responds best to support with detoxifying excess oestrogen and optimising the gut microbiome. My first advice is to track your symptoms to understand when they occur within the cycle and if there is a pattern. This can help us understand which hormones may be at play. From here, we can look at specific dietary changes, nutritional supplementation, and herbal medicines to help your body find balance again.
What's one habit every woman should adopt for hormonal health?
If there is one thing to prioritise, let it be getting on top of stress - truly recognising it, managing it, and building resilience. In the fast-paced, always-on world we live in, stress is one of the biggest disruptors of hormonal balance, impacting everything from our menstrual cycles to our metabolism, sleep, and mood. The problem is that many women are so accustomed to running on stress - juggling work, family, relationships, and endless to-do lists - that we often don’t even realise how much it’s affecting us. But stress isn’t just mental - it directly impacts hormones, causes thyroid dysfunction and insulin resistance, makes PMS worse, makes cycles irregular, and makes energy levels unpredictable.
The key is creating space for true nervous system regulation - daily habits that shift your body out of fight-or-flight mode and into a state of rest and repair. This might mean breathwork, gentle movement, getting outside, setting boundaries, or simply taking 10 minutes a day to slow down and check in with yourself. Whatever it looks like, prioritising stress management isn’t just self-care - it’s a foundational piece of hormonal health.
How do you define period self-care?
I honour what my body needs in each phase - resting more when menstruating (though I am currently taking this approach postpartum), eating nutrient-dense foods rich in protein, and prioritising hydration and daily gentle movement.
Why are periods still taboo, and what’s your hope for the future?
Periods have been stigmatised for centuries, but thankfully, we’re seeing a shift. I hope we reach a point where menstruation is seen as a normal and celebrated part of life, not something to hide or be ashamed of.
MY CYCLE
- My period in 3 words: Slowing down, nourishing, binge-watching-Netflix.
- Period self-care toolkit: Heat pack (try the rae Heat Pad), magnesium, herbal tea, dark chocolate, and early nights.
- Best period hacks: Support blood sugar, prioritise protein, manage stress, and listen to your body.
- Contraception of choice: Natural cycle tracking - basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and luteal phase awareness.
- On day 1, you’ll find me: Honouring my energy levels, sipping on herbal tea, and giving myself grace.
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Scarlet pick: Scarlet Period High-Waist Brief.
