Taking A Functional Medicine Approach
As a registered nutritional therapist trained in functional medicine, my starting point is always to look at how the body is functioning as a whole system rather than treating each symptom in isolation. With a case this complex, that meant advanced functional testing across several areas.
We ran a comprehensive stool analysis using the GI360 panel, vaginal microbiome testing, a nutrigenomics assessment covering detoxification, methylation, and nervous system function, and detailed functional blood work. Together, these gave us a much clearer picture of what was driving her symptoms than any single test could on its own.
What This Revealed
The stool analysis showed significant gut dysbiosis. Her microbiome had low levels of beneficial bacteria, particularly the butyrate-producing strains that are essential for gut lining integrity and immune regulation. There was also an overgrowth of inflammatory bacterial species and the presence of Blastocystis, a parasitic organism that can contribute to digestive symptoms and immune stress. Her gut immune response was elevated, suggesting her digestive system was working overtime just to keep things under control.
The vaginal microbiome results were interesting. Despite years of recurrent Candida symptoms, there was no active Candida present at the time of testing. What the results did show was a high vaginal pH, which pointed to a weakened protective environment rather than an active infection. This helped explain why symptoms kept returning even after treatment, because the underlying vulnerability had never been addressed.
The nutrigenomics results were particularly significant given her history of endometriosis and her fertility goals. Her genetic profile showed an increased tendency to produce toxic oestrogen metabolites, combined with a reduced ability to neutralise those toxins due to a missing GSTM1 gene. Her body was also clearing hormones more slowly than it should have been. In conditions like endometriosis, impaired oestrogen detoxification is not just relevant, it is often central to the picture.
We also identified a reduced methylation capacity through an MTHFR variant that was affecting her ability to activate folate, recycle B12, and process methyl donors like choline. Methylation touches almost every system in the body, including energy production, detoxification, hormone metabolism, and nervous system function, so this was a key finding across multiple symptoms.
Finally, her genetic profile showed a nervous system that was, in a sense, wired for stress. She had a slower breakdown of stress hormones, higher biological sensitivity to stress, and imbalances in serotonin and dopamine pathways. This was not simply a matter of feeling anxious. It was a genuine physiological pattern that was adding to her overall inflammatory and hormonal load.
