Buh Bye PMS and Period Blues: Meet Audrey Gerber, Founder of The Spotless Girl

By Emily Merrell

Have you ever had back breaking period cramps and PMS? I did. I struggled with crippling periods that made that time of the month TERRIBLE. 

Audrey Gerber, a PMS coach and founder of The Spotless Girl, is here to fix those awful days and reframe the way you look at your menstrual cycle. Her tools and tips will rethink what PMS means for you. Learn more about her journey to becoming The Spotless Girl. 

SDS: You are the ultimate spotless gal. As a PMS coach, how did you break into the world of PMS? 

AUDREY GERBER:  It all happened because of my own journey with my menstrual cycle. At 13 I was losing way too much blood and was put on the pill as a result, but I had no idea whatsoever of what that was doing to my body. I struggled with depression, weight gain, exhaustion, cramps, acne, etc. When I secretly stopped taking the pill (I knew people would try to influence my decision), the depression went away. That was my first step back into hormonal balance, but I didn’t realize it at the time. 

It took a couple more years of struggling with my body, thinking PMS was normal (and pushing through the pain to prove to the world I was still worthy), before I got to a point where my body just couldn’t follow along. I wasn’t able to live fully, and I didn’t know that I could if I had the right tools. When I discovered that PMS was a sign of hormonal imbalance during my studies in integrative nutrition, my whole life changed. I researched the subject like a mad woman, and was completely transformed by the information I gained. 

With new energy, radiant health, and the ability to finally live a life I wanted to, I just knew I had to specialize in feminine hormones to share the message with other women in my situation. I needed that information to finally be free of PMS and period hell – so I knew others needed it too. It was that personal transformation that inspired me to start Spotless Girl. 

SDS: You help women who struggle with PMS to lose weight, regain their energy and balance their hormones naturally without the pill. Tell us about the pros and cons of the pill. What value is it being off the pill? 

AG: The pros of the pill is that, just like any strong medication used at the right time, it can save your life if you are in a very intense situation (much like I was when I was 13). This stays a positive thing as long as you don’t stay on the pill too long. The pill stops your cycle, and your body might need that for a couple of cycles, for various medical reasons. To some women, it also is an efficient contraception tool, but that is not the case for every woman. It all depends on the women’s hormonal cycle. 

However, the purpose of the pill is to completely shut down your cycle. Which means you are not experiencing the changes in your brain and body that you should be experiencing (aka the rising and falling of your hormones at different times of the month, regulating different systems of your body like your metabolism, brain function, immune system, and digestion). This means your feminine biology is forced to operate within a male system. Weird, right? This deeply confuses your body, as it was meant to operate within a feminine system.

That confusion leads to different symptoms depending on each woman’s body reaction. For some, it’s anxiety or depression. For others, pain and acne, chronic fatigue or chronic weight gain. The side effects depend on the woman. Cutting your body from its natural cycle for a long time always has serious side effects, hence the reason women experience difficulties after a couple of years on the pill or when they quit using it. 

SDS: What advice do you have for people who are struggling with PMS (including cramps) what methods do you provide using? 

AG: The first ever tip I always give is to learn to listen to your body. PMS symptoms are the compass that let you know where the hidden imbalance is. I have a free quiz that can help you see what hormonal imbalance may be at play depending on your PMS symptoms – check it out in the free starter kit on my website. When you listen to your body, it will most often tell you what you need to do to feel better (drink more water, more differently, rest, etc). But as a general rule, here are some on-the-spot natural remedies:

• Seaweed soup (Actually, in Korea, women drink seaweed soup after giving birth because it is one of the best hormonal balancing remedy)
• Turmeric (Either in a golden milk, in a tonic, or in essential oil form taken in a capsule)
• Essential oils, such as Clary Sage, Lavender, Rose, Black Spruce and Copaiba
• Hot water bottle – to apply where there is pain
• Sex (Orgasms really help reduce the pain, but most of the hormone balancing benefits happen during the orgasmic plateau, which is that hopefully long moment in which you can still breathe, before the orgasm)
• Hormonal balancing teas, such as raspberry leaf tea, or red clover

Of course, the best thing you can do for your PMS and period is to adopt a lifestyle that favors balanced hormones – so you don’t ever have to experience the discomfort of it again. But while you are making those long-lasting changes that will support your cycle, these are amazing remedies. If you need support balancing your hormones so you can have a stress and PMS-free period, I regularly give tips and reflections in my small free private Facebook group, join here.

SDS: You’ve been changing lives across the globe— what are some of the biggest transformations you’ve seen with your clients? 

AG: On a physical level, I’ve seen a lot of amazing changes! I’ve had a client see a significant reduction of anxiety and PMS after working with me for just two weeks. I’ve seen another one completely lose the PMS before her period (we still talk after 9 months, and she still is having a PMS-free cycle), and another one see a reduction in her other health issues after working with me (she suffered with her digestion, yet her doctor could not figure out what was wrong, and had very intense headaches. All of it got much better during our work together). 

But in all honesty, the changes that bring me the most joy are the ones about the mindset and emotional response. The stigma and mindset around periods are harder to heal than the physical symptoms, so I always feel so happy to hear my clients say things like: “I said no to this thing because it doesn’t align with my cycle right now, and I felt really good doing that”, or “I love this phase of my cycle! I’m really excited for it to come next week!” or  “This is revolutionary, I’m starting to teach my daughter these things and I can see that she is looking at her body differently than the way I used to look at my own body”. 

I think one of the best things I can hear is “I’m taking it slow, and yet I feel very strong in my body, and I feel super energized – I love being a woman”. Those statements make me want to do this job until the day I die (which I probably will). It’s a real life-changing job, for sure. On this happy note, you can find me and DM on Instagram, it will be my pleasure to connect and help the best I can.

My purpose and mission are to help women reclaim their power, and having their body as their best ally in this journey. I’m always looking to give the best support I possibly can, so any questions and comments are welcome and helpful! Stay radiant!!