Hi, I'm Iris Josephina
I help people understand, honor & support their hormones + fertility.
My mission
I help people receive honest education about their bodies so they can make informed choices for their hormones + fertility and feel empowered, informed, radiant & healthy. I believe that in order to live to our fullest potential, we must understand + embody our body physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and somatically.
My story
My journey began in my teens when I struggled with my menstrual cycle and cystic acne. My periods were debilitating and I would always leak through pads and tampons - that's how heavy my periods were.
My doctor prescribed the strongest birth control pill available, which slightly improved my acne but led to a cascade of other symptoms: cramps, bloating, severe anemia, and nutrient deficiencies.
At 21, I decided to switch birth control pills after learning about the scary risks of heavy doses. This change coincided with my trip to the jungle in Colombia. On my first morning there, I woke up with a numb leg and was absolutely terrified. In total panic I called my doctor and he advised me to stop taking the pill immediately, suspecting the numbness was a side effect.
A couple of months later, I started a new pill (y'all I was determined finding the right one for me!) before joining an exclusive exchange program at UCLA, hoping to avoid menstrual disruptions while studying. However, I was once again overwhelmed by severe side effects. I would often feel like I was fainting (even while riding my bike through the busy traffic in LA!). My campus OBGYN told me there was "Nothing I could do except accept it."
This was the final straw for me. I had had enough. I quit the pill the next day and nothing could stop me finding a solution for my menstrual mayhem. I immersed myself in research on women's + cyclical health at the UCLA library and spent HOURS to understand what could be going on in my body. I was extremely determined to support my cycle and improve my symptoms through nutrition, supplementation, movement, sleep, and more.
Little did I know that by making that decision, I planted the seed for my future passion and career.
I became passionate about cultivating a relationship with my body & cycles and teaching others to do the same.
When I started feeling better, with regular cycles and zero discomfort during my periods after quitting the pill, I felt an overwhelming urge to share my story. I realized that much of what we've been told about our bodies is misleading, and I was driven to uncover and spread the TRUTH. There were 2 questions that kept my mind busy:
- Why are so many of us suffering unnecessarily during our periods, being told it's "normal"?
- Why is genuine, uncensored education about our cyclical bodies so hard to find?
These questions fueled my determination to speak out and make sure no one else feels as alone in their journey as I did.
As I shared my experiences and insights online, it became clear that people were hungry for real information about their periods, hormones, fertility and cyclical health.
Today, I’m thrilled to connect with over 32,000 followers on social media and support hundreds of clients and students. Through one-on-one coaching and my courses on hormones, fertility, nutrition and more, I provide the wisdom I wish I had when I was struggling.
Start your journey to understand and embrace your body’s natural rhythms today and discover a path to vibrant health - on YOUR terms.
I believe you are here for a reason and I really want you to know this:
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I am here to support you every step of the way. There are countless tools and evidence-based practices that can help you. Your body and cycle are not broken; they are simply communicating with you through symptoms. I can help you understand your body's language and discover what it’s trying to tell you. Together, we got this!
Favorite thing to do
dancing
Go-to affirmation
I'm safe in my body
Cyclical lifespan phase
preconception
Human design type
projector
Favorite food
traditional Portuguese food
Favorite types of dance
zouk & ecstatic dance
Your next step
Find out what's going on with your cycle or study with me
Masterclasses & Courses
Begin your hormone/fertility journey through joining our highly sought after masterclasses and courses.
1:1 Consultations
Do you need more support? A few times per year I open the books to work with me 1:1 to support your hormones & fertility.
Certification Training
Want to help revolutionize the way women & menstruators are supported in their cyclical health? Study to become a coach!
Follow me on Instagram
Hop on over to Instagram and follow me for daily inspiration and education on all things hormones, fertility, menstrual cycles & funny memes (:
Follow Cycle Seeds
Relevant Education
Applied Quantum Biology Certification (graduating 2025)
Neuronutrition Practitioner Training (graduating 2025)
Functional Hormone Specialist Training - IAFFH
Orthomolecular Therapy Level 1 + 2 | SOHF
Applied Quantum Biology Pyramid - Carrie Bennett
Somatic Trauma Therapy - The Embody Lab
Optimal Fertility Professional Training - Integrative Women's Health Institute & Jessica Drummond
The Functional Lab Testing Program - Integrative Women's Health Institute
Honoring & Celebrating Women's Cycles - Angelina Martinez Miranda
Well Women Yoga - Birthlight
Yoga for Pelvic Health - Birthlight
Yoga for Fertility - Birthlight
Fix Your Period Apprenticeship - Nicole Jardim
Conception, Pregnancy & Birth - Anna Verwaal
JJ Doula Training
Cultural Anthropology (BSc) - Utrecht University
Anthropology (BSc) exchange program - UCLA
Gender & Women's Studies (MA) - Utrecht University
Professional bio
Iris Josephina Verstappen, BSc, MA (1990)
Functional Hormone Specialist (FSH) & Orthomolecular Hormone Coach
Entrepreneur, Speaker, Podcast Host
Iris studied cultural & medical anthropology in undergrad and holds a master's gender studies. These two fields laid a strong foundation for her current work and the topics she is passionate about. After anthropological research in the field of pregnancy and birth, she began her career as a birth worker in 2013 and continued education to certify as a Hormone Coach, gaining expertise as a Functional Hormone Specialist and excel in Orthomolecular Therapy.
Dedicated to make holistic hormone health education accessible, she became known for her expertise in menstrual cycles, cyclical living and using the menstrual cycle as a tool in business, establishing her reputation as a leader in the field.
In 2019, Iris launched her online coaching and education platform, Cycle Seeds Academy, where she offers courses on hormone health, cyclical wisdom for entrepreneurs and her signature Holistic Hormone & Cycle Coaching certification training. Her courses have impacted thousands of people.
On Instagram, where she shares insights on body literacy and the beauty of embracing natural cycles, she has built a following of over 32,000. Her podcast focuses on exploring the menstrual cycle, personal development, spirituality and running a business in alignment with your cycle, making her a sought-after speaker in wellness circles. She has been featured in publications such as Yoga Magazine, Happinez, Wilde Vrouw, Allure, etc and appeared on reknown podcasts such as the Period Party. She currently resides in The Netherlands and Portugal.Â
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Meet the Team
Meet the people behind Cycle Seeds who make it all possible!
Iris Josephina | Founder & Content Creator | Portugal/Netherlands
Iris is the creator and creative director of Cycle Seeds, a platform born from deep love and a fierce desire to transform the way we understand menstrual cycles, hormones, and fertility. With an academic foundation in cultural and medical anthropology and gender studies, and experience as a birth worker, hormone coach, and educator, she weaves science, sacredness, and storytelling into every aspect of her work.
Her teachings blend functional health with cyclical wisdom, drawing on themes of menstrual health, fertility awareness, embodiment, circadian biology. Through Cycle Seeds, Iris offers immersive courses, trainings, and resources that are both beautifully crafted and deeply informative, guiding thousands of women and people with cycles into more intimate, empowered relationships with their bodies. She also created a certified practitioner training.
She lives in Portugal with her partner.
Suzanne |Â Social Media Manager | South-Africa
Suzanne is Cycle Seeds’ social media manager and a proud graduate of Iris’ Holistic Hormone & Cycle Coach training. She supports Iris behind the scenes by helping share this powerful work with the world in a way that feels intentional, clear, and rooted in care. Bringing both her lived experience and training into everything she does, Suzanne aims to make people feel more seen, more informed, and more at home in their bodies. She’s honoured to be part of a movement that’s changing the way we talk about hormones, cycles, and ourselves.
Patricia | Podcast Manager | Philippines
Pat helps bring the voices and stories of the Inner Rhythms Podcast to life. She supports Iris with the episodes to ensure each one reflects the heart and mission of Cycle Seeds. Pat does it all, from organizing to editing to producing and publishing. When she’s not working, you can find her baking or snorkeling with her dad at their coastal home.
Angelica | Canva Designer | Philippines
Angelica, based in the Philippines, is known for her sharp eye for detail and intuitive design sense. She creates visually engaging guides for Cycle Seeds’ newsletter subscribers, thoughtfully transforming provided Canva templates into branded, high-quality resources that reflect the heart of the Cycle Seeds mission.
With a background in social media management, Angelica thrives in creative roles that allow her to merge strategy with aesthetics. Her ability to bring clarity, beauty, and cohesion to educational materials makes her an invaluable part of the team.
Mehvish | Blog Writer | India
Mehvish is the blog writer at Cycle Seeds, where she combines science-backed research and soulful storytelling to create content that deeply resonates with people seeking hormone balance, cycle awareness. With a background in functional nutrition and a deep passion for women’s wellness, she crafts educational, relatable, and engaging blogs that bring clarity to complex topics like fertility, gut health, and the menstrual cycle. When she’s not writing, she’s diving into the latest research on women’s health or sipping herbal tea while brainstorming her next blog concept.
