(As seen on the IMI website)
When you hear the word menstruation, what do you think of? For many of you, you may think of PMS, cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches and fatigue. While these symptoms are an expected part of the female experience, it doesn’t mean these symptoms are healthy – or a necessary way of life.
What is a typical period?
The average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days, but this can range from 26 to 35 days. A healthy period should be pain-free, without clots or debilitating symptoms.
Your menstrual cycle is a barometer for how healthy you are. It is governed by an intricate interplay of hormones; your bleed is a window into the state of your physical and emotional health.
If you currently dread your period, you are not alone. But help is available! Naturopathic physicians trained in functional medicine and traditional Chinese Medicine can investigate the underlying causes using a holistic approach. They can create a treatment plan to rebalance your hormonal health, alleviate symptoms and encourage a healthy bleed. Read on to find out what your menstrual cycle is telling you.
What is PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome is the name for the symptoms experienced before your period. It is commonly accepted as the norm and estimated that as many as 3 out of 4 menstruating women have experienced some form of PMS.
Typical symptoms include mood swings, headaches, food cravings, sleep problems, tender breasts, digestive discomfort (constipation, diarrhoea and bloating), fatigue and irritability. PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is a severe form of PMS – and amplifies the emotional symptoms like depression, anger and anxiety.
Fluctuating hormones are a common culprit and from a Chinese traditional medicine view, PMS is a sign of “qi stagnation”, a condition where energy flow within the body is not flowing properly. Qi stagnation is often caused by emotional stress.
What your menstrual blood says about your health
Bright red menstrual blood is considered normal when accompanied by a medium viscosity flow lasting 4 to 7 days. It is also considered normal if the colour darkens slightly towards the end of your period. While bright red blood is considered normal, spotting between periods or during pregnancy could be a sign of another issue.
- Do you have dark menstrual blood at the beginning of your cycle, or throughout? This is common in women who experience PMS, and might indicate that your hormones are out of balance.
- Brown blood throughout your bleed could indicate low progesterone. It may be old blood from your last cycle that has oxidized and remained in your uterus.
- Do you see clots larger than a Hong Kong dollar coin? Dark clotting could indicate too much oestrogen – and may be accompanied by heavier bleeding (aka menorrhagia) and cramps (aka dysmenorrhea). The cramping pain is usually in the lower abdominal area and can radiate to the inner thighs and back. In Chinese medicine, clots indicate “blood stagnation” or “blood stasis”, and is often caused by qi stagnation (see above).
- Stop and start periods – blood flow that isn’t consistent can also indicate hormonal fluctuations.
Irregular periods
Signs of irregular periods include:
- Your menstrual cycle is shorter than 25 days
- Your menstrual cycle is longer than 35 days
- Continuous bleeding throughout the entire month
- The number of days in between each of your periods is different and keeps changing
Irregular periods are more common one or two years after menarche (your first period) and when you approach menopause. A skipped period might indicate pregnancy.
Other causes include gaining or losing a lot of weight and exercising too much. Stress and anxiety can also affect hormone levels causing irregularities. Birth control can affect your hormones for the same reason.
Fibroids and endometriosis
Fibroids and endometriosis are two common conditions that plague women. These conditions are not just painful – often times, they’re excruciating. Sometimes the pain is relieved by passing blood clots.
Your cycle might be irregular, sometimes absent, and you might experience spotting in between periods.
In summary
Your menstrual cycle sheds light on your health, and the symptoms that you experience are ways your body tries to alert you to deeper imbalances.
Naturopathic physicians take the time to investigate the underlying causes. Common causes or factors that impact a woman’s menstrual cycle and reproductive system may include hormonal imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, genetic tendencies toward inflammation or MTHFR mutations and nutrient deficiencies.
In fact, recent research reveals that MTHFR gene mutations are linked to oestrogen dominance, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, irregular menstruation and recurrent miscarriages, so testing is key. Find a practitioner willing to use a patient-centric, root-cause, holistic approach to your menstrual health.
Dr. Ardyce Yik ND 