Premenstrual Syndrome &
Menstrual Irregularity

Neither of these conditions is a disease, but a combination of irritating, disabling and dysfunctional symptoms that many women suffer prior to, and sometimes during menstruation. There are natural ways to rebalance the menstrual cycle and eliminate these monthly symptoms.

Menorrhagia

Then there is the issue of excessive bleeding or clotting which can happen to women from time to time.  But if it becomes a monthly occurrence, or for some women throughout the month, then it is something to address. Most anemia in women is created by chronically heavy monthly cycles.  This is called menorrhagia or metrohagia, excessively prolonged or profuse bleeding. First and foremost it's important to maintain normal iron levels and prevent anemia, which are lost in excess with the heavy bleeding. It is vital to provide everything women need to maintain healthy levels of iron and red blood cells. This type of chronic issue is more common with fibroids or endometriosis, but other issues such as hormone imbalances, infections and cervical dysplasia can also be present.

Dysmenorrhea

One of the most common irregularities in menstruation is dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation. There are two types: spasmodic dysmenorrhea is when the pain is directly related to the onset of menstruation and is based in the uterus.  Congestive dysmenorrhea occurs before or late in menstruation and can arise in other organs as well as the uterus. In these conditions, estrogen function, release and balance must be supported.  There is no reason that women need to suffer with excessive pain.  

Our Guide to A Healthy Life for Women

There are more than 150 million women in the United States, and very little attention is paid to the health of a women's cycle. Women's bodies are unique. We have unique physiology, unique issues and unique ways of coping with disease, stress and change. As we go through life, our bodies change and require different degrees of attention and different nutritional reserves.

Beginning at puberty, this cycle dictates quite a lot about our health and our physiology as we age. If we experience problems early on such as cramping, irregular periods, blood clots or no period at all, then we are moving in an unhealthy direction that can become fibroids, endometriosis, infertility and tumor formation later in life.  Both cardiovascular disease and cancer are the top two causes of death in women in the United States. In order to reduce risk, it is important for women to balance their menstrual cycles and hormone levels as they age, especially when you consider that most breast cancer is estrogen-dominant.  

What is not normal …

If you are experiencing issues with your cycle now, you will have greater problems later in life throughout your body.  You should not be experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• excessive bleeding or clots with the period (menorrhagia)

• irregularity of the period in length or frequency (metrorrhagia or oligomenorrhea)

• having no period at all after commencement of your period or after the age of 14 (amenorrhea)

• emotional distress or depression

• fluid retention

• painful breasts

• nausea

• pain that is severe, debilitating or is more than mild muscle cramping (dysmenorrhea)

Don’t laugh!! It’s true that none of these symptoms are necessary, nor are they indicative of a healthy period. The truth is that most of these symptoms can be corrected and without resorting to oral contraceptives, muscle relaxants or anti-anxiety medication.

The most important determining factor of a woman's future health is the health of her monthly menstrual cycle.

Why Do I Have Menstrual Irregularity

Many women believe that an irregular period or no period at all is a plus.  
But it actually is a condition that is not normal.

There are a variety of things that can cause this normal process to cease or to become irregular. A diet extremely low in fat contains insufficient quantities of cholesterol to produce the hormones needed to activate the menstrual cycle. Insufficient levels of various nutrients can also prevent normal functioning such as low iron, low B12 or even a low body weight.  Glandular insufficiency, stress and low blood quality are also factors which can cause or contribute to menstrual irregularity. One of our clients even lost her period for six months because she was visiting California during an earthquake.  Experiencing ammenhorea or the lack of a period, makes fertility a real challenge, so think about the future.

Testosterone levels in women are also a good indicator of follicular health. Excess levels of testosterone can decrease the amount of bound hormones in women, while higher levels of testosterone generally indicate cyst formation in the follicles.

There are natural options for all of these issues.