As women, we love to talk and one thing we love talking about is our cycles. There are many different types of periods but when you find someone who is in your club it’s like winning the menstrual jackpot. There is the PCOS club, the endo club, the dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea club plus everything in between.
Let’s get armed with some serious facts so next time we chat we know what’s normal, what’s not, just how common menstrual dysfunction is and what can be changed and fixed with herbs and what might need little extra help.
A normal bleed can come anywhere between every 21 days to every 35 days. Irregular menstruation affects 1 in 5 Aussie women of reproductive age. This does not just affect our cycle but impacts on our lifestyle, relationships and mental health.
A period should not be painful! Cramps, dragging and clots can all be assisted by herbal medicine. Along with mood swings, sugar cravings, anxiety and headaches.
A longer cycle may be PCOS, a shorter cycle may be endometriosis.
Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects around 20% of women worldwide. The most common symptoms are irregular bleeding and period and normally a long cycle. This means that you may not bleed as often as your friends. This makes it a little harder to get pregnant as your ovulation will also not occur as regularly, plus it’s sometimes hard to know when you are ovulating.
There are some really effective herbs for this and I use them all the time in the clinic. These herbs can help support normal ovarian function, regulate menstruation and alleviate adverse effects such as pain. There may also be a blood sugar dysregulation with PCOS that can play into weight management issues. Want more info? Check out: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/october/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/
Endometriosis is far more common than most realise affecting 1 in 10 Aussie women, including myself. It is one of the most common things I see in clinic and generally responds quickly to herbs that support endometrial tissue.
Endo occurs when endometrial cells grow outside the uterus (where they should stay). A major symptom of endo is pain with a period, pain with intercourse and sharp pains outside of a bleed. Many women think this is normal and it can take an average of 7 years for endo to be found and diagnosed. Taking the pill can mask the symptoms but does not treat the issue. Check out: https://www.endometriosisaustralia.org/endometriosis-facts for more info.
If you are worried, see your doctor. If you want help with these or any hormonal complaints, symptom relief or just to create a more regular beautiful cycle, come in and see me in the clinic.