Do you need a period?
When I was a teenager I remember the word started to spread that you could go on the pill and skip your period. I remember an influx of teenage girls all heading to their local GP and being put on the pill with little to no idea of the impacts of birth control on hormone health. I mean who wouldn’t want to just skip a period and not have to deal with the hassle of a monthly bleed and wacky hormones. After all, you don’t actually have to think about your period until it’s time to have a baby right?
Turns out, not the case…..there is a lot more to it than that and I really wish there had been more education around hormone health at the time because I know I’m not alone when I say this, but I had absolutely no idea. Let’s face it, not a lot has really changed. We still need a lot more young girls being made aware of exactly what is going on in their bodies and with their hormones.
Your period is normal.
Menstruation is a normal and natural part of a woman's reproductive cycle. Let me repeat that. Your period is normal. It occurs when the lining of the uterus sheds, and we bleed from the vagina for several days. You should bleed every month.
Your period is your monthly health report card
Menstruation is not just a bodily function needed in order to have a baby. It also plays a very important role in your overall health and well-being. It is a key indicator of your hormonal balance and how your body is functioning. When a woman's menstrual cycle is regular and consistent, it signals that her body is producing the right amount of hormones necessary for healthy reproductive function. If menstrual irregularities or disruptions occur, it may indicate an underlying hormonal imbalance that needs to be addressed. It may also mean something else might be at play? Nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune issues, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal deficiency…….you name it. Naturopaths use your menstrual cycle like a report card. It tells us so much about your health. Issues with your cycle = further investigation needed.
Understanding your hormones
Hormonal issues are really common and you should know if there is an imbalance. In fact this is one of the more common issues I treat in clinic. The issue with hormonal birth control is it suppresses and masks any issues you might be having. Meaning, the issues are there and potentially getting worse but you might not have any idea about them until the time comes to come off birth control to try for a baby. I don’t want to scare you. I just want to empower you with the knowledge so that you can take back control of your health.
The benefits of knowing your flow
Menstrual blood is also a rich source of information about a woman's overall health. Abnormalities with our bleed, such as heavy bleeding, painful cramps, or irregular periods, can be indicative of various health issues such as endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Again really important to understand if these things are at play especially when you’re trying for a baby.
Detoxification
One very big role our cycle plays and one we often don’t think about is the critical role menstruation plays in the body's natural detoxification process. During menstruation, the body eliminates toxins and excess hormones that have built up over the course of the menstrual cycle. By suppressing or eliminating periods altogether, you’re not getting this really important and wonderful opportunity to cleanse and detox each month.
So while the pill and other forms of hormonal birth control can help you feel like your cycle is more convenient and predictable, it’s important to understand that you’re essentially putting yourself in a chemical menopause and you are missing the value of menstruation and the benefits things like ovulation has on not only managing your reproductive health but also for your overall health and well-being.
If I had my way anyone who menstruates would be encouraged to embrace their cycle and be armed with the knowledge to really feel in their body when things aren’t quite right so they can act quickly, investigate and seek appropriate treatment.
If you would like to learn more about taking charge with your fertility and optimising your health, I am launching a new holistic preconception program that will take you from feeling stressed and overwhelmed on your fertility journey to calm and healthy in both your mind and body so you can enjoy the process of trying for a baby. It does this by following a holistic 6 week preconception program that blends fertility yoga and meditation practices with evidence based naturopathic principles, giving you the tools and knowledge to move through your fertility journey in a more holistic and peaceful way. If you would like to learn more, click HERE.
And if you feel like you need one on one care, you can also book an initial naturopathic consultation so we can go a little deeper. We can order any tests we need and really see what’s going on for you.