Is your menstrual cycle ‘normal’?

Do you experience pain during your period? Have you ever noticed that you are more emotional a few days leading up to your period? What about feeling more bloated before and during your menses?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, it’s important to note that these signs and symptoms are common, but not necessarily ‘normal’. You have probably been told that painful periods are normal. You may have even heard that every person who experiences a period, also experiences premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Menstrual health disorders are one of the most prevalent concerns in reproductive health. Over 70% of menstruating individuals have reported one or more of the following: painful periods, skipped/irregular periods, no periods at all, heavy periods, premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Regulating all the phases in the menstrual cycle plays an important role in both mental and physical health.

A menstrual cycle is comprised of a series of hormonal changes that occurs in 4 different stages: menstrual phase, follicular phase, ovulation phase, luteal phase. The average length of a full menstrual cycle is approximately 28-30 days, and the average length of menstruation is approximately 5-7 days. Although everyone’s cycle is very different, there are certain signs and symptoms that, if experience, warrant further investigation to ensure that there is balance in hormones and general health.

Here are some abnormal characteristics in menstrual health:

• You have irregular cycles
• The length between your cycles are getting longer
• You have pain with your period
• You experience pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS): bloating, mood swings, anxiety, foodcravings
• You experience missed periods
• You spot between your periods

Some of the reasons why you may experience these signs and symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Lack of certain nutrients
• Hormonal imbalances
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Thyroid imbalances
• Strenuous exercise
• Stress

Here are some tests that can be done to help you get a better understanding of your hormones, and thus your menstrual cycle:

• Bloodwork: testing hormones through blood serum levels is one of the most easilyaccessible options. Markers that can be tested through blood serum levels include: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, androgens, cortisol, and inflammatory markers
• DUTCH test: the DUTCH test utilizes urine samples to test hormones. It differs from blood serum levels in the way that it shows both hormones and its metabolites. They include a visual representation of the different hormone pathways, and which specificsteps may be imbalanced.

Ways we can help with menstrual cycle conc erns:

1) Cruciferous vegetables: incorporating cruciferous vegetables can help support estrogen detoxification and provide your body with anti-oxidant properties. Examples of cruciferous vegetables include Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Swiss chard, and bok choy.
2) Ginger: this anti-inflammatory herb has been found to help relieve menstrual pain, equally in efficacy as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals (NSAIDs); NSAIDs include Advil and Naproxen, which are commonly prescribed for menstrual pain.
3) Acupuncture: acupuncture is a minimally-invasive method to support menstrual concerns that does not require oral supplementation. This can be especially helpful for individuals who are concerned about interaction with their current medication prescriptions. Acupuncture has been studied to help with menstrual pain, regulation of menses, and PMS symptoms.