Irregular Periods And Natural Ways To Maintain A Regular Menstrual Cycle
Why does my period come twice a month?
In addition to missed periods, we also see women who get more than one period in the span of a month. The causes for this are relatively unknown, but stress and lifestyle seem once again to play a major role. Ingesting medication or other substances that disrupt the luteal phase may be a factor, too.
I bleed really heavily when I get my period. What does this mean?
Low progesterone, PCOS, or other hormonal imbalances may be the culprit. If a woman has two or more successive months of heavy bleeding, a check-up is called for.
Any kind of heavy bleeding can contribute to anemia. In this scenario, we often suggest a synthetic progestin such as Aygestin or Provera, along with diet and exercise modifications to bring the bleeding back under control. We will also often suggest acupuncture for relief. If a patient has anemia, we try to stop the heavy menstrual flow and prescribe an iron supplement. Read our article for more information about menorrhagia (heavy periods).
What can I do about my irregular periods?
The first step is to talk to a healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above. It’s a good idea to do the following:
- Have a complete physical, including evaluations of thyroid function (Click here for many articles about this in our Thyroid Health section) and blood pressure. Also, a complete blood count (CBC) test is quite important for the diagnosis of anemia.
- A pelvic exam is critical to rule out any uterine abnormality, a cervical polyp or fibroid, or a uterine infection. These are less common causes but should be considered. Often an ultrasound will be required to evaluate the uterus, the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Ultrasound of the uterus is useful and painless — you may already be familiar with this technique from pregnancy. If infection is a concern, antibiotics will be prescribed.
- If you are trying to become pregnant, consult with a fertility specialist or a qualified OB/GYN practitioner for further testing.
What is the treatment for irregular periods?
Most of the time, simply decreasing our stress, improving nutrition and adding adequate nutritional supplements can provide a natural way to restore regular menstrual cycles. These steps alone give the body a much needed boost and will support the natural hormonal balance and monthly cycles we are meant to enjoy… and appreciate! For most patients, we see big improvements with the following steps:
- Healthy dietary modifications, especially decreased intake of refined carbohydrates. Please see our Nutrition section for numerous articles on these topics.
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- Supplementing nutritional gaps with a medical-grade multivitamin, including calcium, magnesium, and a high-quality fish oil supplement, such as the high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade formulations by Women to Women.
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- Moderate exercise (this may require increasing or decreasing your current level of exercise).
- Stress relief through exercise or other relaxation techniques.
For the majority of women who make these changes, a normal menstrual cycle returns without a hitch.
If the issue stems from an anovulatory or perimenopausal condition, a doctor may prescribe birth control pills to normalize the cycle. This is often successful. Keep in mind however, that birth control pills are powerful hormones and often cause side effects. We recommend you start first with these more natural steps, including bioidentical progesterone cream, and only resort to birth control pills if your symptoms persist. If you do decide to take birth control pills for your irregular periods, you should still make sure to support your body in all the above-listed ways.