The Science of A Healthy Period

Typically the normal menstrual cycle is 28 days beginning with the first day of menstruation, which clears the uterus of the endometrium, unfertilized egg and excess hormones. After the menstrual shedding, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is released from the anterior pituitary gland and stimulates the growth of the follicles, which now begin to secrete estrogen. By about the sixth day, whichever of the follicles is the largest becomes the dominant follicle and levels of estrogen start to inhibit the release of additional FSH. The dominant follicle becomes mature and ready for ovulation, while the minor follicles atrophy and wither. If the follicles do not atrophy, particularly if the hormonal signals are imbalanced, they can become functional cysts. During this final maturation, the dominant follicle continues to increase its estrogen production under the influence of an increasing level of Luteinizing Hormone, and small amounts of progesterone will be produced by the mature follicle a day or two before ovulation.

The estrogens that are released into the blood by the growing ovarian follicles stimulate the preparation of the endometrium, including repair. The estrogen levels determine the thickness of the developing endometrium tissue, which means that estrogen dominance will cause excessive thickening and development of endometrial tissue.

When estrogens are high enough in concentration, they stimulate the hypothalamus to release additional gonadotropic releasing hormone, and the anterior pituitary gland produces a surge of LH. This causes the dominant follicle to rupture and the egg is released. This usually occurs on day 14 of the cycle. If progesterone levels are too high at this point, it will cause suppression of LH and FSH. The blood that is released with the ruptured follicle causes a clot which is then absorbed by the remaining follicular cells. They then enlarge forming the corpus luteum under the influence of LH and the corpus luteum now begins to secrete increasing quantities of progesterone and estrogens. This is called the luteal phase. The hormones produced by the corpus luetum promote the growth of the endometrium a process which peaks about one week after ovulation. In this phase, progesterone should be the dominant hormone. Estrogen levels will remain higher than in the Follicular phase, but still secondary to progesterone.

If the egg remains unfertilized, the corpus luteum will degenerate decreasing the levels of progesterone produced. Eventually it drops below estrogen levels and menstruation begins around the 28th day.

Premenstrual Syndrome &
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

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.

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.

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.  I begin by balancing the endometrium with Capsella.  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. Fe-Max Iron Tonic and Ferrofood are the key products for this, providing 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. Treatment includes Chaste Tree as a basic formula. Then I add antihemorrhagic herbs such as Tienchi ginseng and Horsetail, and uterine formulas such as Utrophin PMG.

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 must be supported with Wild Yam over the long term.  For short-term treatment, I add uterine spasmolytics which decrease prostaglandin production such as Dong Quai and Cramp Bark.  Then I'll add Ginger if there is also excessive bleeding.  Then Black Cohosh is an antiinflammatory which is useful and Corydalis helps as an analgesic.  There is no reason that women need to suffer with excessive pain.  

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.

Begin with your female hormones such as FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone). These are key to the regular progression of the female cycle through each month, leading to menstruation. When FSH is low, I suggest 2-4 Tribulus per day, which also regulates DHEA, increases anabolic activity and intensifies protein synethesis. By increasing FSH, it increases levels of estradiol. If the follicle does not respond to FSH, then I add 2-3 Ovatrophin PMG per day to make the follicle produce estrogen. To help the Corpus Luteum make progesterone, I can give 6-9 Ovex per day.

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. Traditional treatment involves Chaste Tree and Blue Cohosh to correct hypothalamic malfunction, and Withania with Panax Ginseng to increase body energy and modulate the effects of stress.