PMS, Irregular Periods, Perimenopause & Menopause find out about Natural Hormone Therapy & Nutrition at Advanced Health Concepts in Pasadena, CA

Monday, August 22nd, 2011, 12:42 am

Why does being stressed out cause irregular periods?

When we are under stress, regardless of the source (danger, personal relationships, work, environment) our adrenal glands are designed to secrete the hormone cortisol (see our articles on adrenal fatigue). Cortisol has a direct impact on the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA. Eating disorders, dieting, drug use, and reliance on stimulants like caffeine and alcohol are also interpreted by the body as kinds of stress. Poor nutrition seems to physically change the proteins in the brain so they can no longer send the proper signals for normal ovulation.

Am I in menopause if I have irregular periods?

No — irregular periods are generally an indication of hormonal imbalance, not necessarily related to menopause. Strictly speaking, women aren’t considered menopausal until they have gone for one year without a menstrual period.

By the way, it is a myth that a woman goes into menopause because her body runs out of eggs. If this were true, then women who experienced menarche (the first period in a woman’s life) earlier would enter menopause earlier. In fact, the opposite is true — early menarche is associated with late menopause. In the same vein, women who had more pregnancies and thereby fewer periods, would have menopause later, and that doesn’t happen, either. If you are experiencing increasing irregularity, you may be suffering from hormonal imbalance or entering perimenopause, and should be evaluated by a healthcare practitioner.

If you have not had a menstrual period for a full year and then experience bleeding, this is different from irregular periods.

Am I in perimenopause if I have irregular periods?

Not necessarily, but irregular periods are one of the most common signals of perimenopause. That’s why it’s best to check in with a healthcare practitioner.

Women entering perimenopause often have irregular periods due to an imbalance of progesterone that upsets their cycle. Because progesterone regulates the amount and length of bleeding, periods can last longer and be accompanied by very heavy bleeding (also called menorrhagia orhypermenorrhagia). However, shorter or spottier periods can also indicate perimenopause.

What does it mean if I miss a period or two?

The most common type of irregular period we see at the clinic is anovulation, or a cycle in which a woman does not ovulate (i.e., does not release an egg). This is frequently the cause of a missed period (an anovulatory cycle) and is considered normal if it occurs only once or twice a year. Clotting is also considered normal if it is cyclic.

Sporadic episodes of poor diet, high stress, emotional trauma, illness, or strenuous physical exercise are the usual suspects behind occasional anovulatory cycles. Sometimes something as simple as a family holiday or a week with the in-laws will play havoc with a menstrual cycle. Monthly periods are quite susceptible to dips and spikes in our emotions and our health. For the most part, once our lives return to normal, so do our periods.

On the other hand, a woman will sometimes skip her period for a few months and then start a heavy period that lasts for days or even weeks. This can be a sign that a woman is entering perimenopause (see above).

More and more we are seeing patients of all ages who come into the clinic with irregular periods due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), an easily recognizable and treatable condition that frequently occurs with insulin resistance. With PCOS, the ovaries produce a quantity of follicles that generate high levels of estrogen but never release an egg. The excessive estrogen stimulates the uterine lining to thicken to a point where it must slough off. Women with this condition are not having what are considered “real” menstrual periods because they do not regularly ovulate.

What if I’m just spotting or not getting a period at all?

We’ve all heard stories from friends who’ve suddenly lost a lot of weight or begun a strenuous exercise regimen, then stopped getting their period. Anorexic women or those who exercise two to three hours a day can find their menstrual cycles diminish or stop due to a decrease in body fat. These women have low estrogen and are not ovulating. This is called stress-type hypothalamic amenorrhea, and it occurs when poor nutrition and stress alter the brain’s chemistry and hormone pathways. The brain can’t trigger the right hormones for follicle development, which make the necessary estrogens. Women with this irregularity tend to be at higher risk for bone loss (osteoporosis) and other degenerative conditions and should be evaluated.

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, as well.

I bleed really heavily when I get my period. What does this mean?

Low progesterone, PCOS, or another form of hormonal imbalance 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. When a patient has anemia, we try to stem the heavy menstrual flow and prescribe an iron supplement. Depending on the severity of the situation we may choose from a range of progesterone therapy options along with diet and exercise modifications to help rebalance the hormonal equation. Bioidentical over-the counter, compounded, or prescription formulations are often adequate. A more serious scenario may call for a synthetic progestin such as Aygestin or Provera to bring the bleeding back under control. We will also often suggest acupuncture for relief.

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, hormone levels, and blood pressure. Also, a complete blood count (CBC) test , Ferriton is quite important as well as B-vitamin and 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.  It is important to rule out any serious conditions, and we typically see patients for nutrition and natural hormone balancing after any serious conditions have been ruled out.

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:

• Make healthy dietary modifications, especially decreased intake of refined carbohydrates.
• Bridge nutritional gaps with a medical–grade multiple vitamin and mineral, supports such as calcium, magnesium, and a fish oil supplement.  Some women require additional homeopathic or herbal supports.
• Get regular but moderate exercise (this may require increasing or decreasing your current level of exercise).
• Relieve stress through exercise and other relaxation techniques.

For the majority of women who make these changes, normal menstrual cycles return 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 adrenal supports, herbal supports, bioidentical progesterone, and only resort to birth control pills if your symptoms persist. If you do decide to take BCP’s for your irregular periods, you will still benefit by supporting your body in all the above-listed ways.

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Tags: Adrenal Fatigue, BHRT, BHRT-Pasadena CA, bioidentical hormones, bioidenticalhormonesdoctors.com, Dr. Christiane Northup & Menopause, Dr. King, Dr. Stephanie King, endocrine support formula, hot flashes, natural hormone support, nutrition & hormones, Pasadenabiodicenticalhormones.com, Perimenopause, pms, Suzanne Somers & BHRT

Category: Adrenal Gland Dysfunction, Hormones & BHRT, Natural Medicine

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