Irregular Periods
Introduction
Irregular PeriodsSuffering from irregular periods is a fairly clear indication that your cycles have become imbalanced. There are a variety of reasons for this and also many ways to address the imbalance. Many women are unconcerned about having irregular cycles until they begin trying for a baby, but other women find it very difficult to plan without knowing when their periods could appear.
What are irregular periods?
Irregular periods are simply those that are not regular. If you suffer
from irregular periods, you simply will not know when your period is
going to appear. Cycles can vary from 23 to 35 days, but they are classed
as regular if your periods occur at roughly the same time each cycle.
So, even if your periods are, say, 35 days apart instead of the usual
28, but they always appear at day 35, they would be classified as being
'normal'. Irregular periods can be extremely difficult or even impossible
to track.
What symptoms could you experience?
Minor cycle irregularities are common. For example, you may have your
period on day 23 of one month and then the next month on day 35.
You may, however, have a much more irregular cycle, in which case it is important that you have further investigations, so that other problems, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (see polycystic ovary syndrome section) can be ruled out. The following symptoms are characteristic of irregular periods, and you can experience a combination of any or all of these:
1. Large gaps with no periods
2. Some gaps and then periods coming too frequently for a while (for
example, two in one month) followed by gaps again.
3. Gaps of no periods and then bleeding continuously for a few weeks.
4. Spotting in between period.
What are your choices?
The natural approach is designed to encourage your body to re-establish
regular ovulation and to get your hormones back in balance. Given the
right tools, your body has the remarkable ability to balance itself.
The supplements outlined below are designed to ensure that you are well
nourished - in other words, your body has all the nutrients it needs.
Supplements
The supplements recommended below have been studied in clinical trials
and have been found to be effective in connection with irregular periods.
For best results you should take them over a period of three months,
at the end of which you should be reassessed in order to monitor improvements
and changes and then adjust the supplement programme according to your
new condition.
Multivitamin and Mineral
A good quality multivitamin and mineral would form the foundation of
your supplement programme to make sure that you are getting a 'little
bit of everything'. You then add in those nutrients in slightly higher
amounts which are known to be helpful for irregular periods.
B Vitamins
These are often called the 'stress' vitamins because they can help you
to cope with the pressures of everyday life. As stress can be such an
important factor in causing irregular periods it is important that you
have some help in dealing with it. Vitamins B2, B3 and B6 are also necessary
for thyroid hormone production and B5 (pantothenic acid) is essential
for optimum adrenal function. Both imbalances in thyroid function and
stress can affect your cycle.
The easiest way to make sure you are getting a good supply of these
vitamins is to take them in the form of a good B-complex tablet. B vitamins
are synergistic, which means that they work together.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are particularly relevant with irregular periods. It is
believed that antioxidants have the ability to prevent cells from mutating.
In other words, they prevent cells from becoming 'abnormal'. This is
extremely important if you have been diagnosed with thickening of the
womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) because you don't want the cells
to mutate. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E and the mineral
selenium. Their effects have been proven: women with womb tumours have
been shown to have less of both selenium and vitamin E than women without
them so make sure you are getting enough of these valuable nutrients.
Magnesium
This mineral has been classed as 'nature's tranquilliser', so it is
an essential inclusion in the diet of anyone suffering from irregular
periods. In fact, anyone in today's hectic society will benefit from
a magnesium supplement. Stress is often a factor in period irregularity,
and this mineral will help to redress the balance of a stressful lifestyle.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
Linseeds, which are an excellent form of both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty
acids, have been proven to encourage regularity of the cycle among other
things. Even if hormonal imbalance is not at the root of your condition,
it is worth adding these fatty acids to your diet. There are many factors
that are now known to affect the way fatty acids are used by our bodies,
including high adrenaline levels (in the case of stress), high alcohol
consumption, and high levels of cholesterol. If your body is NOT getting
or using enough of the fatty acids consumed, your cycle can be affected.
You can't lose by adding these supplements to your diet.
Herbs (see caution below)
Herbs have a long tradition of normalising irregular periods. One herb in particular is extremely useful for balancing your cycle and they can be used effectively together:
Agnus castus (Vitex/Chastetree berry)
This herb stimulates and normalises the function of the pituitary gland
which in turn helps to balance hormone output from the ovaries and to
stimulate ovulation. Agnus castus is also useful when there is an excess
of prolactin which can be suppressing ovulation. Furthermore, it has
been shown to reduce thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial
hyperplasia) and can be used on a preventative basis.
You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertillity drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.
Tests are extremely useful, in that they can tell you what deficiencies you have at the moment and then for you to know what supplements would be useful to take to correct those deficiencies. You would then be re-tested after three to four months to monitor your progress and to adjust the supplement programme accordingly.
Mineral Analysis Test
with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme
This test measures the deficiency and excess levels of 7 different minerals
and 5 heavy toxic metals that may be present in your body.
Online Personalised
Supplement Assessment Programme
The analysis of this comprehensive questionnaire will give you a three
monthly supplement programme to help balance any vitamin and mineral
deficiencies you may have.
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
Plan of Action
Nutrition
Ensure you are getting the right nutrition:
Follow dietary recommendations outlined on the Foundation
of Health page.
And for more information on the special dietary recommendations for
irregular periods, see the rest of the chapter onIrregular Periods e-book at The Natural Health Practice
The supplement programme below should be taken for at least three months in order to achieve best results
- A good multivitamin and mineral tablet
- B-complex vitamin (containing 100 mg of each B vitamin)
- Magnesium (300mg per day)
- Linseed oil (also known as flaxseed oil at 1000mg per day)
- Vitamin C (1000mg per day)
- An antioxidant tablet, containing vitamin A and selenium)
Plus the herb Agnus castus
At the end of three months you should reassess your condition and adjust your supplement programme accordingly.
The tests below have been specially selected to be the most helpful if you are concerned about irregular periods.
Mineral Analysis Test with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme
Online Personalised
Supplement Assessment Programme
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
The section above forms part of a larger 10 page chapter on Irregular Periods taken from my book,. In the rest of the chapter you will learn what the medical approaches to irregular periods are and how to combine them with the natural approach. This is called Integrated Medicine and is the way that healthier of the future is moving towards. You will also learn what medical tests will give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition and if you really need to have them. The medical treatments for irregular periods are then examined which can include looking at either drugs or surgery. Each treatment is then discussed and the pros and cons of the options explained. The Integrated Approach to irregular periods is considered in some detail so that if appropriate you can know how to combine the best of both conventional and natural medicine.
At the end of the chapter is a practical step by step summary of what you can do to help yourself.
If you would like to read the rest of this chapter click,Irregular Periods e-book at The Natural Health Practice . and you will be given details of how you can download the whole chapter.
The contents of this site are for information only and are intended to assist readers in identifying symptoms and conditions they may be experiencing. This site is not intended to be a substitute for taking proper medical advice and should not be relied upon in this way. Always consult a qualified doctor or health practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, taking the pill or on any medication. Your situation will need to be looked at individually and you should not attempt to self treat. The author and publisher cannot accept responsibility for illness arising out of the failure to seek medical advice from a doctor.
The views expressed by third parties placing material on these pages are not representative of the views of the author or publisher. The Author and Publisher cannot monitor the content not produced by us and has not reviewed all the third party material published on this site and the Author and Publisher accept no liability whatsoever in relation to the content of third party material placed on these pages.
| www.marilynglenville.com E-mail health@marilynglenville.com |
|
| Tel 08705 329244 | Fax 08705 329255 UK |
| (+ 44 1892 515905 International) | (00 44 1892 515914 International) |