No Periods

Periods can be missed both at the beginning and end of our reproductive life. In the beginning, when we enter puberty, hormones can take a number of months to settle down into a proper rhythm. Much the same thing occurs as we move towards the menopause, and missing periods can be quite common. There are also natural reasons why we do not have periods – for example, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding .

However, if you suffer from an absence of periods for more than six months, without any of these natural causes or at these normal times, you can be sure that what you are experiencing is not natural.

What is amenorrhoea?

The term ‘amenorrhoea’ literally means ‘the absence of periods’. It may seem like a fairly straightforward diagnosis – either you have periods, or you don’t. However, amenorrhoea is not a diagnosed condition, but a symptom of another problem. There are a wide variety of reasons why you may not be having periods, and you must always take steps to find out what is causing your amenorrhoea.

It’s not normal for women to have no periods, and there will be something at the root of the problem. I have come across many women whose periods have inexplicably stopped. When they visited their doctors, they were told that it was ‘more convenient’ to go without periods, and that there was no reason to look into it unless they wanted to conceive. Drugs could be then be offered at that time to stimulate ovulation.

There is no doubt that periods can be inconvenient, but the plain truth is that it is unnatural not to have them. Your body is designed to have menstrual cycles when you are not pregnant, and if you are not having periods there is something out of balance or unnatural happening in your body. This needs to be investigated and treated. For one thing, if you are not having periods, your risk of osteoporosis is greatly increased.

What are your choices?

If your periods stop for no apparent reason or you have come off the Pill and your periods have not come back then you should ask to be referred to a gynaecologist. Many of the reasons why periods stop are not serious, but more serious health problems should always be ruled out before you decide upon a form of treatment.

If medical tests indicate that there is nothing seriously wrong, this section is for you. You may have been told ‘to wait and see’ or to go on the Pill as a form of treatment. This is one of those situations where the natural approach really comes into its own. By looking at your diet, correcting any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and using herbs, it is possible to correct the underlying imbalance that is causing the loss of periods.

It is also important to look at your weight, to ensure that it falls within the normal ranges regardless of whether you are overweight or underweight because the effects on your cycle can be dramatic.

If you have been dieting you are likely to be deficient in vital nutrients. The same goes if you have been under a lot of stress.

Previous use of the Pill will also have upset your intake of nutrients. You may have low levels of the B vitamins, especially B2, B6, B12 and also folic acid. It is also well known that the Pill upsets the balance of copper and zinc in your body. You can end up with too much copper and not enough zinc. This imbalance can still exist even if it has been some time since you took the Pill regularly. Zinc is crucial for healthy functioning of your reproductive system.

Supplements

The supplements recommended below may be useful for amenorrhoea. For best results you should take then 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 should form the foundation of your supplement programme to make sure that you are getting a ‘little bit of everything’.

B Vitamins

A B-complex supplement needs to be added to your diet on a daily basis. Choose one that contains good levels of all the B vitamins, including folic acid. Folic acid is absolutely crucial for your cells to multiply normally. When working on getting your periods back, it’s important that your ovaries are able to produce eggs, and that the cells in those eggs are able to divide properly.

Zinc

Zinc is an important mineral for the normal functioning of your hormones. It plays a major part in the part in the normal function of many of our hormones, including the sex hormones and insulin. It is needed for normal egg production in the ovaries, and for your body to attract and utilise your reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Zinc can be deficient if you have been using the Pill for a while.

Magnesium

This mineral has been classed as ‘nature’s tranquilliser’, so it is essential that it is included an a good level when treating no periods. Stress is often a major factor in amenorrhoea, and this mineral will help to redress the balance of a stressful lifestyle.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

These essential fats have a profound effect on every system of the body, including the reproductive system and they are crucial for healthy hormone functioning and hormone Many of the women I see in the clinic have been taking evening primrose oil supplements – an Omega 6 fatty acid – for years and have not been eating enough Omega 3 oils, or taking them in supplement form, to counterbalance this. Some women are also taking combinations such as Omega 3, 6, and 9 in supplement form because they have heard that we need a good balance of all the Omega fatty acids. This is true, but you have to take into account what your own levels may be in the first place. It is no good adding in more Omega 6 if you have already got enough or in fact too much in your body. (You can now have a blood test to tell you if you have the correct levels of Omega 3 to Omega 6 in your body see below). To check whether you have sufficient levels of Omega 3 please click Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home finger prick blood)

For more information on the special dietary recommendations for no periods, read the rest of the Understanding No Periods ebook at The Natural Health Practice

Herbs

Herbal treatment is aimed at literally ‘kick starting’ your reproductive system. This means that the right messages need to get to your brain so that the pituitary gland can send the correct message down to your ovaries to stimulate ovulation.

Agnus castus (Vitex/Chastetree berry)

Agnus castus is very much the herb of choice when trying to bring back periods. It works on the pituitary gland by balancing the levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinising hormone), which then sends a message to the ovaries. The result is that progesterone levels go up and your cycle kicks back into action. This can take between three and six months.

In one study, 10 out of 15 women’s period had returned after using Agnus castus for a six-month period.

Caution

You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertility drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.

Tests

There are a number of tests available that are extremely useful and are well worth considering. These tests can give you invaluable insights into understanding what is going on in your body at the moment and can tell you what vitamin and mineral deficiencies and heavy toxic metal excesses you may have. They can let you know what your general condition is and how well your digestive system is functioning and then explain what action you need to take to rectify any imbalances the results may reveal. The analysis of these results lets you know what supplements you need to take in order to bring your body back into balance and into optimum health. This is also designed to help prevent these problems from recurring in the future. You would then be re-tested after three months to monitor your progress and to adjust the supplement programme accordingly.

Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair)
Find out what the mineral and heavy toxic levels are in your body

This test measures the deficiencies and excess levels of 12 different minerals (including calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc) and 6 heavy toxic metals (including aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel) that may be present in your body. Find out more – Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair) 

Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme
Discover what vitamins and minerals you need and should be taking

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. Find out more – Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme

Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home finger prick blood)
If you want to find out if you are getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids from your diet and whether you have the correct balance of essential fatty acids.

Signs of an Omega 3 fatty acid are dry skin, lifeless hair, cracked nails, fatigue, depression, dry eyes, lack of motivation, aching joints, difficulty in losing weight, forgetfulness, breast pain. If you have also tried to lose weight by going on a low-fat or no-fat diet, you are likely to be deficient in these essential fats. It is now estimated that we are getting ten times more Omega 6 fats from our diet than Omega 3 and over the last century there has been an 80% decrease in the consumption of these Omega 3 fatty acids. When you eat Omega 3 fats they are converted to substances that have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.

Many of the women I see in the clinic have been taking evening primrose oil supplements – an Omega 6 fatty acid – for many years as it can be helpful with PMS. But you can end up with too much Omega 6 and not enough Omega 3 in your body. Some women are also taking combinations such as Omega 3, 6, and 9 in supplement form because they have heard that we need a good balance of all the Omega fatty acids. This is true, but you have to take into account what your own levels may be in the first place. It is no good adding in more Omega 6 if you have already got enough or in fact too much in your body. (You can now have a blood test to tell you if you have the correct levels of Omega 3 to Omega 6 in your body see below). To check whether you have sufficient levels of Omega 3 please click Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home finger prick blood)

Stress Test (saliva)
How stressed are you?

The test measures the level of the stress hormone cortisol which is released when you feel physical or psychological stress. Symptoms can occur if you are producing too much or little cortisol. The test also measures DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which is the hormone that works to balance many of the negative effects of cortisol and helps you cope with stress. Four saliva samples are collected in a kit, supplied by the lab, at home over the course of one day and the samples are then sent back to the lab for analysis. Find out more – Stress Test (saliva)

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, no periods options at 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.

Nutrition

Ensure you are getting the right nutrition.Follow the dietary recommendations outlined in the free The Foundation of Health ebook For more information on the special dietary recommendations for no periods, read the rest of the ebook on Understanding No Periods ebook at The Natural Health Practice

Supplements

The supplement programme below should be taken for at least three months in order to achieve best results

To avoid having to purchase numerous supplements for all of the above and to make the process easier, I have put together a supplement programme which contains all the nutrients mentioned above and in the correct dosages. For more information about these click No Periods Supplement Programme.

In my book ‘The Natural Health Bible’ I explain the impact of nutrition on no periods and also give in great detail a list of the most important nutrients and herbs required in order to help you.

If you would like to order these special supplements now, you can do so through the Natural Health Practice by clicking No Periods Supplements at the Natural Health Practice.

Tests

The tests below have been specially selected to be the most helpful if you are concerned about no periods.

Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair) 

Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme

Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home finger prick blood)

Stress Test (saliva)

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, No Periods options at 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.

Read More

The section above forms part of a larger ebook on No Periods.

 

In the rest of the ebook you will learn what the medical approaches to amenorrhoea (no 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. The medical treatments for no 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 amenorrhoea (no 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 ebook 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 ebook click, Understanding No Periods ebook at The Natural Health Practice and you will be given details of how you can download the whole ebook.