It's true: your flow shouldn't run (or, should I say ruin?!) your life!
Something that really irks me is how we've somehow collectively decided that periods are supposed to suck. Like, really suck.
We've normalized doubled-up tampons and pads, taking heroic doses of painkillers, and cancelling plans (including very normal day-to-day ones like going to school or work) because of our period problems.
The truth is this:
- periods can bring along symptoms of discomfort, fatigue, pressure, and water retention (there are VERY real physiological changes happening in your uterus!)
AND
- they should not be disrupting your life to the point of severe symptoms that get in the way of your life (if this is the case, we need to be investigating WHY)
When it comes to our periods, we've been conditioned to accept dysfunction as normal. This is what is NOT normal (but often gets normalized):
What "Normal" Actually Looks Like
"Normal" is actually a range and can look like:
Here are approximate volumes common period products hold.
Heavy, painful, or disruptive periods are often symptoms of undiagnosed conditions. This is true on its own, and especially true if a common management strategy like over-the-counter painkillers, birth control pill, and/or hormonal IUD is not working well for you. Conditions that might be leading to symptoms could include:
Endometriosis: When tissue that looks like the inside of your uterus starts to grow outside the uterus
Adenomyosis: When the uterine lining grows into the muscle wall of the uterus
Fibroids: Non-cancerous growths that can lead to pain + heavy periods
Clotting disorders: When your blood doesn't clot properly, which often has a genetic link (more common than you'd think!)
Endometrial hyperplasia: Often seen in PCOS if your period goes MIA many months in a row!
These conditions are often missed or dismissed, especially in younger menstruators. Some of them are a bit hard to diagnose, but this doesn't mean that we shouldn't investigate at all!
Conditions like endometriosis take an average of 7-12 years to diagnose. That's potentially over a decade of unnecessary suffering because we've normalized period problems.
Here's what I want you to take away from this: your period should not dictate your life. If it is, that's information worth investigating, not accepting. Here are some tips for you:
Your period shouldn't be something you survive every month. You don't have to love them, but you shouldn't be suffering through them.
If your period is running your life instead of the other way around, it's time to find healthcare providers who will take your symptoms seriously. You deserve answers, not dismissal.
And, remember: there's a whole range of treatment options out there, from conventional medications, hormones, and procedures to naturopathic approaches with herbs, nutrients, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes.
The key is finding what works for your body and your life.
If you're in Ontario and looking for naturopathic support for your menstrual health, I'd love to help you get to the bottom of what's going on and find solutions that actually work. I'm accepting new patients virtually, in Innisfil (near Barrie), and in East Gwillimbury (near Newmarket).
For more period education and practical advice, check out my book, The Period Literacy Handbook, available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats. Because understanding your body is the first step to advocating for it.
