It's true: your flow shouldn't run (or, should I say ruin?!) your life!
Why we need to stop accepting the answer: "that's just how periods are"
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:
AND
What's Normal & What's Not
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):
Soaking through a super tampon every hour
Doubling up on period products and flooding through them
Clots over 1" in diameter or bigger than the size of a quarter
Needing three Advil every few hours just to function plus heating pad plus curled up in a ball
Planning your life around your flow
What "Normal" Actually Looks Like
"Normal" is actually a range and can look like:
Flow Volume: 30-50mL total on average over your whole period (anything between 10 and 80mL is technically normal). You may have some small clots, which are considered normal.
Duration: 3-7 days of actual bleeding
Pain Level: Manageable discomfort, not "curl up in a ball and cancel life" pain
Impact on Life: Minimal, you should still be able to work, exercise, and live normally
Here are approximate volumes common period products hold.
What Could Be Going On If You Have Heavy and/or Painful Periods?
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.
Your Period Doesn't Have to Be a Monthly Crisis, Ask for Help!
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:
Track your menstrual cycle regularly, especially your period, related symptoms, and any management strategies you use. Here's a blog post to help you estimate your blood loss.
If you have a family history of a medical condition related to periods, bleeding, fertility, and/or thyroid problems, remind your health team of this. This can tip the scale toward investigating further.
When you go see your doctor, share what you recorded and the impact that has on your day-to-day life, like: "On the first 2 days of my period, I soak through a super pad every 90 minutes, have multiple clots bigger than a quarter, have to take 4 extra-strength Advils that help 40-60% with my pain. It really affects my life--I have to stay home from school and can't really focus on anything."
If your doctor doesn't investigate further, ask them questions like: "Is there any testing we can do, like an ultrasound? Should I be seeing a gynecologist? What are our next steps because I can't go on like this?"
If your doctor still doesn't think anything is going on, then you can even lead them: "Could this be endometriosis? Or, fibroids? Or, something of the kind?"
Resources for You for Your Periods
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.
