Irregular Menstruation
In 2017 I had a young woman in her early 20’s come to see me. She had recently been diagnosed with endometriosis, her menstrual cycle was heavy and very irregular, it was also very painful. She had not had children and suffered a lot of anxiety around food and the fact that her fertility may be affected.
During her initial consultation it became apparent that she was below a healthy weight for her height and age, and that due to her anxiety her diet was very restricted as she avoided any food that she had been told or read that was “bad” food.
We discussed the role that weight plays in out hormonal cycle and also the effect hormones have on our reproductive system. Over several sessions we addressed her anxiety and gradually added more foods into her diet with the aim being for her to eat a balanced low oestrogenic diet. We also used a herbal formula to help balance her hormones and regulate her cycle. Her pain was predominantly managed with herbs, however she used over the counter medication occasionally.
Over several months as her weight improved and with the help of herbs and supplements her menstrual cycle became more regular, the bleeding lessened, and the level of pain reduced significantly reducing her dependence on over the counter medication. This led to a further reduction in the levels of her anxiety which led to an overall improvement in her quality of life. During this time she developed an enjoyment of new and tasty foods that helped her to maintain her weight and keep her cycle regular, she lived with renewed hope that when she was ready her chances of conceiving were much improved.