Know your menstrual cycle, what it means, what’s happening “down there”!

Menarche, the onset of menstruation, begins at puberty, typically around age 12-13. There is a trend toward girls beginning menstruation earlier, with the Standard American Diet and our increased exposure to chemicals being identified as the culprit. Therefore, it is important that teens and women in their 20’s be attentive to a diet high in non-GMO and organic vegetables, proteins and fruits, that they get adequate water intake (at least eight 8 oz. glasses or 2 liters) each day. Susan will break down why each of these is important in her intake and follow ups with you.

Menstrual Cycles are expected to be 28 days in length, with ovulation occurring at Cycle Day 14 and menstruation occurring at Cycle Day 28. Cycle Day 1 is considered the first day of menstrual flow. Not every woman follows this pattern, and a moderate deviation can be normal. However, long cycles with irregular patterns can signal the development of metabolic and reproductive health issues such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, so it is wise to discuss and resolve irregular cycles with diet and lifestyle approach, not simply by taking an oral contraceptive pill to artificially regulate menstrual cycles. Note: in some cases, it can be helpful to use the pill as well; however, it is not a substitute for finding and addressing the cause.

This is a time when women and couples may try to grow their family. It is important to know exactly what is happening in a woman’s reproductive system in order to support healthy follicles, predictable cycles and to enhance the environment for optimum reproductive health, a concept described as epigenetics, a way in which to positively influence the genetic expression at every cell in our bodies, including eggs and sperm. Not surprisingly, this includes dietary and lifestyle recommendations to support nutrient-rich blood flow to ovaries and uterus (as well as male gonads and sperm production, by the way).

This is the time of peri-menopause and menopause, when a woman’s menstrual cycles are naturally shifting, and ovaries are naturally producing fewer hormones. As ovaries reduce their production of estradiol, the adrenals’ production of estrone becomes more important. Thus, if a woman has been stressing her adrenals in her 30’s and 40’s with work, family, and yes, dietary and lifestyle indiscretions, the result will be elevated symptoms of hormonal imbalance and hormonal clearance issues, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood lability, insomnia, reduced libido and thinning of vaginal wall to name a few. While I’m not opposed to a woman incorporating hormone replacement therapy in her first few years of menopause (defined as one year without a menstrual cycle), she is far better prepared for an easy transition if these imbalances are cleared up.

This is the time of peri-menopause and menopause, when a woman’s menstrual cycles are naturally shifting, and ovaries are naturally producing fewer hormones. As ovaries reduce their production of estradiol, the adrenals’ production of estrone becomes more important. Thus, if a woman has been stressing her adrenals in her 30’s and 40’s with work, family, and yes, dietary and lifestyle indiscretions, the result will be elevated symptoms of hormonal imbalance and hormonal clearance issues, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood lability, insomnia, reduced libido and thinning of vaginal wall to name a few. While I’m not opposed to a woman incorporating hormone replacement therapy in her first few years of menopause (defined as one year without a menstrual cycle), she is far better prepared for an easy transition if these imbalances are cleared up.