Menstrual Health

Periods. Periods. Periods. As women we don’t get a lot of information about what’s going to happen to us during puberty and then we don’t get a lot of education on what will happen during ‘second puberty’ - perimenopause to menopause. In between, we may have concerns or problems that are then brushed off by our doctors. Overall there is a lot of confusion. There shouldn’t be!

Painful, Heavy, Irregular periods are not normal! Learning what to expect during your menstrual cycle is key to taking advantage of your female hormones. And then when you know what normal is for you, it’s easier to determine if something is wrong. You know you, better than anyone! My goal is to help you understand your female hormones, learn what to expect based on your hormone levels at different times of your cycle, and by default be educated to know when something is off.

Signs you’re not at optimal menstrual health

Here are the most common issues patients come to me for:

  • Painful periods are not normal. Normal sensations include a fullness in the pelvis, some mild cramps that do not require medication and do not disrupt your life.

  • Periods that come less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart or if you skip 3 or more consecutive periods or have fewer than 8 periods a year. This can be a sign of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which if not treated can lead to diabetes type 2.

  • Heavy periods are not normal. Normal is a moderate bleed for a couple days with clots LESS than the size of a quarter. It’s not normal to bleed more than 7 days or to soak through a super tampon or super absorbent pad in an hour. If left untreated, you could become anemic which causes significant fatigue, shortness of breath and interruptions to your daily life.

  • Even if you don’t have painful or irregular periods, you can still have hormonal imbalances that cause bad mood swings and headaches. These PMS symptoms cause disruptions in your day to day. Rather than brushing them off as normal, get the resources you need to get your life back.

If you’ve been experiencing any of the things above, contact our office to schedule an Integrative Medicine appointment with Dr. Canfield.

Menopause and Perimenopause

Perimenopause is ‘second puberty’. Your body once again has to get used to a large flux in hormone levels. We aren’t taught about all the symptoms that can occur starting as early as our late 30s! The good news is there are ways to support your hormones to reduce or eliminate these symptoms. You might be going through Perimenopause if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Hot Flashes

  • Vaginal Dryness

  • Low Libido

  • Change in Length of Cycles 

  • Heavy Bleeding

  • Mood Changes

  • Decreased Energy Levels