What’s up with your periods lately? Are you dying on the couch with cramps? Debating breaking up with your significant other a few days before your period comes every month? Or have you been missing work because you’re in too much pain and your period is too heavy to leave the house?
We shouldn’t have to suffer with these hormone issues. If you’re asking yourself, is this a normal period? Keep reading to find out if your period is normal and when you should see your naturopath to get control of those hormonal issues.
How many days is your period? 3-7 days is typical (5-7 days is running on the long side)
3-7 days
Cycle length 21-35 days is typical (Day 1 is counted as the first day of your bleed). If you’re noticing it’s been 40 days or 60 days since your last period that’s too long. PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is a condition which is usually accompanied by low progesterone and we usually see skipped periods and long cycles. 2 periods in one month? More blood loss means a higher chance of having low iron levels which means extra fatigue and we don’t need that.
cycle length 21-35 days
Is your period heavy or light?
Heavy periods means:
- your period lasts for more than 7 days
- bleeding soaks through one or more tampons or pads every hour for several hours in a row
- needing to wear more than one pad at a time to control flow
- needing to change pads or tampons during the night
- clots that are as big as a quarter or larger
it is possible to have a symptom free period
Cramping, PMS, breast tenderness and spotting are all common but it is possible to have a symptom free period.
We have a lot to do and we don’t need our periods running our lives. Let your naturopath know if you feel like your periods are off and we can work on a treatment plan to bring your hormones back into balance.