Bad periods are the worst.
No one likes missing work or dying on the couch with a heating pad on.
If this is you, it’s time to check out what’s going on with your hormones and get a better balance going. Pain-free periods are POSSIBLE. If your periods are really heavy and your cramps are TERRIBLE, you could have too much estrogen.
A simple blood test for estrogen levels will us if your estrogen is too high.
A simple blood test for estrogen levels will us if your estrogen is too high. When testing with your naturopathic doctor it may be covered under your benefit plan or if not, it’s usually around $100 for this test which includes a full hormone panel. Estrogen levels at 200- great! 600-1000 way too high.
We don’t ALWAYS need to test. Have an assessment with your naturopathic doctor. It may be more practical to start on a supplement for a month or two. If the periods are getting better then we know we’re on the right track.
What are some treatment options for high estrogen?
A Nutraceutical derived from cruciferous veges like Broccoli.
Supplements that speed estrogen clearance from the liver include nutritional supplements like DIM or I3C. Always talk to your practitioner before starting new supplements/herbs as they may not be beneficial or safe for you. I commonly use DIM in my practice. It stands for Di-indolyl-methane. It’s a nutraceutical derived from cruciferous veges like Broccoli. We usually take it as capsules for a few months. The goal is to correct the hormone imbalance and not to be on these things forever.
How are your periods? What have you tried doing to manage them? Share this post with your gf who’s having bad periods so we can support each other for more pain-free days.