Basic Body Literacy

Some basic body literacy:

A proper period or menstrual bleed is a bleed at the end of a natural ovulatory cycle. Any other type of bleed is either a pill bleed (a withdrawal bleed from stopping contraceptive drugs) or an anovulatory cycle (a bleed when there has been no ovulation).

A menstrual cycle is, therefore, an “ovulatory cycle,” in which ovulation is the main event.

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The Pros and Cons of Hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, and Skyla)

Mirena hormonal IUDHormonal IUDs are different from all types of hormonal birth control in that they do not suppress ovulation and can, therefore, permit natural cycling.

Other benefits of hormonal IUDs are that they are convenient and a highly effective method of birth control. They can also dramatically reduce menstrual flow and relieve pain and other symptoms of endometriosis.

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Natural Treatment of Heavy Periods

Natural treatment of heavy periods.

In a normal period, you should not lose more than about 80 mL of menstrual fluid over all the days of the bleed. That’s equivalent to about five tablespoons spread over all the days of the bleed.

In episode two of my podcast/YouTube video, I discuss heavy periods including the role of hormone imbalance, mast cell activation, and insulin resistance; simple period-lightening strategies such as iron, zinc, and a dairy-free diet; and using body-identical progesterone to lighten periods.

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Diet and Natural Progesterone for Heavy Periods

heavy periodsSuccessful treatment of heavy periods relies on identifying an underlying cause such as hormone imbalance (low progesterone), adenomyosis, or thyroid disease.

Treatment for heavy menstruation is to treat the cause as well as use general period-lightening strategies such as natural progesterone and a dairy-free diet. 

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