Are you putting up with period pain each month?
PMS and period pain are so commonly experienced by women, that many of us have become to see this as normal. But whilst changes in hormones throughout the month do have an impact upon our physiology and our energy levels, we are not meant to suffer through our periods.
Period pain, like any other symptom whether related to hormones or not, is an indication from your body that something is out of balance.
Period pain can be caused by Endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, infections, a narrow cervix or retroverted (tipped) uterus, prostaglandin imbalance, circulation issues, stress, hormone imbalance and may also result from dietary factors such as food sensitivities and nutrient deficiencies.
Where ultrasound or other investigations have ruled out causes such as those listed above, other factors must be considered such as prostaglandin imbalance, circulation issues, stress, hormone imbalance and may also result from dietary factors such as food sensitivities and nutrient deficiencies.
What are prostaglandins and what is their role in period pain?
Prostaglandins are chemicals produced in your body which cause your uterine muscles to contract. There are three kinds of prostaglandins- PgE1, PgE2 and PgE3.
PgE1 and PgE2 prostaglandins are actually anti-spasmodic and also act as natural pain killers, whereas PgE2 are inflammatory and influence cramping.
The more PgE2 your body makes, the more pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches you are likely to experience with your period.
What you are eating throughout the whole month can have a big influence on the balance of prostaglandins and therefore the amount of period pain or other symptoms that you will experience. Unfortunately our diets often tend to encourage production of more of the inflammatory prostaglandins. Dairy products, red meat and animal fats, processed foods tend to increase PgE2 production. Many women also report that they notice that their period pain is worse when they have been regularly eating more sugar in their diet.
Increasing your intake of foods which encourage PgE1 and PgE3 production such as oily fish, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and walnuts can help to balance your prostaglandin ratio to reduce pain with your period. Many women respond better to supplementation of essential fats such as an omega-3 fish oil or another fatty acid combination such as flaxseed oil, black currant seed oil or borage oil, particularly initially.
Fortunately there are also a number fo wonderful herbs which can really help to reduce cramping and pain and some of the other uncomfortable symptoms around the time of your period.
Stress also really affects prostaglandin balance so balancing stress hormones and focusing on stress management along with addressing any nutrient deficiencies and contributing hormonal imbalances are all part of a holistic approach to reducing period pain.
If you are sick of suffering through your period each month, lets work together to create a plan to balance your hormones and help you feel your best no matter what time of the month it is! Find out about my 6 session hormone balance package here:
https://blossomwellbeing.com.au/my-hormones-are-driving-me-crazy/
