What Causes Menstruation?

The period, menstrual cycle or menstruation is a time of the month that most women loathe.  Inconvenient and uncomfortable, women expound they can’t wait to no longer have a period; but when perimenopause and menopause set-in and periods become irregular, many women realize the menstruation is a natural cycle that for many symbolizes a feeling of youth and fertility. Its loss is now equated to aging, becoming invisible and getting old and sick.

Similar to most menopausal symptoms, irregular periods are rooted in menopausal hormonal imbalance.  Hormones regulate our periods and it comes as no surprise, that the imbalance of hormones during perimenpause and menopause can cause irregular menstrual bleeding.

Hormonal imbalance and irregularities in our menstrual cycles vary from woman to woman.  Women may experience bleeding irregularities in the following forms:

• Spotting
• Mid-cycle bleeding
• Unusual heavy bleeding
• Increased, shortened or unpredictable period lengths
• Clotting
• Anemia

It is common for these irregularities to occur for years and often disturb women to the point of getting hysterectomies, myomectomies, or taking dangerous medications.

The Role of Hormones

Some women begin to notice changes in their menstrual cycle during perimenopause, often up to five years before menopause.  During this time, the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are responsible for regulating our periods, are out of balance, causing irregular periods. Since ovulation becomes irregular and inconsistent around this time, the production of progesterone is severely decreased and this causes irregular cycles. There is nothing pathological about this situation, but the discomfort, the lack of certainty and the changes in the body associated with the onset of the irregular periods cause distress in many women.

Menopausal symptoms such as unmanageable stress, fatigue, insomnia and thyroid problems also contribute to hormonal imbalance resulting in irregular periods.

Effective Treatment

By rebalancing the hormones lost or diminished during the perimenopausal and menopausal period with bioidentical hormone therapy, it is possible to regain a more regular, less disrupting and less stressful menstrual cycle, helping women to naturally regain the feeling of youth.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) with natural hormones provides a gentle, safe and effective way to restore hormonal balance, relieving many of the symptoms off irregular menstruation and resulting in the recovery of youth and vitality.

Unlike the synthetic hormones (HRT), which are produced from animal estrogens and not identical to our hormones, bioidentical hormones are exact replicas of the hormones produced by our bodies naturally.

Diet, exercise, and proper nutritional supplementation can also play an important role in regulating your menstrual cycle and overall health and prevention.

While bioidentical hormones recreate the feeling of youth, they do not necessarily bring back the period once it is finished. Arguing that it makes them feel younger, however, some women prefer to regulate their bioidentical hormone treatment to preserve their normal menstrual cycle.  At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that one method of supplementing their hormones is more beneficial than the other.  It is strictly a personal choice that should be made by the patient with the supervision and support of a highly trained physician who is trained and experienced in treatments with biodientical hormones.

To assess your symptoms and to learn more about how bioidentical hormones and the other safe and effective tools of Age Management medicine can lead to hormonal balance, balanced menstrual cycle and well-being, contact a certified RestoreMD bioidentical hormone doctor in your area.