see also Premenstrual Syndrome
Amenorrhoea Temporary or permanent absence of periods; may be primary if periods have not started by age of 16 (see Delayed Puberty for specific homeopathic remedies), or secondary if periods have started and then stopped because of anorexia or excessive Weight Loss, excessive exercise (especially on vegetarian diet), or Stress; an established menstrual cycle can also be disrupted by hormone imbalances (as Menopause approaches, for example) or by coming off the pill; after childbirth, periods may be absent or irregular for 6 weeks to several months. In rare cases, amenorrhoea may be due to a gross displacement of the uterus (see Uterus Problems), although this can be corrected by special exercises.
If periods have been absent for more than 9 months and woman wishes to get pregnant, medical doctor may prescribe a fertility drug; however, absence of periods cannot be relied on as a method of contraception since ovulation may restart (or start) at any time. Homeopathy offers constitutional treatment in appropriate cases; provided secondary amenorrhoea is not due to pregnancy, childbirth, or anatomical problems, remedies below may be of benefit; if periods do not restart within 2 months, see your homeopath.
‘Breakthrough’ Bleeding or Abnormal Bleeding Always consult your medical doctor. Spotting of blood between periods can be due to Stress, or may be a side effect of intrauterine devices, certain oral contraceptives, and other drugs. Profuse discharge of watery blood between periods, possibly made worse by intercourse, suggests cervical erosion (see Cervical Problems) or cancer (see Cancer); early diagnosis is important, so see your medical doctor as soon as possible. Cancer is also a possibility if bleeding restarts more than 6 months after the Menopause.
If you are pregnant, bleeding accompanied by pain in lower abdomen may signal an Ectopic Pregnancy or impending Miscarriage; prompt medical attention is vital, so consult your doctor if there is no improvement in 2 hours. In an ectopic pregnancy (most often associated with IUD failure, or with infection or abnormality of fallopian tubes), embryo starts to develop outside womb, causing severe pain and internal bleeding; risk of Shock setting in is very real.
Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia) Defined as profuse bleeding ('flooding') which quickly soaks through sanitary protection, discharge of large clots of blood, or bleeding which continues for more than 7 days. It can be argued that in developing countries the natural status for women is not to menstruate because they are either pregnant or lactating. Causes include coming off oral contraceptives, hormone imbalances, fibroids or endometriosis (see Uterus Problems), and Pelvic Infection; in a minority of women, IUDs increase monthly flow.
Consistently heavy periods can lead to iron deficiency Anaemia. If cycle is regular but periods are getting heavier and heavier, see your medical doctor. If you have had intercourse recently and your period is late and heavier than usual, you may have lost pregnancy (see Miscarriage); appropriate action is to consult your doctor if there is no improvement in 12 hours just in case there is an Ectopic Pregnancy.
Heavy periods caused by hormonal imbalance are conventionally treated by prescribing oral contraceptives or drugs to lessen bleeding; in other cases, antibiotics or surgery may be appropriate; iron tablets may also be given.
Homeopathy offers constitutional treatment, and also the specific remedies given below and under the causative conditions mentioned above.
Specific remedies to be taken every 8 hours for up to 10 doses starting just before period is due
- Intermittent bleeding, dark clots of blood, abdominal cramp, headache, giddiness, faintness, face very pale China 30c
- Blood dark or red, with or without clots in it, labour-like pains in small of back, emotional upsets increase blood loss, difficulty controlling weight Sabina 30c
Infrequent Periods (Oligomenorrhea) Periods of normal duration occurring less frequently than once every 26-28 days; very common as Menopause approaches, although for a few women infrequent periods are the norm due to their particular hormone cycle. Only problem is reduction of chances of getting pregnant; if checks reveal that Infertility is due to irregular egg production, hormone injections or fertility drugs may be prescribed; homeopathic treatment is constitutional.
Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhea) Most women experience some discomfort during first 2 or 3 days of period; this is quite normal. Depending on the individual, 'discomfort' may be a dull ache in lower back or abdomen, or cramping pains severe enough to cause Nausea and Vomiting; Stress and Anxiety can make pain considerably worse. In general, women who have painful periods can expect some respite after childbirth and as they reach their 30s.
However, if periods suddenly become painful after several years of relative freedom from pain, underlying cause may be fibroids (prolonged or heavy periods - see Uterus Problems), endometriosis (pain worsens towards end of period - see Uterus Problems), or Pelvic Infection (early or heavy periods, mild fever, smelly vaginal discharge); if any of these conditions is suspected, see your medical doctor. An intrauterine device (IUD) or coming off the pill can also make periods more painful.
Where there is no obvious organic cause, homeopathy offers constitutional treatment, but the specific remedies below are effective relievers of pain and tension and should be tried in preference to over-the-counter analgesics.
Unusual Discharge see Vaginal and Vulval Problems, Pelvic Infection
Specific remedies to be taken every 12 hours for up to 14 days
- Periods stop suddenly due to great emotional shock or exposure to dry cold Aconite 30c
- Periods stop after becoming extremely chilled after strenuous exercise Dulcamara 30c
- Feeling tired, giddy, and chilly, with legs as heavy as lead, breasts swollen and painful, nerviness and jumpiness Calcarea 30c
- Thinning hair, headaches, constipation, irritability, recent emotional shock Natrum mur. 30c
- Periods cease because of grief or loss Ignatia 30c
- Dryness of vagina, lower abdominal pain, headache, slightest emotional upset disrupts periods, feeling faint and shivery, weepy and sad Lycopodium 30c
- Abnormal vaginal discharge, sallow patches on face, feeling weak, tearful, and irritable Sepia 30c
- Weariness, weakness, wanting to sit down all the time, face usually pale, occasional hot flushes Ferrum 30c
Self-help: Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Specific remedies to be taken every 8 hours for up to 10 doses starting just before period is due
- Intermittent bleeding, dark clots of blood, abdominal cramp, headache, giddiness, faintness, face very pale China 30c
- Blood dark or red, with or without clots in it, labour-like pains in small of back, emotional upsets increase blood loss, difficulty controlling weight Sabina 30c
- Blood bright red, dragging pains, face hot and flushed, throbbing headache Belladonna 30c
- Profuse bleeding, blood bright red, nausea Ipecac. 30c
- Cramping pains in abdomen, pain in small of back, head feels congested, chilliness, general pallor, weight problem Calcarea 30c
- Flooding, blood dark and watery, face pale, occasional flushes, walking around seems to improve things Ferrum 30c
- Clots of blackish blood, sensation of movement inside uterus, feeling weak, sick, and worried Crocus 30c
- Blood thin and watery, without clots, cold extremities, general exhaustion, fear of dying, warmth makes you feel worse Kali carb. 30c
- Profuse bleeding, with abdominal cramps and nausea, especially in first day or two of period, pain and bleeding worse at night Borax 30c
Self-help: Try the following: cut out tea, coffee, and alcohol, reduce consumption of milk and dairy foods, eat lots of raw vegetables, increase intake of calcium, zinc, iron, Vitamins A and B6, and bioflavinoids (see Nutritional Supplements), take 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day but avoid over-straining yourself, and in between periods take several short cold baths. If these measures fail, try the Liver Diet for 1 month.
Specific remedies to be taken every hour for up to 10 doses as soon as period pains come on
- Pain worse just before period, aching, dragging sensation made worse by lying down, skin hot and flushed, bright red blood Belladonna 30c
- Severe cramping pains, especially if associated with anger, great restlessness Chamomilla 30c
- Pain comes in spasms, soothed by heat, pressure, and movement, membranes present in blood flow Magnesia phos. 30c
- Periods late and scanty, pain extends into thighs Viburnum 30c
- Scanty periods, nausea and vomiting, weepiness Pulsatilla 30c
- Periods late and scanty, sharp pains which are soothed by heat, uterus feels heavy Gelsemium 30c
- Prolonged periods which arrive early, chilliness, exhaustion, constipation, irritability, Nux 30c
- Strong contractions of uterus, rather like labour pains, headaches in days leading up to period Cimicifuga 30c
- Pain extends down into thighs, nausea, muffled buzzing in ears Borax 30c
Self-help: A general toning up and rebalancing of all the body systems is the best route to pain-free periods. Eat more raw fruit and vegetables, take extra Vitamin A (unless you are less likely to become pregnant), E, C, B complex, and magnesium, calcium, zinc, and Evening Primrose oil, perhaps go on the Liver Diet for 1 month, step up the amount of exercise you take, and if you are heavier than you should be, try to do something about it. In the week before your period, take a long hot bath every other night; in between periods take the occasional short cold bath.
Osteopathic or chiropractic manipulation sometimes achieves excellent results; slant-board exercises, which gently shift the contents of the abdomen, can also be beneficial. Try increasing exercise, doing yoga. Some women report amelioration of the pain by having an orgasm. |