Supporting women’s health and fertility

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Irregular menstrual cycles

The menstrual cycle is a very sensitive thing and can become irregular for a number of reasons. For tips on regulating your cycle go to irregular cycle remedies

Please note that the following information applies to natural cycles – that is, if you are not taking the Pill or other hormonal contraception. Whilst some of the following factors can affect a Pill cycle, it is not always so. 

  • Stress
  • New cycle , that is the irregularity experienced by some young girls at the onset of the periods. Their cycle can be irregular for months or years whilst it is establishing itself.
  • Dietary problems , eg anorexia, bulimia or simply poor diet
  • Too much exercise
  • Drugs –  prescription and recreational
  • Break in routine
  • Thoughts and emotions
  • Sexual activity –  especially when it is a new occurrence
  • Anxiety about pregnancy
  • Illness or physiological imbalance eg thyroid conditions

Irregularity also falls into 2 categories:

  • Long Term Irregularity

    Long term irregularity can be anything from a cycle that varies in length from month to month to the experience of various abnormal symptoms, for example, excessive bleeding, no cycle for months at a time, very painful periods or ovulation.

    To be on the safe side if your are experiencing prolonged bleeding or very painful symptoms it is wise to consult a doctor to find out what is going on.

  • Sudden or Short term Irregularity

    Short term irregularity can be attributed to any of the causes listed above, and are generally a one off or sporadic occurrence. These cases are probably not a cause for great concern unless you are experiencing pain or just feel as if something is wrong.

Naturally, a delayed period can indicate pregnancy so you may want to clear that option by taking a pregnancy test.

What can be done about irregularity?

If you are experiencing bouts of irregularity, you need to examine your lifestyle. Review the causes listed above:

  • Are you under extra stress?

    If so, what are some tangible steps you can take to reduce its effect upon your body? Can you change you thinking? Include more exercise or meditation in your routine? Have you got a support network? Is there action you can take?

  • Diet?

    Are you eating healthily and regularly? If not, do you need to improve the foods you eat or supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals and herbs? We stock some excellent nutritional products that can support your cycle for example Maca Root Powder,

  • Too much exercise?

    Are you addicted to exercise or slimming and just not feeding yourself enough or working your body too hard?

  • Drugs?

    Excessive use of drugs can and does affect the menstrual cycle, they affect the physiology or biology or the body and also affect your emotional and mental health.

  • Break in routine?

  • Sexual activity and anxiety about pregnancy?

    Sexual activity does seem to affect the menstrual cycle, probably due to hormones released during lovemaking.

    It may also be due to underlying factors – unconscious or conscious anxiety about pregnancy, change in status, trust issues, and the impact of sex and the changes it causes in our intimate relationships.

    Women still carry the burden of pregnancy , because we get pregnant it is our responsibility to ensure that this only happens when we want it to happen. Knowing how your body works, your fertile signs and having a reliable and safe form of contraception on hand when you need it is vital to your peace of mind and ensures that unwanted pregnancy is highly unlikely.

    if you think you may have had sex at a fertile time or during your lunar fertile time – you can ease your mind by having an Emergency Fertility Calculation done. You provide data regarding your cycle and the date of the sexual incident and we will let you know how high the risk of pregnancy is – to learn more Emergency Fertility Calculation.

  • For more information on regulating your cycle go here

Another note on pregnancy .

Unconscious desires to have children are a huge factor in unwanted pregnancies and play a determining factor in your fertility.

It is important to be really clear about whether you want to fall pregnant or not.

A good way to determine this is to approach your fertility on a monthly basis. That is, each month as you finish bleeding affirm to yourself whether this month you want to fall pregnant or not?

Taking a monthly approach often clarifies unconscious desires , for example that amorphous “I’d like to be pregnant one day” wish that women often have in the back of their mind. By approaching fertility monthly you can consciously say “I want to stay infertile this month” Or “yes, I want to be fertile this month”.

And because it is only a month at a time, you know that you aren’t ruling out the possibility of having children forever and you lessen the risk of playing Russian roulette. Of course always use reliable contraception.

An example from my own life that highlights this point: after I had my first child, I had always said to myself “when my son is 18 months old, I will fall pregnant again” because I figured 2.5 years was a good gap between children. Anyway, when my son turned 18 months old, I was working part time and had forgotten all about my promise to myself. I had been using a diaphragm during the time since the birth of my first son, and it was working great. But at that 18 th month point, I fell pregnant- diaphragm and all, and I know it was because I had not reviewed my pregnancy intention. My body was just working on the programming that I had given it.

Ok so you’ve reviewed all these factors, what else can you do?

Connecting to the moon is the simplest and most effective way of sorting out minor menstrual irregularities. The moon rules the menstrual cycle and can be used to bring your body back into rhythm.

Check out our lunar fertility reports – individually customised to you, giving you the information you need to regulate you cycle and maximise you conception or contraception needs.

Recognise Fertility Guide