Your period isn’t supposed to feel like a punishment.
If you’re dealing with heavy bleeding, crippling cramps, or your period has gone completely MIA, you’ve probably been told it’s “just part of being a woman.” Maybe you’ve even been offered the pill, an IUD, or surgery as your only options.
But here’s the truth:
➡️ These symptoms are not normal.
➡️ They’re signs. Your body is asking for help.
In this blog, we’ll break down what these symptoms mean, the most common root causes of irregular or painful periods, and natural ways to bring your hormones back into balance.
Here’s a quick check-in:
Bleeding through a pad or tampon every 1–2 hours
Periods lasting longer than 7 days
Debilitating cramps that require medication
Needing to miss school, work, or events
Going months without a period (when not pregnant or on birth control)
Periods that come too frequently (less than every 21 days) or not at all
If any of that sounds familiar, your period is trying to tell you something deeper is going on.
Hormones don’t operate in a vacuum. They respond to your lifestyle, nutrition, stress, environment, and overall health. Here are some of the most common root causes I see in women struggling with menstrual symptoms:
This means estrogen is high in relation to progesterone, and it’s one of the most common causes of heavy, clotty, painful periods.
Signs of estrogen dominance:
Breast tenderness
Bloating before your period
Mood swings
Heavy flow or long periods
PMS headaches or migraines
Root causes: Poor liver detox, gut imbalance, xenoestrogens (toxins that act like estrogen), and chronic stress.
Progesterone is your calming, anti-inflammatory hormone. Without enough of it, your periods may come early, be painful, or go missing altogether.
Signs of low progesterone:
Short cycles (less than 26 days)
Spotting before your period
Anxiety or poor sleep in the luteal phase
Fertility struggles
Irregular or absent periods
Root causes: Stress, undereating, over-exercising, thyroid dysfunction, or not ovulating (common in PCOS).
PCOS is a hormone imbalance often driven by insulin resistance and inflammation. It commonly causes missing or irregular periods—and when you do get a period, it can be extremely heavy or painful.
Other signs of PCOS:
Acne, especially on the jawline
Hair thinning or hair growth on the chin/chest
Blood sugar crashes or cravings
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Long cycles (35+ days) or no cycle at all
Your thyroid controls your metabolism, energy, and menstrual regularity. Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, can lead to missed or delayed periods, heavy bleeding, or infertility.
Signs of a sluggish thyroid:
Fatigue
Cold hands/feet
Constipation
Brain fog
Depression or low mood
Hair loss
You can’t build hormones out of thin air—your body needs raw materials. Deficiencies in iron, magnesium, B vitamins, zinc, and vitamin D can all contribute to cycle irregularities and worsen PMS.
You can get your cycle back into balance—naturally. Here’s where to start:
Stable blood sugar = stable hormones. Every meal should include protein + healthy fat + fiber to prevent insulin spikes (a major root cause of hormonal chaos).
Your liver helps metabolize and clear excess estrogen. Love your liver with:
Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale)
Lemon water
Dandelion or milk thistle tea
Dry brushing or castor oil packs
Chronic inflammation worsens pain and hormone resistance. Cut back on:
Sugar, seed oils, and processed foods
Environmental toxins (plastics, fragrance, pesticides)
High-stress workouts and chronic stress
Add in:
Omega-3s (from flax, chia, or fish oil)
Anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric and ginger
Understanding your cycle is the first step in healing it. Use a paper tracker or app to note:
When your period starts and stops
Symptoms throughout the month
Ovulation signs (like cervical mucus or BBT)
This helps identify patterns and hormonal imbalances.
Herbs, food, and essential oils can offer powerful support:
Magnesium – eases cramps and anxiety
Vitex (chasteberry) – supports progesterone production
Ginger and turmeric – reduce period pain and inflammation
Essential oils – Clary sage, lavender, and copaiba can promote calm and ease tension
📩 Want personalized support with oils or supplements? Contact me and I’ll share what I recommend most often based on your symptoms.
Your body is not broken. Your period symptoms are signals—not life sentences.
You deserve to know what’s really going on with your hormones and how to naturally bring things back into alignment.
🎯 I offer free 20-minute calls to help you uncover what might be causing your painful, heavy, or missing periods—and what steps you can take to start feeling better naturally.
Let’s work together to decode your symptoms and get you on the path to hormone balance.