Why am I not getting my period?

Why am I not getting my period?

Let’s discuss the reasons why you are not getting your period and some tips to help with hormone balance & to encourage your period to return

My name is Michelle Cooke, Hormone & Fertility Naturopath. I’m the Founder and Director of Reproductive Wellness.

What are some reasons why you wouldn’t be getting your period?

No period is also known as amenorrhoea – missing one or more of your periods. Remember if you have no periods it means you are not ovulating. But you can also have a period and not ovulate (known as an anovulatory cycle) it is just the body’s way of resetting.

If you are not ovulating & getting your period it is not only a concern when you are trying to conceive but also so important for general health as well. We need ovulation & easy periods in order to have healthy hormone levels. It is key for so many things weight management, moods, bone health, muscle strength, cardiovascular health, libido, mucus membrane integrity & moisture, memory & concentration, urinary tract health, immune system health.

It’s important to realise that oestrogen and progesterone are required to build up the endometrial lining causing it to thicken and then it will shed which is known as your period. In the proliferative phase which is your follicular phase your lining is starting to build with the help of oestrogen. Then once you hit your luteal phase or secretory phase progesterone will continue to work on endometrial lining thickness. If you don’t have enough oestrogen or too much oestrogen you won’t ovulate. Healthy oestrogen levels are required in the follicular phase of your cycle (prior to ovulation).

• Not eating enough

• Eating disorders: anorexia

• Weight loss

• Too much intensive exercise

• Hypothyroid

• Hyperthyroid

• Hyperprolactinaemia

• Pituitary tumour > hyperprolactinaemia

• PCOS

• Premature ovarian failure

• Asherman’s Syndrome

• Post pill amenorrhoea

• Cushing’s Syndrome

• Pregnancy

• Breastfeeding

• Menopause or perimenopause

What can you do to get your periods back?

Your body needs the right things in place in order to be able to make your hormones, for hormone balance & to be able to detoxify excess hormones via the liver and bowels so that they are not reabsorbed resulting in hormone imbalance.

What you can do to get your periods back will depend on the reason they are missing in action.

Phyto-oestrogenic foods:

These will bind to your oestrogen receptors like a lock and key and help with healthy oestrogen balance. They will block the more potent oestrogens preventing oestrogen dominance. Foods like flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts etc.

Seed cycling:

Lunar cycle when you are not getting your period:

Start on first day of new moon (normally you would take them in the follicular phase before ovulation): Flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds: 1 tablespoon of each

Start on the first day of full moon (normally you would take them in the luteal phase after ovulation): sesame seeds and sunflower seeds: 1 tablespoon of each

Sprinkle whole onto food – oats / granola, morning smoothie, salads, stir fries, protein balls

Healthy fats:

Avocado, organic butter, organic coconut oil for cooking, flaxseeds, Fish: mackerel, sardines, salmon, anchovies, herring, cod etc., Chia seeds because good healthy fats are required to make your hormones! Cholesterol is a building block for our hormones after all!!

B vitamin foods:

Your ovaries need B vitamins to work properly & for your adrenal glands to adapt to stress. Particularly B6, B12 and folate will work to help make red blood cells and help iron work properly. These foods will also contribute to healthy circulation and blood flow. Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale etc.), asparagus, brussels sprouts, beans, eggs, broccoli, seafood, chicken and turkey. 

Vitamin C Foods:

Your ovaries need an abundance of this to be able to function and so do your adrenal glands to be able to adapt to stress. Include foods like: Oranges, grapefruit, red capsicum, berries, broccoli & tomatoes.

De-Stress:

Find something that makes you feel relaxed. If you are stressed this increases cortisol and your body will think it is in danger. It is a survival mechanism then to actually switch off your hormone production because it is not a safe time to reproduce or get pregnant (even if you are not trying to conceive this will happen).

Some ideas: meditation, yoga, breath work, having a bath with essential oils, going for a quiet stroll out in nature and Epsom salts.

If you have noticed that your periods or menstrual cycle have changed after having covid. I will be holding a Periods not the same after covid webinar on Wednesday 3rd August 2022 online discussing what changes research has found to periods and the menstrual cycle, why it is happening & what can be done to help support your periods, hormones & menstrual cycle. I am so incredibly excited. You will also walk away with a free guide with the tips that I recommend for healthy periods, hormones and menstrual cycles. Click on the buton below to book your ticket. 

Thank you so much for watching,  if you have any comments or questions pop them below.