Over the next few months we are going to take a closer look at fertility, through a five-part exploration into a woman’s cycle and interventions in Chinese medicine that can aid in conception. This month we begin with an introductory look into the menstrual cycle. This will be our foundation for which we will explore the rich complexities of a women’s reproductive physiology.
The Menstrual Cycle: A Period Primer
“Women are blood.” – A Chinese Medicine Statement
Knowing the ins and outs of your menstrual cycle can provide key insight and information about your overall health in Chinese Medicine. It reveals imbalances that may exist in both channel and organ pathology according to Chinese Medicine. For instance, if you have a late period it could be due to multiple factors including, blood deficiency, blood stasis, liver qi stagnation, qi & blood deficiency, etc.
But before we can help you have a better period, it is helpful to know the basics of your cycle. Here is a mini-refresher on the basics of menstruation.
A “normal cycle” comes every 27-30 days. Remember your cycle is unique to you. What’s normal for you, may be different from what’s normal for another person.
Following are four important phases to pay attention to during the course of your cycle.
“Day one” – When you go to the gynecologist or to see your acupuncturist she/he will ask you the date of your last period. The date you provide is the first day you start to bleed. You count your cycle length from this day until you get your period again.
Ovulation – This time indicates your midcycle and usually occurs around day 14 for a woman with a regular, 28 day cycle. Keep in mind, you may ovulate earlier or later than day 14. Ovulation is an important transition in the cycle. It is when yin turns into yang. Hormonally, this is when estrogen levels drop and there is progesterone peak.
Ovulation is a vital time in the cycle for women. If trying to conceive, we recommend charting your cycle using a Basal Body Temperature (BBT) chart (something we can teach you how to do during an appointment). This chart monitors your resting temperature. A dip in your temperature followed by a significant rise is indicative of ovulation. Having regular intercourse in the days prior, during, and after ovulation is the best way to conceive successfully.
Day 21 – Also known as “the week before you get your period,” is when women who suffer from PMS begin to experience their symptoms which can be either physical, emotional, or a combination of the two. Physical symptoms can include; breast tenderness, fatigue, bloating, lower back aches, migraines and acne. Emotional syptoms can include; emotional shifts from anxiousness to irritability to sadness. Both acupuncture and herbs can drastically reduce or eliminate PMS symptoms.
Day 28-30 – The day you start bleeding signals the end of your cycle. It tells you the length of your cycle and marks Day 1 of your next period.
Below are the questions you may be asked when coming in for an appointment at the Droge Clinic. Do you have a clear idea of what your cycle looks like? Take a look and answer the questions below.
1) How long is your cycle?
2) Are they regular?
3) How many days do you bleed?
4) What is the blood like – heavy or light? How many days of heavy? And light?
5) Do notice any clots?
6) Do you have PMS symptoms? What are your symptoms? When do you experience them?
7) Do you get cramps prior to your period, at the onset, or at the end? 
What do you do for your cramps? What makes things better or worse?
9) Do you experience pain at ovulation/midcycle?
We recommend starting to chart the answers every month so you can begin to learn what is normal for you. Defining your normal cycle is key to recognizing when any abnormalities may arise. Knowing your cycle provides us with vital information about your health. It shows us where imbalances may exist, and highlights “excess” and “deficiencies” with cold, heat, qi, blood, yin and yang. It does not matter what age you are – from your childbearing years through peri menopause and menopause knowing your cycle is knowing your body.
Often media and society make us feel like our period is a burden. A disease. Something that can ruin a day. But we know that by balancing your body’s natural rhythms with Chinese Medicine, it is possible for every woman to have a normal, regular and pain-free period. Taking herbal formulas and having regular acupuncture can help balance out your hormones and regulate your qi and blood in order to experience a smooth and easy cycle. Come on in and see for yourself.
Cheers to a happy period,
The Droge Clinic
