Understanding Menstrual Problems: What Your Body Might Be Telling You

Let’s get something straight: menstrual discomfort and irregularities aren’t something you should just “deal with” or push through.

For so many of us, that’s the messaging we grew up with—heavy periods, crippling cramps, or even complete unpredictability were dismissed as “normal” parts of having a cycle. But here’s the truth: common doesn’t equal normal.

Menstrual problems are often your body’s way of waving a flag, asking for help, or pointing out imbalances in other systems—whether it’s hormone regulation, liver health, gut function, or even how your body handles stress.

By learning to decode these signs, you can step out of frustration and into a place of deeper connection with your body.

What are Menstrual Problems?

We’re talking about any cycle-related discomfort or irregularities that disrupt your daily activities or quality of life. This includes (but isn’t limited to):

• Painful periods (Dysmenorrhea): Pain that interferes with daily activities, often felt as cramps, back pain, or even nausea.
• Irregular periods: Cycles that are too short, too long, or completely unpredictable.
• Heavy bleeding (Menorrhagia): Needing to change pads or tampons every 1–2 hours or passing large clots (bigger than the size of a quarter) regularly.
• Absent periods (Amenorrhea): Missing periods for months (outside of pregnancy, lactation, or menopause).
• Spotting between periods: Noticing light bleeding at unexpected times.

These challenges are common for many people, but they don’t have to be chronic or brushed aside.

Your menstrual cycle is a vital sign of health, and these issues often reflect imbalances in the systems your cycle depends on—like your hormones, liver, digestion, or stress response.

Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhea): What’s Causing the Pain?

Cramps during your period aren’t uncommon, but when they knock you off your feet or keep you from going about your day, they shouldn’t be ignored.

Painful periods are often driven by high levels of prostaglandins—inflammatory compounds your uterus releases to trigger contractions and expel the uterine lining.

What Might Be Going On?

• Hormonal Imbalances: Elevated estrogen or low progesterone can ramp up painful contractions. Often, this points back to issues with liver function (difficulty metabolizing estrogen) or stress, which may disrupt progesterone production.
• Inflammation: A diet high in processed foods, poor gut health, or imbalances in your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio can fuel inflammatory reactions.
• Endometriosis or Fibroids: These conditions can cause deeper, more severe pain, so it’s worth seeking medical guidance if the pain is extreme or persistent.

How to Support Yourself:

• Anti-inflammatory foods: Incorporate omega-3s (wild salmon, flaxseeds, walnuts) and reduce inflammatory oils (like soybean and vegetable oils).
• Warm compresses: Heat improves blood flow and eases muscle tension.
• Gut love: Probiotic-rich foods (like raw dairy yogurt or Sauerkraut juice) and lots of fiber can help calm systemic inflammation.

Cramps are a sign that something deeper is at play—they’re not a life sentence.

Small steps can reduce pain and support hormonal balance.

Irregular Periods: What’s Throwing Off Your Cycle?

An ideal cycle—one that lasts between 24–35 days—is a sign that your body’s hormonal communication system is running smoothly.

But if your cycle is unpredictable (too short, too long, or inconsistent), it’s a signal that something is interrupting that communication.

What Might Be Going On?

• Stress: High cortisol levels disrupt the brain's ability to signal proper hormone production, causing irregular or skipped cycles.
• Blood Sugar Imbalances: Conditions like insulin resistance can create hormonal feedback issues, throwing off ovulation and cycle timing.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): This common metabolic condition often leads to irregular periods due to delayed or absent ovulation.

How to Support Yourself:

• Balance blood sugar: Eat balanced meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats to avoid energy crashes and support steady hormones.
• Stress management: Incorporate mindfulness, meditation, or even short walks to lower cortisol levels.
• Track your cycle: Paper charts or with Read Your Body app can help you identify your unique patterns and share insights with your provider.

Consistency in your cycle is like harmony in an orchestra—missing periods or erratic timing is your body’s way of letting you know something needs attention.

Heavy Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Why So Much Blood?

If you're needing to change your pad or tampon every hour or passing large clots frequently, that’s considered heavy bleeding.

Too much blood loss can lead to issues like anemia and fatigue, and it often reflects problems with hormonal regulation or how your body builds and breaks down the uterine lining.

What Might Be Going On?

• Estrogen Dominance: Too much estrogen and not enough progesterone create an overbuilt uterine lining, leading to heavier flows. This often points to gut or liver challenges, as both systems help balance excess estrogen.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: Low iron, magnesium, or vitamin D can worsen heavy periods.
• Fibroids or Polyps: Non-cancerous growths in the uterus can cause heavier or prolonged bleeding.

How to Support Yourself:

• Support your liver: Add cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or kale—they help your liver process extra estrogen.
• Iron-rich foods: Replenish lost nutrients with dark leafy greens, legumes, or red meat.
• Slow inflammation: Lower processed food intake and include anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric with black pepper or ginger.

Heavy bleeding may seem “normal” after years of managing it, but it’s worth digging into what’s driving it—again it’s not something you have to live with forever.

Missed or Absent Periods (Amenorrhea): Where Did It Go?

Missing periods (outside of pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause) is like losing touch with a vital sign—it’s your body’s way of saying it’s not equipped to maintain a regular cycle right now.

What Might Be Going On?

• Overexercise or Undereating: When the body feels it’s in survival mode, it often prioritizes other functions over menstruation.
• Thyroid Issues: An underactive or overactive thyroid frequently disrupts periods.
• Stress or Trauma: Chronic stress can shut down ovulation and halt menstruation entirely.

How to Support Yourself:

• Eat enough calories: Your body needs fuel—focus on balanced meals and whole ingredients.
• Check thyroid health: If you’re dealing with fatigue, weight changes, or other symptoms, a full thyroid panel may help.
• Rest and restore: Overtraining your body can suppress your cycle—ensure you’re balancing intense workouts with rest days.

Your period is one of the first things the body pauses when it feels under-resourced.

Build back connection by nourishing yourself deeply.

What Menstrual Problems Say About Your Body

Every menstrual problem is a message—not an inconvenience.

Heavy bleeding may highlight liver sluggishness.

Missed periods might point to stress or blood sugar issues.

Pain could signal inflammation or structural concerns like endometriosis.

Your cycle isn’t just a reproductive function; it’s a key indicator of your overall health.

Paying attention to your period’s timing, flow, and accompanying symptoms can give you clues about what’s happening systemically.

How to Take Action

Struggling with menstrual problems?

Here’s where to start:

1. Track Your Symptoms: Record your observations on a paper chart or on the Read Your Body  app to gain a bigger picture of your mood, energy, and physical symptoms.
2. Audit Your Lifestyle: Are you fueling yourself with nutritious meals? Drinking enough water? Managing stress? These daily actions help lay the foundation for hormonal stability.
3. Reach Out for Support: If symptoms feel overwhelming or disruptive, consider working with a healthcare provider who’ll look at the whole picture, not just hand you a band-aid solution.

To Wrap Things Up

Your menstrual cycle isn’t something to “suffer through” or dismiss.

It’s a mirror reflecting the state of your body’s systems—your hormones, digestion, stress levels, and more.

Understanding what’s happening and why is the first step to regaining balance and feeling empowered in your health.

Your body is always speaking to you; your cycle is one way it tells its story.

By listening and supporting it with care, you can uncover healthier, less painful rhythms—and create a connection that feels sustainable and whole.

You don’t have to navigate menstrual problems alone. Start here, and take one step toward a deeper partnership with your body.