I woke up and I was bleeding.

I thought, okay cool! It’s been 6 months since I had a period, I can deal with this.

It had been so long, I guess I had forgotten how shitty it was to experience a period in my body.

Being in 10th grade, I had graduated from my days of using pads, and my mom had finally let me start to use tampons. 

I got myself ready, put in the tampon, knocked back a couple of extra-strength Advil liqui-gels and walked to school.

I felt decently tired and woozy through the day, although my pain was kept mostly at bay by the drugs.

I was out of class for lunch, I’d gone to my locker and was gonna have a tinkle before joining my friends in a cafeteria.

In the bathroom I realized I was leaking….not just into my underwear, but it was so bad I was leaking right onto my jeans! Thankfully, it hadn’t yet come through to the outside of the fabric yet, but I knew I needed a tampon.

And of course- the one time my period actually comes, I’m not prepared and had no more tampons.

So I wrapped a bunch of toilet paper around the crotch of my underwear and, mildly panicked, briskly walked into the cafeteria to hit up my girlfriends for some period stuff.

Of course, none of my close friends had any pads or tampons. So I widened the search and finally got a light-flow pad. Basically a whole lot of nothing for the level of bleeding I was experiencing.

I used it anyways. And I piled more toilet paper on top of that. I was completely distracted and anxious for the rest of the day- could people tell I was on my period? Did I look like a hot, sweaty, nervous mess?

Was the blood gonna stain the chair I was sitting on?

All the thoughts constantly swirling. I made it home a few hours later, having piled more toilet paper into my undies, where I was able to put in another tampon.

My heavy bleeding continued for another 9 days. 9 days of panic, embarrassment, dizziness and faking feeling fine.

It was a complete nightmare. And this experience isn’t the only time- my periods right from puberty, were always extremely heavy and took forever to go away!

My girlfriends had 4 and 5 day periods. When I told them I would bleed for 7-10 days at a time, they pretty much looked at me like I was crazy.

It wasn’t until I was older, had been diagnosed with PCOS and was a nutritionist that I understood what was causing my prolonged and very heavy cycles.

Once I knew WHAT was going on, it was soooo easy to fix it. Now my periods come like clockwork, don’t require ANY Advil, and are max 5 days long, with only 1 semi-heavy day.

Once I got into consulting with clients, I realized there were so many women out there who had it even worse!

Awhile back I had a client who would bleed for 60 days straight, very heavy the entire time. It would stop for maybe a week, and continue for another 60 days! She went on like this for a very long time before we started working together and stopped her excessive flow.

Maybe you can relate?

I want you to know that heavy, prolonged bleeding is NOT NORMAL. It’s not healthy. You do not have to put up with this forever.

Below I’m sharing 3 ways that I personally shortened my periods and lightened the flow!

3 Ways I Shortened My Periods and Lightened My Flow

#1 Cruciferous Veggies

Cruciferous vegetables have an amazing affinity for helping to balance hormones. They work on the liver, making sure that excess estrogen is metabolized and detoxified properly. One of the ways in which they do this is through a compound known as DIM.

You may have heard of DIM as a supplement, but let’s get it from veggies, yes?

Cruciferous veggies like broccoli (and more) also have tons of fibre, so they helped me to have regular poops. If you don’t poop enough, estrogen will build up in your body, and old estrogens will be recirculated.

For me personally, estrogen dominance was a major factor in my bleeding, and daily use of these veggies helped me bring that hormone back into balance which resulted in better periods for me!

For these very reasons, I use a huge variety of these veggies in the meals that the Cysters in my PCOS Bootcamp program enjoy during our time together.  

#2 Castor Oil Packs

Another strategy pulled right from my PCOS Bootcamp program, castor oil packs are not to be underestimated.

I used these regularly, about 2-3 times per week (except when bleeding) for months while I was fixing my periods.

Not only did my flow lighten, I didn’t get anymore clots and my pain levels reduced significantly.

I recommend some form of castor oil pack for almost all the Cysters in my PCOS Bootcamp because it’s so incredibly easy and the results are 100% worthwhile.

#3 Vitamin C

I used to think vitamin C was for colds and flus. If you’re sick, take vitamin C!

I didn’t realize the power of vitamin C to heal hormones until I was in nutrition school.

I began to take a vitamin C supplement every day because I learned that it could strengthen the capillaries in my uterus to stop and shorten blood flow.

I also discovered that vitamin C supports the adrenals and production of progesterone- the sister hormone to estrogen that needs to be in balance so that periods come on time and aren’t hell once they get here.

My very first period at the age of 12 was a nightmare. It came on the very same day my maternal grandfather, my Papa, passed away. It was completely unexpected, and because my mom was in a state of shock – I had no one to ask about what I was experiencing.

From that moment on, my periods were always shitty. Many long days of heavy bleeding, pain that made me want to vomit and irregular like a sunny day in Canadian winter.

At 16, I went on the pill for contraceptive reasons. This was the first time in my life my periods were actually “regular”, although at the time no one told me I wasn’t having a “true” period.

Fast forward 7 years, and I’m in nutrition school where I learned about the potential negative effects of birth control. It scared the shit out of me- I didn’t want cancer, blood clots and infertility!

That was the last day I ever took a birth control pill.

Four months later, and still no period. I couldn’t understand it, why after so many years of “regular periods” on the pill, was I feeling like a moody lunatic and not bleeding?

My doctor (upon much prodding) did some testing, and I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

Well, that’s great- but it did nothing to bring back my periods. Neither did my physician’s suggestion of more birth control, and Metformin.

I was lost, I felt completely out of control.

I was working in a health food store at the time, and I tried everything. I ate all the organic stuff in the store. I spent my whole paycheck on supplements.

I consulted with a friend and colleague of mine- she was kind of like the ‘mom’ in that workplace, always with the right advice, and chilled out demeanour. Still nothing.

I can’t even explain the relief when I finally got my first period off the pill– it was like my whole body and mind had reset in an instance.

But it was short-lived. My next period didn’t arrive for 3 more months.

I felt defective, like not a “real” woman. Not at all feminine, and really just plain broken.

How did I ever get here at the tender age of 23? Why could other women – older, younger, skinnier, fatter than me – not even have to think about their periods?

Why would their periods just show up, and they could still look stunning and carry on like shit-all was happening?

Ugh, the tears I cried.  

And back again I went into the vicious cycle of being moody for no good reason, hiding my ever-increasing cystic acne, and feeling like an overstuffed tube of toothpaste in my clothes- squishing and squeezing out of every nook and cranny.

Over that three month time period, I discovered a few things about periods and PCOS. I discovered that there were some underlying contributing factors to my lack of cycles, to the irregularity and other symptoms I was experiencing.

Now, about 6 years later, I easily maintain predictable periods. They are super easy too- no more vomit-inducing pain, no more heavy flow.

Four days of bleeding bliss, if you can imagine it.

I want you to experience this bleeding bliss too, beautiful lady.

Below I’m sharing 3 things I used to get my period back. These simple strategies are what made me feel human again. Womanly again. Worthy again.

These simple strategies are what the women in my PCOS Bootcamp program use to bring their periods back too.

3 Strategies I Used to Bring Back My Period

#1: Healthy Fats at Breakfast

This was the very first thing I did. Up until this point, I had no idea that fats were healthy. I totally believe in the low-fat myth- that eating fat would make me fat and make me die an early death.

But the thing was- I WAS fat, even though I was hardly getting any fat from my diet. #WTF

So I started by eating high-fat smoothies, using things like coconut oil and almond butter. Sometimes I would make a “bulletproof” tea, or have eggs and bacon.

And then my periods started coming every 45-60 days, instead of every 90-120 days.

Research told me that blood sugar and insulin resistance were key things to address for PCOS, and the fats were doing just that.

Now, balancing blood sugar issues with foods (like healthy fats) is the very first thing modified in diet and lifestyles for the women in my PCOS Bootcamp program- so they too can have healthy, regular menstrual cycles.

#2: Yoga, Yoga, Yoga!

For whatever reason, I couldn’t seem to get my cycles below 40 days after about a year of trying and using more healthy fats.

I was experiencing a lot of anxiety, and feelings of worthlessness because I wasn’t able to get my period to that “perfect” 28 day cycle – I mean, I was a nutritionist! Talk about shame.

One day, I decided for my mental health it would be better if I focused on my mental/emotional well-being, instead of obsessing over ovulation and periods.

So I started doing yoga every day. Sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes 90 minutes- whatever I had the time and energy for.

And I finally broke 40 days – I had a 38 day cycle.

I literally cried my eyes out – I couldn’t believe it! How could my periods get better even though I wasn’t focusing on them?

I realized it must be stress (and how I reacted to it). I dug deeper into this and found that stress (and the resulting stressed-out body) would prevent my body from being able to produce the right hormones to keep my periods coming like clockwork.

Now, I use this same insight and strategy with the Cysters in my PCOS Bootcamp program to help them manage stress in a healthy way so their bodies can do what they need to do- ovulate and bleed on the reg.

#3: Smart Supplementation

I wasn’t totally satisfied though – I wanted an even more regular cycle. I wasn’t necessarily shooting for the “perfect” 28 day cycle anymore, as by then I knew you can have healthy, regular, fertile cycles without them being 28 days long.

But I wanted under 35 days. Yoga and fats weren’t doing it.

So I turned to supplements.

I’d already used a mountain of different supplements, most of them doing nothing at all. So much money I wasted trying to figure this out!

So I thought- how can I support my body in a similar way as the fats and yoga, but with supplements? How can I choose supplements with similar actions to bring my periods even closer together?

And immediately I thought: blood sugar. From everything I’d researched, blood sugar imbalance and insulin resistance were really at the core of PCOS.

And this is exactly why adding the healthy fats to my diet was so helpful.

A supplement for blood sugar! This must be exactly what I need. More insulin sensitivity support for my body, and for my poor, confused ovaries.

Through my research I discovered inositol, a member of the B vitamin family, that is well-researched in having huge potential benefits for PCOS.

But there were two types of inositol, so which one should I choose?

Then I found it. Like a beacon of light in the middle of a dark, black ocean.

A product, without fillers, or weird extra ingredients, that contained both forms of inositol in the exact ratio needed for the body. It’s called Ovasitol.

I began taking that, and had my first ever 30 day cycle.

It’s now the #1 supplement I recommend for the women in my PCOS Bootcamp program.

My relationship with my period is much different now, much better. She and I have an understanding- if I give her what she needs (healthy food, adequate rest, movement and self-care), she will give me what I need – a healthy, regular menstrual cycle that allows me to be ME.

This is always my goal and my MISSION when I’m supporting other PCOS Cysters on their journeys, and exactly why I created my PCOS Bootcamp program.

When it comes to “treating” endometriosis, the traditional medical system generally uses one of two avenues to “correct” the hormone imbalances present in endo in hopes of reducing pain and other symptoms.

The first is hormonal birth control, in the form of the pill, the patch, the shot or an IUD. The second is surgery, usually a laparoscopy or in more severe cases, a hysterectomy.

In this article I’m going to shed some light on why the various forms of hormonal birth control like the Pill and IUDs can be problematic for Endometriosis, despite what doctors may say.

I hope that this information is useful and helps you to come to a confident decision as to whether these medications are right for you or not.
 

 

Increases Inflammation

If you’ve read my post on why endo is so painful then you know that Endometriosis is in large part a condition of inflammation, and resulting immune dysfunction and pain.

So, it makes sense that when we want to naturally reduce endo pain and symptoms, decreasing inflammation is an important step, and one I heavily work on with my private clients.

When using birth control, inflammation rises. In one study, researchers looked at women using the Pill and their levels of the well-known inflammation marker, c-reactive protein. In this study, oral contraceptive use was the strongest predictor of low-grade inflammation in the body, and was quite prevalent compared to women not using birth control, and also compared with men.

More inflammation potentially means more symptoms in the case of endometriosis.

Gut Problems

Use of birth control has been linked to changes in our microbiome, or the environment in our gut. We need a delicate balance of “good” bacteria, or probiotics, to “bad” bacteria, like pathogenic viruses, yeasts, etc. When there’s too much bad, two things happen (well more than two, but two very relevant elements to endo).

First, imbalances in our gut microbiome impairs estrogen metabolism. Women with endometriosis are often estrogen dominant (too much estrogen in relation to progesterone), and this increased estrogen can develop into more endo tissue.

Second, gut bug imbalance (aka dysbiosis) leaves your body a breeding ground for inflammation- which we already know is a big no-no for endometriosis.

Bonus: The pill has also been linked to causing depression, due to nutrient depletion and dysbiosis, among other things.  
 

Hormonal Imbalance

Using hormonal birth control like the pill or an IUD creates hormonal imbalance. True, doctors will often give it for this very purpose- to keep estrogen from going crazy and to stop periods altogether.

However, this is counterproductive.

When using hormonal birth control, you do not ovulate. Therefore, any bleeding you have between pill packs is known as “breakthrough bleeding”. This is because in order to have a true period, you must ovulate. No ovulation = no period.

When you purposely prevent your body from ovulating, your body will not have the normal ups and downs of estrogen and progesterone through the cycle.

Other Side Effects

There are so many other side effects of using these “treatments”, such as:

• Spotting
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Blood clots
• Female cancers (such as breast cancer)
• Weight gain
• Mood changes
• Missed periods (see section above)
• Decreased libido
• Vaginal discharge
• Headaches and migraines
• High blood pressure
• Heart attack and stroke
• Gallbladder and liver problems, including benign tumors
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Candida (yeast) overgrowth

Endometriosis is a disease affecting upwards of 176 million women in the USA alone, or about 1 in 10.

One of the biggest hallmark signs of endometriosis is extreme pelvic pain. The pain isn’t limited to when women with endo are on their periods either- it can often persist daily and throughout the entire menstrual cycle.
 

 
Women with endometriosis often experience pain in:

• Menstrual flow, aka cramps
• Sexual intercourse
• Urination
• Bowel movements
• Daily functional movements like walking up stairs or sitting motions
• The entire pelvic bowl
• Legs

Oftentimes this pain is so excruciating it causes women with endo to miss work, to decline social invitations and basically spend a lot of time on the couch with a heating pad.

Can you relate?

Well, there’s a few reasons why endometriosis is so painful. The good news is that once you understand why the pain is happening and where it’s coming from, it’s easier to make the necessary natural changes to reduce the crippling pain.

3 Reasons Why Endometriosis is So Painful

#1: Hormonally Responsive Tissue

The basic definition of endometriosis is having endometrial tissue (the tissue that normally lines the uterus) outside of the uterus. It can take up residence in many areas, including the bowel, bladder, ovaries, intestines and even the lungs.

Normally, endometrial tissue inside the uterus builds and swells with blood through the cycle to prepare for a fertilized egg (read: pregnancy). If we don’t get pregnant during any given cycle, we shed this lining, and it starts to rebuild the next cycle. This mechanism is controlled by hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.

Because this type of tissue is so specific, even when it’s outside the uterus in the case of endo, it still builds and swells with blood. When period time comes, after both progesterone and estrogen have dropped, the tissue will bleed just like it does in the uterus.

So, this tissue often manifests in pain as it’s doing its job in the wrong place, leading to cramping and pain.
 

 

#2: Inflammation

This reason for endometriosis pain is connected to all other reasons. For example, inflammation in the hormonally-responsive tissue as explained above causes pain.

Additionally, women with endometriosis typically have chronic inflammation throughout the body that can sometimes be noted on lab tests.

The presence of inflammation itself can impair the immune system. There is a developing recognition in scientific research that autoimmune responses (where the body begins to attack itself) is part of the underlying cause of endometriosis. More inflammation = poor immune function.

Secondly, inflammatory markers like prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) present in women with endo cause pain. Their job is to mediate the inflammatory response. Some prostaglandins exacerbate inflammation, and others cool it down. In the case of endo, these prostaglandins act locally (in the areas where endometrial tissue is present), amplifying inflammation and therefore pain.

Even women without endometriosis who experience menstrual cramping and pain are at the mercy of inflammatory prostaglandins.

These prostaglandins can also create inflammation of the bowel, since they’re located so close to that area, create bowel issues like diarrhea, especially during menstruation.

#3: Stress

Stress is a major contributor to endometriosis pain. We all experience stress in our lives, and often women with endometriosis experience more than other people, as the daily pain and other endo issues create more feelings of stress, fatigue and mood problems.

In one rat study, prior exposure to stress meant more vesicles and more severe inflammation in these vesicles, equalling more pain. Mast cells (cells involved in the inflammatory response) were also increased, as were bowel issues. So, exposure to stress may increase the development and severity of endometriosis.

Additionally, and definitely worth noting, stress perpetuates the “pregnenolone steal” an issue where the body steals pregnenolone (a hormone precursor) to make more stress hormone (like cortisol) instead of progesterone. Resulting low levels of progesterone create imbalances in estrogen and increase the potential for more endometriosis development.