These days there are smartphone apps for just about anything, even to track and remind a woman when she is going to start her menstrual cycle. But a woman’s body has some telltale signs that she can listen in to without needing an app, and the amazing ability to know when her cycle is about to begin by listening to those signs. Her body has a lot more stories that it is willing to share as long as she is willing to listen.
Growing up, most women are told to expect to have a 28 day cycle (about) and that cramps are normal as the uterus is shedding, but the truth is, not every cycle is exactly 28 days and sometimes pain is a sign that something else is going on. So let’s dive into all things about the menstrual cycle and talk about how Protea Nutrition’s Baseline+ could help you get your cycle back on track.*
A woman’s menstrual cycle lasts typically 24-38 days and it could be argued that a healthy woman’s menstrual cycle lasts 26-32 days and varies little month to month. A woman can miss a period for many reasons such as over exercising, stress, obesity, breastfeeding, and hormone imbalances like PCOS, menopause, or thyroid problems like hypothyroidism, etc. Some hormonal imbalances may be improved with natural remedies such as Protea Nutrition’s Baseline+. *
Studies like this one have shown that DIM, which is also in baseline+, has both estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity showing it to be promising for managing symptoms of PCOS.
Another study showed Maca root, which is also in Baseline+, to be promising in improving levels of FSH, progesterone, and ACTH levels, while also improving hot flashes, night sweats, interrupted sleep patterns, feelings of nervousness, depression, and heart palpitations, all of which are experienced by women in the perimenopausal stage.
Dysmenorrhea, also known as painful periods affects more than half of menstruating women and the reason is due to these nasty things called prostaglandins (1). Prostaglandins are chemicals that specifically trigger muscle contractions within the uterus causing cramping that helps shed the uterine lining, but unfortunately may also cause pain. A healthy menstrual cycle should not require pain meds and if it does, it may be a sign that something else is going on. Endometriosis and uterine fibroids are two common causes of pain during menstrual cycles. Most women do experience some breast tenderness because of a surge in estrogen and progesterone, which is completely normal.
Bleeding amounts can vary but a woman should not need to change her pad or tampon more than 6x per day according to women’s health expert Dr. Aviva Romm (2). She says that heavy periods and heavy cramping can be a sign of PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine fibroids. They also come with their own risks of iron deficiency so it might be important for some women to supplement.*
There is so much a woman can learn about her health through her cycle and when things are falling short, there are supplements like Protea Nutrition’s Baseline+ to help support her.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
