Adrenal Fatigue Causing Period Pain?

Stress: The Silent Connection with Period Pain

Have you had long term stress? Have you been constantly on the go? Are you feeling tired and fatigued? Do you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning? Do you have hormonal symptoms such as PMS, mood changes, swollen breasts, period pain.

Adrenal Fatigue affects cortisol levels (cortisol is your “stress hormone”), which in turn, may affect progesterone levels. The cascade events means that your hormonal levels can be upset & you become “hormonal” at that time of the month.

Adrenal fatigue can also increase inflammation in your body. When your adrenal glands aren’t  working as well as they could, inflammation can occur. This may also  impact  period pain.

When people have adrenal fatigue, they may become more susceptible to food intolerances. The connection between food intolerances  and period pain can be significant. Sometimes,  by just be cutting out certain foods  period pain can diminish!

Sub optimal cortisol levels often affects progesterone levels. Progesterone helps to relax the uterus when you get your period. Estrogen, on the other hand, helps to contract the uterus. So if you have more estrogen than progesterone, you may experience more period cramps.

How do we measure for adrenal fatigue & unbalanced hormones?

We measure these hormones using a Saliva Hormone Test. Using a Saliva Test allows us to see what is happening with your cortisol  in a non- stressed environment.  This is different from using a blood test, where it can be stressful to have blood taken & “normal” cortisol levels may change because you’re under stress. This would give a false positive.

I think I am stressed now, do you have any tips to start to help me increase calmness?

Absolutely! Here are my 5 top tips for increasing calmness:

1. Get into nature whenever you can. Nature helps us to get a perspective on the world & we begin to feel that there is a larger picture at hand.
2. One minute meditation: Focus on your breath for one minute. If your mind starts to wander,  gently bring it back to focus on your breath again. It is a great way that we can start living back in our body again.

3. Eat foods that are fresh from the ground and that aren’t processed. Keep the sugar low & preferable eat 3 meals & 2 snacks a day.

4. Talk to a friend or loved one about how you feel. Sometimes just talking it through & being listened to can help.
5. See your naturopath who can prescribe herbal medicine & nutrients which will help your body to heal your adrenal glands & boost progesterone naturally, if needed.

For more information, call us to book in for a free 10 minute phone conversation to see how we can help you. 1300 91 21 81.