What Your Period Symptoms Might Be Telling You.
Understanding Period Symptoms: Your Body’s Monthly Report Card
Your period is more than just a monthly inconvenience — it’s a powerful indicator of your overall hormonal health. Whether your symptoms are mild or disruptive, they often tell a deeper story about your body’s internal balance.
If you're wondering what your period symptoms mean, you're not alone. As a naturopathic doctor in Kelowna, I help women decode their menstrual cycles every day — because understanding your period is one of the best ways to take charge of your health.
Common Period Symptoms and What They Might Mean
1. Painful Cramps (Dysmenorrhea)
If you’re regularly reaching for painkillers or a heating pad, it could point to:
High prostaglandins (inflammatory compounds)
Estrogen dominance
Conditions like endometriosis or fibroids
What to do: Reduce inflammatory foods, support liver detoxification, and consider hormone testing to understand your estrogen levels.
2. Heavy Periods
Changing a pad or tampon every 1–2 hours? That may indicate:
Estrogen dominance
Low progesterone
Iron deficiency (from blood loss)
What to do: Consider a Day 3 and Day 21 hormone panel. An iron panel is also essential if fatigue is a concern.
3. Mood Swings, Anxiety, or Depression
Emotional ups and downs before your period could signal:
Low progesterone
Imbalanced cortisol (stress hormone)
PMS or PMDD
What to do: Cycle tracking and hormone testing can identify if your progesterone is dropping too early. Herbal support or micronized progesterone may help.
4. Breast Tenderness
Sore breasts before your period are often linked to:
High estrogen
Low progesterone
Sluggish liver detoxification
What to do: Support estrogen clearance through nutrition, exercise, and liver-supportive herbs like milk thistle.
5. Bloating and Digestive Changes
Bloating, constipation, or diarrhea around your period? These may be caused by:
Prostaglandins affecting gut motility
Hormonal fluctuations
Food sensitivities
What to do: A diet high in fiber and water can help. Tracking symptoms can also reveal if your gut and hormones need extra support.
6. Spotting Before Your Period
Spotting days before your period starts could be a red flag for:
Low progesterone
Endometrial issues
Thyroid imbalance
What to do: Track how many days you’re spotting. A full thyroid panel and Day 21 progesterone test can provide clarity.
When to See a Naturopathic Doctor
If your period symptoms are affecting your quality of life, it’s time to look deeper. Period pain, mood swings, fatigue, and irregular bleeding aren't “just part of being a woman.” They’re signs your hormones need attention.
At Momentum Health Kelowna, I help women find the root cause of their menstrual symptoms and support their cycle with individualized plans, hormone testing, and evidence-informed natural therapies.
Book a Hormone Health Consult
You don’t have to guess what’s going on with your hormones. Together, we can build a plan that supports your body and helps you feel your best throughout your cycle.