Natural ways to shorten period?

[abeautifulworld]

Hey everyone. I've had a copper IUD for about a year and a half, and besides the odd twinge of discomfort here and there, and the getting used to it, I love it. But since getting it, my periods have been a lot longer. They're not particularly bad. Not painful, not too heavy...just looooong. They can last between 7 and 10 days. I've read that taking aspirin or aleve at the beginning can shorten the bleeding time, but do you any of you ladies know of a more natural way to accomplish shortened periods?

[Veganforlife]

I personally would not interfer with what my body wanted to do. We all think we can play the "higher power" and do this.

But, that's just my opinion...

[snoops]

Aspirin is a blood thinner and I would think it would make the bleeding heavier.

[Conscious Midwife]

~get the IUD removed and consider methods fo natural family planning for managing your fertility and condoms for partial STD protection (some cooties just know how to work their way around a condom)

[Dimond]

Most use maca to regulate hormones. Raw alone can eventually do that too.

[mallow]

Copper IUDs are great but they can cause heavier periods.

Butcher's Broom is a great herb for this. Eliminating overt salt has worked for some people. Parsley too, but only in large quantities.

Don't do inverted yoga poses, stand on your head, somersault, or anything else that turns you upside-down during menses. This causes your uterine contractions to cease, and you hypothalamus has to secrete twice as much hormone to re-start.

[kaybee]

im not advocating the aspirin thing, as i dont think drugs are a good thing to put into the body unless absolutely necessary, but if they are a blood thinnner, it seems they might make your period quicker as the blood will be thinned and thus come out more quickly.... theres only a set amount of "stuff" in there to come out, right? so if you thin it, probably you would bleed heavier but be finished quickly. i dont think i would mess with it though. but I would look into whether the IUD could be causing it. As I went through my 20's, my periods just got naturally shorter. I was also continually improving and cleaning up my diet (from veg to vegan to high raw). i dont know if theres a connection but i suspect there could be.

[Mary Kay]

I'll bet most on this forum (including me), who are more naturally-minded, would say to get rid of the IUD.

If it was making my pds that long, I'd take this as a sign from my body. I believe it's your body trying to get rid of the foreign material in there.

Here's my story and why I believe this:

I didn't start to try to have children until I was in my 40's and therefore my eggs were old. Even though my hormones were good, the chromosomes in the eggs weren't and I had a few miscarriages before finally succeeding.

I had natural miscarriages, and if there's a clot or something stuck in your cervix (very painful, btw), your body seems to try to "flush it out" with blood. One time I went to the emergency room as I was getting weak from all the bleeding. I was literally feeling as painful as being "in labor." I happened to get a good doc and I told him I did not want a D&C to remove anything as I was still planning on having a baby and I did not want my cervix tissue to become scarred (which it does with D& C's). He totally understood, and went in there with foreceps and removed the stuck clot. I stopped bleeding and the pain went away instantly.

I literally stood up and jokingly did a "tap dance."

Therefore I believe the bleeding was my body's way of trying to "flush it out."

HTH, Sorry!

Mary Kay

[Mary Kay]

Hey Mallow,

Great advice, but I'm just being a stickler here.....It's not your hypothalamus that secretes the hormones. It's the pituitary. But the hypothalamus is like a dipstick that senses what's going on in your body and "tells" the pituitary what to do.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[seRAWnity]

Like everyone else said, ditch the IUD, foreign substances in the body are never a good idea...

I used to have extremely long and heavy cycles back when I didn't know a thing about raw... my DR. at the time put me on birth control pills (not to prevent pregnancy) and Iron pills, come to find out years later they cancel each other out... so I went off both pills and went raw, paying attention to iron rich foods... I also take Maca daily...

Now that I'm raw I have a very light flow for only a couple days, in Gabriel Cousens book Conscious Eating he goes into depth about indigenous women, their diets, their cycles and pregnancy, it's very interesting....

[mallow]

Hey Mallow,

Great advice, but I'm just being a stickler here.....It's not your hypothalamus that secretes the hormones. It's the pituitary. But the hypothalamus is like a dipstick that senses what's going on in your body and "tells" the pituitary what to do.

HTH,

Mary Kay

Haha of course! Brainfart, lol.

Anyway, I'd like to state again that I am pro-copper IUD. I have done extensive research, and they are by far the closest to 100% healthy birth control you are going to get other than some types of condoms- that is that's effective. The rhythm method only decreases your chances of fertilization, and honestly not by all that much. Even if you are super careful, your cycle can up and change on you do to MANY variables. Plus, sperm can live in your body for up to a week, some say longer. The lubricant and spermicides on condoms, as well as latex and so on can cause issues to some. (BETTER THAT THAN STIs THOUGH!)

It's really important to remember, of course, that IUDs should either be used only with those who you know for a fact are STI free, or if not use in conjunction with condoms.

I know that they might not be the best option for some, but in general they are really, really good. And really, really effective (more effective than the pill) and the risk of serious complications is (according to my research) wayyy less than BC w/ hormones.

I know I'm yammering on, but I'm a student who's doing a thesis on this stuff, and I'm concerned at the dis empowerment of women by contraceptive myths.

If you're having an issue, consider talking to a good midwife or OB-GYN.

[juliebove]

Depends on your age and the reason for the longer periods. I was suffering from a very heavy flow and at one point had an 18 day period. Dr. said it was my age. I am 50 now and most likely in peri-menopause. So if you're like me, try Black Cohosh.

While I won't say my periods are totally regular now, they are much more so. Most are 5 days long. Occasionally have a 6th or 7th day but then it's just spotting. And the flow is not nearly so heavy most of the time.

[mallow]

Depends on your age and the reason for the longer periods. I was suffering from a very heavy flow and at one point had an 18 day period. Dr. said it was my age. I am 50 now and most likely in peri-menopause. So if you're like me, try Black Cohosh.

Black cohosh is contraindicated for those with IUDs.

Make sure to check with a doctor before using if you have an IUD.

[RawSar]

I've never used IUDs but what I know works great for me for keeping my periods painless and short is fasting the second I get it till its gone which is usually only 2-2.5 days. I drink nothing but water, sometimes with a squeeze of lemon juice, fruit juices and green juices and of course I don't eat a thing. :)

[Mary Kay]

Juliebove,

The reason for her her heavy/long periods is no doubt due to the IUD's whereas yours was hormonal. Have you checked your thyroid with a TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 blood test?

For you, heavy periods like that could also indicate an estrogen dominance/progesterone weakness....Just some thoughts.

Mary Kay

[abeautifulworld]

Haha of course! Brainfart, lol.

Anyway, I'd like to state again that I am pro-copper IUD. I have done extensive research, and they are by far the closest to 100% healthy birth control you are going to get other than some types of condoms- that is that's effective. The rhythm method only decreases your chances of fertilization, and honestly not by all that much. Even if you are super careful, your cycle can up and change on you do to MANY variables. Plus, sperm can live in your body for up to a week, some say longer. The lubricant and spermicides on condoms, as well as latex and so on can cause issues to some. (BETTER THAT THAN STIs THOUGH!)

It's really important to remember, of course, that IUDs should either be used only with those who you know for a fact are STI free, or if not use in conjunction with condoms.

I know that they might not be the best option for some, but in general they are really, really good. And really, really effective (more effective than the pill) and the risk of serious complications is (according to my research) wayyy less than BC w/ hormones.

I know I'm yammering on, but I'm a student who's doing a thesis on this stuff, and I'm concerned at the dis empowerment of women by contraceptive myths.

If you're having an issue, consider talking to a good midwife or OB-GYN.


Thanks mallow! I agree completely. I would love to do the rhythm method and to rely completely on natural birth control, but let's be honest, I'm 21, and that's really not the best idea right now in my life. I agree, I think the IUD is the closest we can get to non harmful contraception.

An update: I originally asked this just because i was being impatient. I don't really mind all that much the my periods are longer, I just wanted it to go away more quickly! Despite all the rumors about IUDs making periods extremely long and painful and heavy (I don't know what is true for others, but this is my experience) my periods are gentle....just longer than they were before.

[heathergood]

You know, I was wondering if anyone might have some insight to the opposite problem - all my life my periods were about a week long, and this past year they have become only about 3 days long. I'm only 34 years old, and haven't had any children yet, and started to get really scared that I was going through menopause too early or something. So I had a test done the third day of my period to test my hormone levels and everything came back normal, and nothing suggestive of perimenopause or any decrease in ovarian function.

Still, it's really freakin me out. I'm just hoping that I still have some happy healthy eggs in there - I really want to have children.

Heather

[drolemil]

You know, I was wondering if anyone might have some insight to the opposite problem - all my life my periods were about a week long, and this past year they have become only about 3 days long. I'm only 34 years old, and haven't had any children yet, and started to get really scared that I was going through menopause too early or something. So I had a test done the third day of my period to test my hormone levels and everything came back normal, and nothing suggestive of perimenopause or any decrease in ovarian function.

Still, it's really freakin me out. I'm just hoping that I still have some happy healthy eggs in there - I really want to have children.

Heather

http://debbietookrawforlife.blogspot.com/2009/04/periods-they-may-be-normal-but-are-they.html

Mostly speculation, but it's 100% logic, just like living raw is. :) Here's a snippit of this that applies directly to your question:

"Health researchers and writers Leslie and Susanna Kenton found their periods changed after switching to a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables:

'Women on an all-raw or high-raw diet often report that menstrual problems such as bloating, pre-menstrual tension and fatigue improve greatly after two or three months. For some of them the improvement is so dramatic that they are not aware of their periods until they arrive. This is something we discovered ourselves and at first we thought we were unique. Then we spoke to numerous other women who said they had had a similar experience. Heavy periods become lighter - a period that lasts six or seven days can be reduced to as few as one or two. In some women, particularly those who do not eat meat, dairy products or large quantities of nuts, periods even cease altogether.'

Bellgene Chung, who healed herself of cervical cancer, and believes raw food helped her do that, has researched menstruation and diet:

'Menstruation (bleeding) is NOT a necessity following ovulation...We have been conditioned to believe that menstruation goes hand in hand with ovulation...Most women, including myself, experience menstruation because they are not truly clean on the inside...Menstruation is the body's desperate attempt to free itself from toxins, and many females experience PMS in addition to the needless bleeding. Abdominal pain (cramping), headaches, fatigue and irritability do NOT signify an optimal state of health, yet most of us brush these symptoms off as the norm. If you feel such symptoms, this is how your body is communicating that it wants you to change what you are doing; we must listen to Nature's messages...Presently, on a mainly raw diet, I do not even realize that I am menstruating until I feel moist and decide to take a peek'."

[Mary Kay]

Heather, I think Drolemil has a good point there.

However, if you TRULY want to know what your ovarian reserve is --where you are --on Cycle Day 3, go get your FSH and E2 checked. You want your FSH to be below 10 and ideally your E2 should be around 40.

If these were tested when you had that test, then go back and look at the numbers. Make sure to get a printout from your doc.

FSH is follicle stimulating hormone. If your follicles, which contain the eggs are slacking off, your pituitary starts cranking out the FSH to rev them up. A lower number means they're not slacking and your bod doesn't need to do anything as they're good.

E2 is estradiol, one of the types of estrogen. If your E2 is high enough naturally, that signifies good eggs. If it's high falsely ---bad estrogens, bad diet etc, then this will falsely send down your FSH. That's why it's important to check your E2 the same day as your FSH.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[PeachyLove]

Haha of course! Brainfart, lol.

I have done extensive research, and they are by far the closest to 100% healthy birth control you are going to get


Hi,

I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health, by Toni Weschler.

"This comprehensive book explains in lucid, assured terms how to practice the fertility awareness method (FAM), a natural, scientifically proven but little-known form of birth control (which is not to be confused with the woefully ineffective "rhythm" method).

Author Toni Weschler has been teaching fertility awareness for almost 20 years, and it's only just now gaining in popularity. As the book explains, by using simple fertility signs including peaks in morning body temperature and changes in cervical position and cervical mucus, it's possible to determine when ovulation is taking place.

Fertility awareness is therefore useful for not only couples who are trying to conceive, but for those who are aiming to avoid pregnancy without the use of chemical contraceptives."

[PeachyLove]

this past year they have become only about 3 days long.

Congratulations!!!:D:D:D






Still, it's really freakin me out. I'm just hoping that I still have some happy healthy eggs in there - I really want to have children.

Heather

Hi Heather,

Your freakin out, because you do not (like most of us women) understand how your body function. I would like to empower you with the book recommendation Taking Charge of Your Fertility, byToni Weschler.

"It features thorough, easy-to-understand explanations of hormones, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, plus a topnotch resource section. Recommended for any woman who wants to better understand her body."

With Love
Robin