Determining the root cause of your period pain - naturopathic medicine for menstrual health

As a naturopathic doctor with a passion for menstrual and hormonal health, menstrual cramps are one the most common concerns I see in my practice. As with all things, different root causes to your menstrual cramps should garner different treatment plans (individualized medicine!). One of the first things I do with patients is try to differentiate between PRIMARY vs SECONDARY period pain (also called dysmenorrhea).

PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA

Primary period pain is usually caused simply by inflammation (thanks to fun little inflammatory mediators called prostaglandins, that when you make too much, cause pain, those good ol’ loose period bowel movements, and cramping)

SECONDARY DYSMENORRHEA
Secondary period pain, however, requires a little extra detective work. It’s caused by an underlying process that tends to worsen over time. Some examples include endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and uterine polyps. In this case, we can’t just work on reducing inflammation, we also have to target the underlying reason for why that inflammation is even happening at all.

So, wondering which type you may have?

Primary period pain tends to occur with the onset of flow, has likely gotten better/less severe over the course of your life, and doesn’t extend to significantly before or after your period. Secondary pain can occur at any point during your menstrual cycle and tends to get worse as you age/time goes on. This isn’t definitive, but it can help to gives us some initial clues. If we suspect secondary causes, the next step is typically collaborating with your primary care provider and/or gynecologist to garner referral for a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound to get more detailed assessment.

Good news is that we can help to reduce your pain no matter what type! The first step is determining the root cause, then we get targeted with herbs, nutrients, diet, and acupuncture

Do you have painful periods and need some extra support for managing them? I offer free 15 minute meet and greet appointments to discuss your health goals.

Dr. Jennah Miller, ND is a naturopathic doctor based in Toronto and Halifax, with a passion for menstrual health and hormones. She works with women and people with periods in co-creating supportive health practices that integrate seamlessly with their lifestyle and goals. Jennah has a passion for finding solutions to PMS, PCOS, period pain, and fertility for folks of all ages.