When it comes to fertility, hormone balance and energy, we often focus on things like nutrition, stress, sleep or hormone levels. While these are all important, there is another piece of the puzzle that deserves more attention: mitochondria.

Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell because they produce ATP, the energy currency that powers almost every process in the body. However, their role extends far beyond energy production. Mitochondria are involved in hormone production, DNA repair, immune function, inflammation regulation, cell signalling and healthy ageing.

Because mitochondria are involved in so many essential functions, dysfunction has been linked to a wide range of health concerns including fertility challenges, recurrent miscarriage, endometriosis, chronic fatigue, depression, autism spectrum disorder and age-related hormonal decline.

From a naturopathic perspective, supporting mitochondrial health is often an important part of improving overall wellbeing. Healthy mitochondria help create the foundation for healthy cells, healthy hormones and healthy ageing.

Mitochondria and Fertility

Fertility is one of the areas where mitochondrial health is particularly important.

Mitochondria help regulate energy production within both egg and sperm cells, but they are also involved in DNA repair, hormone production and healthy embryonic development.

One of the hormones produced with the help of mitochondrial function is pregnenolone. Pregnenolone is often referred to as the “mother hormone” because it serves as the precursor for progesterone, oestrogen, testosterone and cortisol. When mitochondrial function is compromised, hormone production can also be affected.

Mitochondria are also involved in glucose metabolism and blood sugar regulation. This is particularly relevant because unstable blood sugar levels can influence fertility, ovulation, hormone production and overall reproductive health.

Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of mitochondrial biology is that babies inherit their mitochondria exclusively from their mother. This means mitochondrial health doesn’t just affect fertility today. It may also influence the health and fertility of future generations.

For this reason, mitochondrial support can be an important consideration in preconception care and natural fertility support.

Why Egg Cells Need So Many Mitochondria

Egg cells (oocytes) are remarkable. They contain anywhere from 100,000 to more than one million mitochondria, far more than almost any other cell in the body. This enormous energy reserve is needed to support egg maturation, fertilisation and the earliest stages of embryonic development.

As women age, mitochondrial function within the ovaries gradually declines. By the age of 40, it is estimated that almost one-third of the mitochondria within oocytes are no longer functioning efficiently. This decline is one of the reasons fertility naturally decreases with age.

When fertilisation occurs, the egg does more than simply receive genetic material from the sperm. If there is DNA damage within the sperm, the oocyte uses its own mitochondrial reserves to help repair that damage. This process is essential for creating a healthy embryo.

Because of these demands, egg quality is closely tied to mitochondrial health.

Why Sperm Health Matters

While sperm are tiny compared to an egg, they contribute half of the genetic material needed to create a baby. Male fertility is often prioritized less then female fertility, yet male factor issues contribute to around 50% of fertility challenges.

Unlike egg cells, sperm contain only a few dozen mitochondria. These mitochondria are located within the midpiece of the sperm and provide the energy required for movement.

At the moment of conception, the sperm penetrates the egg and delivers its DNA into the oocyte. The sperm mitochondria themselves are not inherited by the baby. Instead, the egg uses its own mitochondrial resources to support early development and repair any damage present within the sperm DNA.

Sperm are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress and damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive oxidative stress can impair mitochondrial function, reduce motility and increase DNA fragmentation.

Sperm health also influences much more than fertilisation. Research suggests that sperm quality affects placental development and may contribute to miscarriage risk. This is why supporting sperm health is just as important as supporting egg quality when preparing for pregnancy.

Mitochondria, Perimenopause and Menopause

Mitochondrial health isn’t only associated with fertility – these tiny structures may also influence when a woman transitions into perimenopause and menopause.

As women age, the number and function of mitochondria within the ovaries gradually decline. Research suggests that by age 40, approximately one-third of mitochondria within oocytes are no longer functioning efficiently.

Human oocytes contain between 100,000 and more than one million mitochondria because egg maturation and early embryonic development require vast amounts of energy. The rate at which these mitochondria decline appears to influence reproductive ageing.

Research published in 2024 demonstrated that reducing mitochondrial DNA accelerated reproductive ageing in animal models. This suggests that mitochondrial function may play an important role in determining the pace of ovarian ageing and potentially the timing of perimenopause and menopause.

This may help explain why many women notice changes in energy, recovery, metabolic health and stress resilience during the perimenopausal transition, however there is much more involved (if you’d like to learn more about perimenopause and menopause, go on the wait list for my upcoming book Natural Menopause Support).

Researchers have also identified CoQ10 as an important nutrient within ovarian tissue. One landmark study found that age-related declines in egg quality were partly driven by reduced CoQ10 availability within the oocyte. Supplementation helped preserve ovarian reserve, improve egg quality and restore fertility in aged mice. Additional research has also demonstrated improvements in progesterone production.

While ageing is a natural process, supporting mitochondrial health may help support healthier ovarian ageing and improve resilience during the transition into perimenopause and menopause.

Mitochondria and Endometriosis

While we’re on the topic of women’s health, it’s worth exploring the connection between mitochondria and endometriosis.

Many people think of endometriosis primarily as a hormonal condition, but there is also a significant immune and inflammatory component.

Women with endometriosis often experience increased oxidative stress, elevated inflammatory markers and altered immune function. Mitochondria are involved in all three of these processes.

When mitochondria become dysfunctional, they can produce excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species. This creates a cycle of oxidative stress and inflammation that may contribute to the growth and persistence of endometriosis lesions.

Mitochondria also play an important role in immune cell function and inflammatory signalling. When mitochondrial function is impaired, immune regulation can become disrupted, potentially contributing to the chronic inflammatory environment seen in endometriosis.

This is one reason why a holistic approach to endometriosis management often extends beyond hormones alone. Supporting mitochondrial health alongside nervous system regulation, immune function, gut health and hormonal balance may help address some of the underlying drivers involved in the condition.

Mitochondria, Mood and Brain Health

The brain is one of the most energy-demanding organs in the body.

Every thought, memory, movement and emotion requires energy. Healthy mitochondrial function helps support neurotransmitter production, nerve cell communication and overall brain function.

When mitochondrial function is impaired, symptoms such as brain fog, poor concentration, low mood and fatigue may occur.

Emerging research has also found that mitochondrial dysfunction is common in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Studies have identified abnormalities in mitochondrial energy production, increased oxidative stress and higher levels of neuroinflammation in some individuals with ASD.

Because mitochondria play such a central role in brain energy metabolism, supporting mitochondrial health may be an important consideration in conditions involving cognitive function, mood and neurological health.

Signs Your Mitochondria May Need Support

Some common signs that mitochondrial function may be struggling include:

• Persistent fatigue
• Poor exercise recovery
• Muscle weakness
• Brain fog
• Poor concentration
• Low mood
• Fertility challenges
• Hormonal imbalances
• Reduced resilience to stress
• Feeling older than your age

These symptoms can have many different causes, but mitochondrial dysfunction is one possible contributor worth considering.

Supporting Mitochondrial Health Naturally

Mitochondrial support is rarely about a single supplement. Instead, it involves creating an environment that allows these cellular powerhouses to function optimally.

Some of the ways mitochondrial health can be supported include:

• Prioritising quality sleep, as much of the body’s cellular repair occurs during sleep
• Maintaining stable blood sugar levels through a balanced diet
• Regular exercise, which stimulates the production of new mitochondria
• Spending time outdoors and supporting healthy circadian rhythms
• Cold exposure, which may help improve mitochondrial resilience and adaptation
• Supporting gut health and addressing dysbiosis where present
• Reducing exposure to environmental toxins where possible
• Ensuring adequate intake of nutrients required for mitochondrial function
• Supporting nervous system regulation and reducing chronic stress

Because mitochondrial health sits at the intersection of fertility, hormones, inflammation, energy production and healthy ageing, it can be a valuable area of focus in naturopathic care.

If you’re struggling with fertility challenges, subfertility, recurrent miscarriage, endometriosis, fatigue, hormone imbalances or perimenopausal symptoms, supporting mitochondrial health may be one piece of the puzzle worth exploring.

References

1. Annesley, S. J., & Fisher, P. R. (2019). Mitochondria in Health and Disease. Cells, 8(7), 680. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070680
2. Ben-Meir, A., Burstein, E., Borrego-Alvarez, A., Chong, J., Wong, E., Yavorska, T., Naranian, T., Chi, M., Wang, Y., Bentov, Y., Alexis, J., Meriano, J., Sung, H. K., Gasser, D. L., Moley, K. H., Hekimi, S., Casper, R. F., & Jurisicova, A. (2015). Coenzyme Q10 restores oocyte mitochondrial function and fertility during reproductive aging. Aging cell, 14(5), 887–895. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12368
3. Ben-Meir, A., Kim, K., McQuaid, R., Esfandiari, N., Bentov, Y., Casper, R. F., & Jurisicova, A. (2019). Co-Enzyme Q10 Supplementation Rescues Cumulus Cells Dysfunction in a Maternal Aging Model. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 8(3), 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8030058
4. Chiang, J. L., Shukla, P., Pagidas, K., Ahmed, N. S., Karri, S., Gunn, D. D., Hurd, W. W., & Singh, K. K. (2020). Mitochondria in Ovarian Aging and Reproductive Longevity. Ageing research reviews, 63, 101168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2020.101168
5. Khaliulin, I., Hamoudi, W., & Amal, H. (2025). The multifaceted role of mitochondria in autism spectrum disorder. Molecular psychiatry, 30(2), 629–650. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-024-02725-z
6. Kobayashi, H., & Imanaka, S. (2024). Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Its Repair Mechanisms in Aging Oocytes. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(23), 13144. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252313144
7. Kramer, P., & Bressan, P. (2018). Our (Mother’s) Mitochondria and Our Mind. Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 13(1), 88–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617718356
8. Long, S., Zheng, Y., Deng, X., Guo, J., Xu, Z., Scharffetter-Kochanek, K., Dou, Y., & Jiang, M. (2024). Maintaining mitochondrial DNA copy number mitigates ROS-induced oocyte decline and female reproductive aging. Communications biology, 7(1), 1229. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06888-x
9. Melhuish Beaupre, L. M., Brown, G. M., Braganza, N. A., Kennedy, J. L., & Gonçalves, V. F. (2022). Mitochondria’s role in sleep: Novel insights from sleep deprivation and restriction studies. The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, 23(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2021.1907723
10. Tesarik, J., & Mendoza-Tesarik, R. (2023). Mitochondria in Human Fertility and Infertility. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(10), 8950. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108950
11. May-Panloup, P., Boucret, L., Chao de la Barca, J. M., Desquiret-Dumas, V., Ferré-L’Hotellier, V., Morinière, C., Descamps, P., Procaccio, V., & Reynier, P. (2016). Ovarian ageing: the role of mitochondria in oocytes and follicles. Human reproduction update, 22(6), 725–743. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmw028
12. Vaught, R. C., & Dowling, D. K. (2018). Maternal inheritance of mitochondria: implications for male fertility?. Reproduction (Cambridge, England), 155(4), R159–R168. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-17-0600
13. Wen, Y., & Yao, Y. (2021). Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Mitochondria Connection. In A. M. Grabrucker (Ed.), Autism Spectrum Disorders. Exon Publications. https://doi.org/10.36255/exonpublications.autismspectrumdisorders.2021.mitochondria

The post Mitochondria and Fertility: Egg Quality, Endometriosis, Menopause and Healthy Ageing appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Not long after you blew the candles out for your 40^th birthday cake, you likely started to notice some subtle shifts in how you were feeling. Maybe you started feeling a bit more irritable, anxious, or sluggish. Perhaps your menstrual cycle started to alter. Or maybe your libido took a hit. While menopause occurs around 50 years of age for most women, it’s possible to start experiencing the hormonal shifts of perimenopause –  the period of time that leads up to the time your menstrual cycle stops for good – in their early 40s.

Here are some of the most common questions that people have around perimenopause, and what can be done to help support their hormones naturally.

What are the symptoms of perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a time of hormonal fluctuations, and with this many symptoms can occur. Some of the most common symptoms that women experience sleep disturbances, mood swings, reduced stress tolerance, lowered libido, hot flushes, menstrual irregularity, changes in menstrual flow (may be lighter or heavier than usual, sometimes with significant increases), bloating, brain fog, joint or muscle aches, hayfever, itchy ears, fatigue, vaginal dryness, increased tendency to thrush or BV, and headaches/migraines.

Why do women get perimenopausal symptoms?

Unlike after menopause, when hormones are at a lower state and symptoms can occur because of these low levels, in perimenopause symptoms can be caused by the fluctuations of oestrogen and the gradual decline of progesterone. These hormonal shifts can cause the adrenal response to stress to be affected, which also means that stress can be harder to deal with.

Why do hormones change in your 40s?

Hormonal balance is largely a result of regular, healthy ovulation. The follicular phase, the time between the start of menstruation and ovulation is a time of abundant oestrogen, and then in the luteal phase, oestrogen declines (with a few spikes) while progesterone levels come to the show. It is all dependant on ovulation.

For this to all work in harmony, many factors need to be working seamlessly, such as stress hormones, inflammation, mitochondrial health and nutritional health. The previous cycle will affect subsequent cycles, as low progesterone often triggers higher levels of FSH.

As oocyte (egg) numbers decline and mitochondrial health depletes, the signals of the HPO axis in perimenopause are altered and ovulation doesn’t occur every cycle. This results in a gradual decline in progesterone, and fluctuating levels of oestrogen as the brain tries to adjust to the fluctuation of irregular ovulation.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

What is the difference between menopause and perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time leading up to the definitive marker of menopause, the time when there has been 12 months since the last menstrual bleed. You are perimenopause in the time leading up to this moment, and post menopausal afterwards. Menopause is the umbrella term that incorporates all of these. It is worth noting that it is still possible to experience a random bleed in the post menopausal period, and if this occurs you should discuss with your health care practitioner as while it can be a renegade menstruation, it can also be a sign of something more concerning.

Should I take supplements to support my hormones?

Not everyone needs to take supplements, and many nutrients can be obtained through your diet. But there are a lot of people who aren’t eating enough of the vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy hormones and nervous system health, or have genetic polymorphisms which increase their demand for certain nutrients.

These are some of my favourite supplements to support the perimenopausal period:

• Magnesium glycinate – this is important for nervous system health, blood sugar level regularity and is important for hormone creation and detoxification.
• Taurine – I often prescribe this alongside magnesium, as it can help with improving mood and energy (it interacts with GABA receptors, producing a calming effect). It is also important for bile acid formation and mitochondrial health.
• Ubiquinol – The activated form of Coq10 is more effectively used in those who are over 30 years of age. CoQ10 and its activated form ubiquinol are important for mitochondria health, which has many wide-reaching benefits including cardiovascular health, energy, immune function, skin health and other anti-aging properties and more.
• Collagen – As oestrogen lowers, the body’s ability to make and repair collagen reduces, so supplementation can help to offset some of this loss. Collagen can be helpful for improving skin, bone and joint health, and often is useful for digestive health concerns.
• Phyto-oestrogens – In particular, soy which is abundant in isoflavones have a regulating effect on hormones. Isoflavones have been studied abundantly and found to be helpful for managing menopausal symptoms, as well as being protective against several of the long-term risks of menopause such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. It is protective against many forms of hormone-dependant cancers. I advise avoiding the overly refined forms of soy products, and opting for those made with the whole bean such as traditional soy foods, or milks made from the whole bean rather than the isolate.

There are many more nutritional supplements that can be beneficial, as well as herbal medicines that can support you through this period. I discuss these in more detail in my ecourse Natural Menopause Support. Alternatively, get in touch with your health care practitioner to help work out what your individual requirements are, as well as what doses you may need.

How do I know if I’m going through perimenopause?

This is a very common question, and unfortunately it doesn’t have a simple answer. Hormone testing can provide some insight into whether you are getting closer to perimenopause, but it can be difficult to interpret because of the fluctuations that occur in perimenopause.

The best way to know if you are going through perimenopause is taking several factors into consideration such as your age, your maternal family’s menopausal experience, your symptoms – notably your cycle regularity and whether this has changed.

Blood tests may show a gradual increase in FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and a decline in progesterone. Oestrogen levels can fluctuate in perimenopause, so they may be high or low. After menopause when you have not ovulated for at least 12 months, oestrogen and progesterone will be considerably lower, and FSH will usually be much higher.

How to lose weight in your 40s

It may seem like losing weight as you get older becomes more of a struggle, and that’s because your hormonal shifts cause your metabolic health to change. Insulin resistance is a by product of reduced oestrogen, which makes losing weight, especially around the abdomen more difficult than it was when you were younger. If there are other hormonal imbalances at play such as PCOS, oestrogen excess, thyroid dysfunction or chronic stress/HPA dysfunction this can also contribute towards difficulty losing weight with standard methods.

Assessing your hormonal situation is the first step to identify barriers to weight loss, and then you can make diet and exercises choices that will work best for you.

In the majority of cases the staples of weight loss still need to come into play, such as ensuring you are eating the correct amount of calories, exercising and maintaining muscle mass, and getting adequate sleep.

GLP-1 and GIP medications are becoming more popular, and while they can be very helpful in the weight loss journey they do have side effects and risks that need to be managed. As with any other weight loss approach, they are not a long term solution but can be helpful whilst other factors such as diet and lifestyle habits are improved, and hormonal imbalance is supported.

When should I consider HRT?

This is an individual decision and needs to be done in collaboration with your health care practitioner. Menopausal Hormonal Therapy (MHT), previously known as Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) has had many advances in safety and can be used to help navigate the symptoms with low oestrogen, progesterone and/or DHEA. In perimenopause, progesterone therapy is more commonly used cyclically, with oestrogen being more beneficial only in the times when low oestrogen occurs. As oestrogen fluctuates in perimenopause, it is often not used until after ovulation has ceased.

Some people experience negative effects from taking MHT, but this doesn’t mean that MHT is not for you, but rather that you need to have your individual needs taken into consideration. If you feel worse from MHT, this may be due to poor detoxification of oestrogens or because your hormones are still fluctuating too wildly, as taking additional oestrogen when it is already high can cause issues such as heavy bleeding, headaches or mood changes.

You may be able to find out if you are not detoxing your hormones properly with a test that assesses the ratio of your hormone metabolites, such as the DUTCH test or EndoMap.

Should I see a naturopath for perimenopause?

Perimenopause and menopause are one of the most common reasons that people seek help from a naturopath, and for good reason. There is so much that can be done to support people going through this transition naturally, including supporting symptoms and hormonal fluctuations with herbal medicine, nutritional supplements to reduce symptoms and improve wellbeing, and education and guidance around diet and lifestyle adjustments that can help to both reduce the symptoms of this time and reduce the risks associated with after menopause such as osteoporosis, genito-urinary changes and cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Because this is such a common thing that people seek help with, I have created an ecourse – Natural Menopause Support – which provides an abundance of education about what is going on in menopause and perimenopause, as well as guidance on navigating the remedies that may be helpful.

As you move through your 40s, understanding and supporting your hormones can make a world of difference to how you feel each day. Perimenopause doesn’t have to be a confusing or uncomfortable time — with the right nutrition, lifestyle support, and individualised care, you can navigate this stage feeling strong, informed, and in tune with your body.

If you’d like to dive deeper into natural ways to manage symptoms and restore hormonal balance, you’ll find plenty of guidance in my Natural Menopause Support eCourse, where I share practical tools and naturopathic insights to help you thrive through perimenopause and beyond.

The post How to Support Your Hormones Naturally in Your 40s appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Hi Ladies, the e-course is here!

Laura and I have been busy creating content over the last couple of years, and now the course is finally ready! A few years ago Laura and I were recording a podcast episode about menopause, and we discovered that we both have a shared passion for helping women in this time of our lives and we worked out that this is one of the most common things we treat. It didn’t take long for us to realise that we wanted to find a way to reach more women, to remove the stigma surrounding Menopause and to give women confidence to transition this period of life. And so the idea for Natural Menopause Support was born.

We started with two podcast episodes, and then we created an Instagram page, and then a Facebook group, and now it has culminated in a beautiful e-course.

We have condensed our experience of working with women going through their menopause years into a series of digestible videos and worksheets that you can use to take control of menopause.

Here’s some of the things my patients have said about their improvements of menopausal symptoms just this month:

“I can’t remember the last time I had a hot flush”…

“My husband is grateful… and I feel like we have regained our relationship”…

“I don’t feel like a crazy person anymore!”

Supporting women’s health is something that Laura and I are very passionate about and making menopause a better experience for women is our mission.

You shouldn’t be made to feel like you are doomed to suffer in menopause, or to feel like you have no control over your symptoms.
There is an uprising of women taking control over their health and not being disempowered by gender bias in medicine. This is what we embrace, and want to share with women.

What does the e-course involve?

At the core of the course is a series of videos that break down the common symptoms that women experiencing during menopause. You will understand what is happening, and learn what you can do about it – naturally. We want the information to be things you can do wherever you are in the world, so we’ve put a focus on lifestyle support, diet tips (don’t worry, it’s not sapping all the fun) and teaching you how to use herbs to support yourself. If you have an interest in herbal medicine you’ll enjoy this, as we have lots of bonus content on how to incorporate herbal medicine into your life.

Who is this e-course for?

• Women who are 35 years and above
• If you have concerns about your transition through menopause (such as if you’ve seen family members struggle and want to make your journey smoother)
• If you are interested in improving your bone health, heart health and brain health
• If you are interested in learning about herbal medicine, specifically with a focus on women’s health and emotional health
• If you are stressed, frazzled and tired
• If you are already in your menopause journey and struggling with symptoms
• If you want to empower yourself to know more about the changes happening in your body and make your own choices
• If you are in need of some diet support and inspiration

Early bird discount ends 20/11/20 – use code nmsearlybird

The post Natural Menopause Support e-course open for enrolments appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Do you have heavy periods? It can be a sign of a deeper imbalance.

Whatever a woman is seeing me for as a naturopath, whether it’s anxiety and stress, tummy issues, weight loss or skin health, I always ask her about what her periods are/were like. That’s because just like the digestive system, the subtle variations of your period and cycle can reveal a lot about your hormonal status and this can have a big effect on overall health.

For instance: Did you know that your balance of progesterone and oestrogen can affect your immune system? And your sleep, your mood, and your digestion? It makes sense when you realise how much your hormones do in your body, that having imbalances in your hormone levels or not ovulating properly (such as in PCOS, amenorrhoea or when using hormonal contraception like the Pill) can have a big flow on effect to the rest of your health.

So if your period is not regular, goes for too long, or is too heavy, clotted or painful, this can be a sign that something is out of balance. Many women don’t realise that their heavy periods are not something they need to ‘put up with’, and that help is available to them. I have seen herbal medicine and nutrition work well with heavy periods, usually causing a big effect within the space of a few months. In some cases, there may be something more complicated going on (such as a clotting disorder, severe endometriosis or fibroids) which can benefit from conventional medicine alongside natural medicine.

What is a normal flow

Anything greater than 80mL of blood lost in a period (which equates to roughly 16 or more soaked pads or tampons) or a period longer than 7-8 days is considered to be a heavy flow. If you are using a menstrual cup, you can use the markings within this to count how much blood you are losing during your period, however if you are using pads and tampons you can count how many you are filling up. Many women with a heavy flow are put off from the idea of using a menstrual cup because they will have to change it during the day, or are worried about leaking, however this can be backed up with liners or absorbent underwear such as those from Modibodi. I have written about this before here.

If you experience any of these signs, you may have a heavy flow:

1. Having to change a pad or tampon every hour or less.
2. Filling 16 or more pads or tampons each period.
3. Leaking while wearing pads/tampons, despite using a high absorbency.
4. Bleeding for more than 7-8 days
5. Regularly passing clots that are larger than a 50c coin.
6. Needing to change your overnight pad once or more during the night, or leaking through onto the bedsheets.

If you need to back up your menstrual cup or tampon with a pad, consider using period absorbing underwear. They are designed with technology that helps to wick moisture and smell, and can be a much more comfortable option for women who dislike wearing pads. They’re also environmentally friendly!

Got Clots?

Why so heavy?

Iron deficiency

Oestrogen dominance

Clotting disorders

Some clotting disorders can cause a women to experience very heavy periods. If your periods are heavy from menarche (when you first got your periods) it is a clue you may have a genetic clotting disorder, for example von Willebrand’s disease. If you have a family history of this condition or you have had heavy periods from a teenager, it’s a good idea to get yourself screened by your doctor for this condition, as specific medication may be required.

Fibroids

Schematic drawing of various types of uterine fibroids: a=subserosal fibroids, b=intramural fibroids, c=submucosal fibroid, d=pedunculated submucosal fibroid, e=fibroid in statu nascendi, f=fibroid of the broad ligament

Fibroids are a non cancerous growth within or attached to the outside of the uterus that can range in size anywhere from the size of a pea to the size of a melon.
They are not fully understood but often will respond to hormonal treatment that reduces oestrogen excess, along with herbs that target the excess tissue growth.
Depending on the size and location of the fibroids they may need to be surgically removed, for instance if they are in a position that blocks the cervix affecting fertility. A lot of the time fibroids will not cause any significant problems and may not need treatment.

Menopause

All women experience menopause differently, and for some they may find that their periods become very heavy in the early stages of menopause. This may respond to uterine astringent herbs in addition to herbs to support the menopausal transition (commonly this may be herbs to help with stress and oestrogen balance).

What to do about it

Address the cause

It’s always a good idea to rule out serious issues first, so see your doctor for a pap smear, and potentially further testing such as an ultrasound and a blood test that can look for clotting issues, iron deficiency or other causes of heavy bleeding. Having identified the cause, you can begin to fix the problem with natural, and/or conventional medicine.

For some people the bleeding is SO heavy that an endometrial ablation may be necessary. This is when the lining of the uterus is destroyed and removed, so that a the periods are much lighter or absent. This is not ideal if you are wishing to have children, have had a caesarean section, or cancer of the uterus, cervix or endometrium.

Herbal medicine

CC BY-SA 2.5, Link

If you want to reduce your heavy periods without surgery or going on the pill, you can consider using herbal medicine. It’s best if you can see a herbalist or naturopath who can guide you through the process of addressing the cause of the heavy bleeding and can make a herbal formula specific to you. There are herbs that can help heavy periods such as Shepherd’s Purse, Beth Root, Tienchi Ginseng and Squaw Vine, can be helpful to reduce the heaviness of the bleed.

How long will treatment take

I find that heavy periods will typically respond to herbal medicine within the first cycle with a slight reduction of flow, however it may take a few months to achieve a more “normal” flow. This may be longer if the bleeding is caused by a condition such as endometriosis or fibroids.

The post Heavy Periods appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Health & Wellbeing Podcast #23

One of the earliest podcasts that I released was on Menopause, and it was well received for it’s content, but the sound quality was poor, it was difficult to hear what we were saying some of the time, as I was only getting familiar with the microphone settings and the editing of the podcast itself. So recently Laura and I have re-recorded the menopause podcast. Most of the content is the same, with a few small extras thrown in. In particular, we talk about our in-the-works Menopause e-course, which will hopefully be released late 2017. (As both of us have new babies, our free time to create this course has reduced somewhat, so the arrival date is not set in stone). This will be a great resource for anyone wanting to understand what is going on in their bodies as they go through menopause, and how to take control of it naturally. Stay tuned for more information on this!

If you’re wondering how to treat menopause naturally, how to reduce hot flushes and night sweats, how to look after your bones after menopause, what herbs work for menopausal symptoms, or what to eat for menopause, then this podcast will hopefully provide you with some answers.

Laura and I chat about what is going on in your body during menopause, some ways you can reduce the symptoms of menopause naturally, and how to stay healthy after the changes menopause brings.

Want to subscribe to get podcasts automatically? You can do that here:

iPhone   Stitcher   Youtube   Soundcloud

Natural Menopause Support on Facebook

You can connect with Laura via her website www.burtonhealth.com.au, on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.

The post Menopause Podcast (Take Two!) appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

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Health & Wellbeing Podcast #8

Laura Burton from Burton Health is back and this time we’re talking about menopause. We discuss the symptoms and stages of menopause, helpful foods and nutrients for soothing menopausal symptoms and reducing the conditions associated with this time.

Apologies the sound quality isn’t the best in this episode (especially at the start, it does get better after a few minutes!) but I wanted to share the video anyway and not let the quest for perfection get in the way of me delivering this information to you.

Laura is a clinical naturopath practicing in St Leonards and Dural. Her key areas of interest are female hormone disorders, digestive health, stress & adrenal fatigue. Through her clinical experience Laura has identified the prevalence of stress in our everyday lives and sees it as the most common cause or exacerbating factor of her patients health conditions. Laura believes that we need to get back to basics and work on our ability to release and manage stress in order to prevent and treat disease.

Last year Laura set herself the mission to reach beyond the walls of her clinics and send her de-stress message out to Australian and New Zealand households through the Burton Health Tea Club. Each month she sends love letters and tea packages to her members to inject joy and excitement into their days and to remind them to slow down, relax and reconnect while sipping on a cup of organic herbal tea.

You can connect with Laura via her website www.burtonhealth.com.au, on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.

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Menopause – Podcast #9

Podcast Breakdown

0:00 Intro, and what we’ve been getting up to
1:59 How Laura became interested in helping women with menopause
3:49 The common feeling of being alone in your symptoms when going through menopause
4:29 Symptoms of menopause
6:28 Understanding the different stages of menopause and knowing what stage you’re in: Pre/Peri-menopause, Post-menopause
7:44 Menstrual migraines in menopause
8:20 Surgically induced menopause
9:04 Chemically induced menopause
9:15 How long does menopause last for?
10:03 Is it menopause or PMS?
10:46 Hot flushes
12:56 Helpful foods and nutrients for menopause, as well as a few lifestyle tips
17:55 Bone health, osteoporosis and osteopenia.  (Book mentioned was Strong Women, Strong Bones)
19:24 Weight gain in menopause
21:57 Inflammation often increased in menopausal women, leading to more aches and pains
23:23 Soy
26:00 Xeno-oestrogens, and is high or low oestrogen the problem?
28:56 Q1: Could the role of the liver be explained and what are the benefits of supporting liver function in menopause?
29:41 Oestrogen forms and metabolism
32:45 Keeping inflammation under control
33:30 Common retail menopause supplements: Red clover, Black cohosh, Wild Yam cream.
39:24 Our favourite menopause herbs

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