Those who experience pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) know that it can significantly impact quality of life. The root cause of PMS mainly has to deal with hormone imbalances, and while estrogen is the most well known female hormone, there are other players in the game. Take a look at your PMS symptoms below to see if you fall into any of these categories.
While I’m not particularly a big fan of the word “normal” in medicine, it does seem to be a word thrown around a lot as a level to attain. However, even being in the “normal” range in your blood work doesn’t mean you are in the clear. That’s why I prefer using the word “optimal” – optimal levels, optimal symptoms, optimal health, and so forth. While a “normal” period doesn’t actually exist (our bodies are incredibly complex and beautiful), there is optimal measures for your menses (short form for menstruation aka your period).
Now, I want you to keep in mind that just because your menses doesn’t follow all of these criteria, it doesn’t mean there’s reason for concern. As always, the definition of health and optimal is individual to you. It is advised to speak to a naturopathic doctor before jumping to any conclusions and to discuss your healthcare concerns.
Part of my “east meets west” approach to medicine involves the use of lab testing. Naturopathic doctors can order labs that MDs can (such as cholesterol, blood glucose, creatinine (to help assess kidney function), iron, thyroid, etc) and additional ones that family doctors don’t have access to (such as food sensitivities, saliva and urine hormone testing (a more accurate measurement of hormones vs. blood), stool and bacterial overgrowth analysis, etc). However, I don’t believe in using a lab test for each and every treatment. Individualized medicine is the cornerstone of naturopathic medicine! While lab testing is a fantastic tool that I believe in to get quantifiable measurements to help guide treatment and track progress, it can be tricky to navigate.
Here are some things to keep in mind before you do any lab test: