Just because your cycles come at regular intervals the four phases of the cycle may not be optimal, especially if you are trying to get pregnant. We often see short or long luteal and or follicular phases within the menstrual cycle which is a flag that hormones are not regulated.
Your menstrual cycle occurs as the result of a complex hormonal interaction involving your brain, ovaries, and adrenal, pituitary and thyroid glands. If anything interferes with this delicate hormonal balance, you may experience irregular or absent periods. In Chinese medicine we track each week of the menstrual cycle to ensure the delicate hormonal shifts occur. The four phase cycles requires communication between your brain, ovaries, adrenal glands (which sit on top of your kidneys), pituitary and the thyroid gland. If any signal is not given or simply delayed it can interfere with this delicate balance.
There are many possible causes of irregular periods including long cycles, short cycles and cycles that come in various patterns; stress, chronic illness and thyroid dysfunction to name a few. There is a lot of research now on how our environment is playing a role in our hormonal balance with “endocrine disruptors “ that are flooding our environment causing disruption of this delicate hormonal balance.
Chinese medicine has tools to regulate and ease all aspects of menstrual disorders.
If you have irregular periods or your periods have stopped (amenorrhea), you should see your gynecologist for a more thorough investigation.