Do you know someone suffering from painful periods, pre menstrual tension, hot flushes or other female health concerns? These are very common complaints and most women will experience these or similar conditions at some point in their lives. We have become very used to viewing these debilitating symptoms as “normal” and something to simply put up with. However, having your period is not supposed to be painful, just like menopause is not traditionally a time of discomfort.

Naturopathy can provide the appropriate support for your hormonal health. There are many nutritional and herbal medicines that can help to alleviate these symptoms and correct hormonal imbalances that are often the underlying cause of many conditions. Lifestyle and diet are also important factors to consider in female reproductive health, for example essential fatty acid deficiency can cause inflammatory problems and is one possible factor in painful periods.

Many female reproductive conditions can be helped by naturopathy including:
 

	Painful periods
	PMT symptoms such as cramps, fluid retention and mood swings
	Menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety and dry skin
	Heavy periods
	Thrush and Candida
	Endometriosis
	Polycystic ovarian syndrome (see below)
	Conception problems

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a condition that affects 10-15% of women between the ages of 15 and 40. It is a metabolic syndrome characterised by menstrual irregularities or no menstruation, acne, excessive hair growth, increased weight and difficulties conceiving . Further complications of PCOS may involve diabetes mellitus and cardiac disease. There are several factors that contribute to the development of PCOS, these being, insulin resistance (blood sugar imbalance), genetic predisposition, as well as an imbalance in hormonal levels.

PCOS is generally under diagnosed and menstrual abnormalities, such as cycles shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, are often associated with the condition. Many young women with these abnormalities are prescribed the oral contraceptive pill, which masks the condition until they try to achieve pregnancy. Statistics show a prevalence of 5-10% of women in reproductive age have PCOS. The actual figures are presumed to be higher.

Naturopathic treatment of PCOS involves stabilizing blood sugar levels, encouraging weight loss and modifying hormonal imbalances. Diet plays a major role in PCOS and recommendations may include a low Glycemic Index (GI) diet and increasing essential fatty acids intake. Herbal, nutritional and homoeopathic remedies are also utilised depending on the individual.