How To Tell If Your Period Is Signaling A Hormone Imbalance

Alisa Vitti is an integrative nutritionist, hormone expert, and best-selling author of Woman Code. We’re so excited to add her to our incredible roster of instructors, and if you’re interested in learning more about how to regulate your cycle naturally, balance hormones, boost fertility, and kiss PMS goodbye, check out her newest mbg class offering!

When I was in sixth grade, I started something called "The Period Club" (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like!). I was so fascinated with everything that goes on with my body every month, I was eager to have my period finally start. Ever since then, I've been obsessed with the brilliant biochemistry of the female body and helping other women learn to feel their very best.

The fact of the matter is, in our society, menstruation is an overlooked, underutilized vital sign. The American Committee of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) even published a report1 recommending that teenage girls, their parents, and their clinicians consider the menstrual cycle as the "fifth vital sign" of health. That means that just like your blood pressure or heart rate, your period can tell you a lot about the state of your health.

The best way to start troubleshooting issues like PMS, endometriosis, PCOS, and more is to start paying close attention to your period and using it as a barometer of how well your diet and lifestyle are supporting your hormones. If your cycle isn’t as I described above, then it’s time to immediately make dietary changes to get your cycle back to a healthy flow.

The problem: A short period (less than three days in length) and/or very light bleeding can indicate low estrogen levels. Your hormones are made from the food you eat, so your low estrogen is likely due to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies from improper or extreme dieting as well as from adrenal burnout. Not having enough estrogen puts your heart and bone health7 at risk.

There are many other ways observing the performance of your cycle overall can provide you with insight into your health. Missing periods, PMS symptoms, delayed periods, frequent periods, and spotting are all things you should take seriously—asking your health care provider about these symptoms is a good place to start, specifically one who has a holistic approach to women's health.

Despite the myth that your hormones are mysterious, unpredictable, and afford you no opportunity to do anything to make them better, the truth is that your hormones are extremely responsive to food and micronutrient therapy. In fact, a recent study showed that simply by eating more fish oil and beans women can delay the start of menopause by several years! Just think what the right foods can do for your PMS in one to three cycles! I believe that you can change the quality of your period overall with food and supplements.

Every month, look before you flush. Think of it this way—period blood is essentially free lab results for you to check on how your diet and lifestyle are affecting your hormones. When you see something that isn't what it should be, you can start making changes to your diet and lifestyle accordingly. You can actually see when it's working, and typically you can see changes within two to three cycles.