Women's Health

PMS | Menstrual dysfunction | Breast health | Menopause | Hormonal balance

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the most common female hormonal imbalance, affecting up to 75% of women at some time in their lives.  PMS occurs in the second half of a women’s menstrual cycle, between ovulation and the onset on menstruation.  It is often related to an imbalance in female reproductive hormones – low progesterone, high oestrogen and cortisol dysfunction.  Other factors that contribute to PMS symptoms include thyroid imbalance, stress and weight issues. 

Psychological symptoms:

• Mood swings & irritability
• Anxiety, depression & nervous tension
• Mental confusion, poor concentration & forgetfulness
• Fatigue & insomnia

Physical symptom:

• Abdominal bloating & distension
• Weight gain from fluid retention, especially on hips and buttocks
• Breast tenderness and swelling
• Headaches & migraines
• Changes in libido
• Altered bowel motions – constipation or diarrhoea
• Altered appetite – especially cravings for sugar, alcohol & fatty foods  

Dysmenorrhoea refers to painful periods that are another common problem experienced by many women.  The primary cause of dysmenorrhoea is associated with high oestrogen levels or excessive production of the wrong type of oestrogen throughout the menstrual cycle, causing excessive production of compounds called ‘prostaglandins’, which cause inflammation, cramping and pain just before or with bleeding.

Symptoms include:

• Moderate to severe abdominal cramping beginning at the start of the period and lasting 8-72hrs.
• Lower back and upper leg pain
• Headaches, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting

Amenorrhoea refers to irregular or very scanty menstruation during a woman’s reproductive years other than pregnancy or during lactation.  The cause is often related to an imbalance of hormone production.  Medications including hormonal patches & the oral contraceptive pill, PCOS, progesterone therapy & chemotherapy, pituitary tumours, low body weight, stress, anorexia, dieting or over exercising may contribute to the condition. 

Menorrhagia is the term used to describe heavy and prolonged bleeds.  Most often, menorrhagia is associated with excess oestrogen production and too little progesterone during the cycle.  Causes are often associated with hormonal imbalance, especially around menopausal change.  Stress, dietary factors, low iron levels, fibroids, uterine polyps and thyroid dysfunction also contribute to this condition.

Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue (the lining from the inside of the uterus), is found is sites outside of the uterus.  This can cause significant pain and affect many aspects of reproductive health such as severe PMS and dysmenorrhoea, joint and muscle aches, fatigue and lethargy, depression and infertility.

Uterine fibroids also know as leiomyomas, are benign growths that may be asymptomatic, or cause heavy bleeding, anaemia, frequent urination, constipation and pain.  Similar to endometriosis, fibroids have been associated with infertility, hormone imbalance and stress factors.

PCOS is a hormonal condition characterized by an over production of the hormone ‘testosterone’ in a woman’s system.  Symptoms include; excessive production of hair growth on the face or abdomen, infertility, imbalance in blood sugar levels and low levels of SHBG.  Abdominal weight gain is a factor for some women though the syndrome does occur in lean women as well.