Amenorrhea

I have been suffering from amenorrhea (absence from menstrual period) for 7 months now. It isn't the first time this has happened, but it is being the longest. Because I am thin and practice exercise regularly (it is actually my job), I fit perfectly the profile of women with predisposition to amenorrhea.
I can also always tell what causes it, and it is either a period of intense physical activity or of mental/emotional stress.

Well, this time was no different. In the beginning of August I moved home and went through a very stressful period of working non stop in refurbishing the new place plus at my regular job, 7 days a week, from morning until night, for a few months. Coupled with the financial stress that usually follows this type of move, I was not really surprised when after august my period simply refused to come again. Well, it has been a blessing I have to admit, however, it isn't normal of course, and I would like to get my cycles back on track. My life has regained stability for a while now, but still no signs of it.

I have been given homeopathic remedies (pulsatila) at the complementary health clinic where I work. It didn't work. Then I was given some bush flower remedies (she oak), didn't work either. After researching on the net I found that black cohosh is supposedly very good with women`s reproductive cycles, and several people claim for it to be very effective with amenorrhea. I ordered some and have been taking it for a month, so far without success.

I am out of resources. When this first happened I was 15 and was given contraceptive pills by the doctor. They did indeed solve the problem, but I would REALLY like to avoid them now. I don't like the idea of having something messing up with my hormones the way they do.
Maybe I just need to go to the doctor again... but I'm trying to avoid being given contraceptives which, after researching on the net, seems to be the commonly accepted solution.

So, if there are any women here that have suffered from amenorrhea, I would be glad to listen to any of your tips and/or advises :)

Many thanks in advance

Have you read "Sex, Lies and Menopause" yet? Do so asap.

I was going to suggest Pulsatilla (it had worked for me in the past for amenorrhea), but saw that you had already tried it, w/o success. When you self-medicate with homeopathic remedies, or go to a specialist who is not very tuned in, it's hit or miss because a particular remedy may match the main symptom but not be a perfect match for the overall mood and mindset that accompanies the disorder.

Pulsatilla, as I remember, is a "young girl" remedy that is good for sensitive, weepy sort of mood. It doesn't sound like this is your thing. A Pulsatilla person, as she gets older, or of the symptoms are due more to physical exhaustion and nurturing others w/o maintaining balance, tends to gravitate more to related remedies such as Sepia. Or may be you are in the whole different group of remedies. You might want to consider finding another specialist, or reading more in-depth about the emotional component of how you feel, and try another remedy based on the results.

Besides black cohosh, vitus agnus castus (chaste tree berry), in a tincture form, is also good for period issues. Other useful herbs are raspberry leaf, dandelion and nettle (the last two help liver function too, which helps with estrogen balance). Other than that, a diet rich in animal fat and use of progesterone cream may help.

Hope you find a solution soon

Laura said:

Have you read "Sex, Lies and Menopause" yet? Do so asap.

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I have just ordered it.

Hildegarda said:

Pulsatilla, as I remember, is a "young girl" remedy that is good for sensitive, weepy sort of mood. It doesn't sound like this is your thing. A Pulsatilla person, as she gets older, or of the symptoms are due more to physical exhaustion and nurturing others w/o maintaining balance, tends to gravitate more to related remedies such as Sepia. Or may be you are in the whole different group of remedies. You might want to consider finding another specialist, or reading more in-depth about the emotional component of how you feel, and try another remedy based on the results.

Besides black cohosh, vitus agnus castus (chaste tree berry), in a tincture form, is also good for period issues. Other useful herbs are raspberry leaf, dandelion and nettle (the last two help liver function too, which helps with estrogen balance). Other than that, a diet rich in animal fat and use of progesterone cream may help.

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Well, I didn't really have a consultation. Usually if there is anything wrong with me, let's say a cold, a sore shoulder, amenorrhea, the owner of the clinic who is also an homeopath gives me some medicine for free. We don't really go through a proper consultation because again, it is all given for free, so she sort of guesses what might be the proper remedy.
I think I'll mention to her the details of my emotional state that led to the absence of my period this time, and see whether she comes up with something else. I'll also mention Sepia.
Thank you also for the tips on other herbs. I'll have a look at them.

Many thanks for the suggestions

The root of this kind of problems can be determine easily by a good acupuncturist.

Ellipse said:

The root of this kind of problems can be determine easily by a good acupuncturist.

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Interesting you should mention that, I have recently asked at work for the possibility of having acupuncture in case any else fails. The reason why I haven't done it yet, nor is it in my priority list is solely because of its cost.

I got some Sepia yesterday, I will give it a try and see how it goes.

CORRECTION: substituted Stevia by Sepia

Gertrudes said:

Interesting you should mention that, I have recently asked at work for the possibility of having acupuncture in case any else fails.

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I would emphasize, for all on the forum, that "having acupuncture" is, in fact, first, to go through a very powerful diagnostic if the practitioner is skilled and read finely your Chinese pulse.
I don't know if it has been voluntarily conceal to us or if we have focus on the needles, but the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) diagnostic is a marvel. Combining TCM + our knowledge on blood sample, if need, is the state of the art about diagnosis for me. Ours doctors are blind compare to MTC practitioners to put a diagnosis without extra analysis (sorry Psyche).

Gertrudes said:

The reason why I haven't done it yet, nor is it in my priority list is solely because of its cost.

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Yes, 50 to 60€ here in France. The next pitfall is to find someone skilled. Ask the person his TCM diplomas, what studies he/she have done.

Gertrudes said:

I think I'll mention to her the details of my emotional state that led to the absence of my period this time, and see whether she comes up with something else.

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Dear Gertrudes, don't know if it would be applicable in your case, so fwiw. Found the following from this article:

Metaphysically-speaking, anorexia nervosa denotes denying self and life, or in the words of metaphysician Louise L. Hay, "Self life." It also denotes extreme fear (of gaining weight), self-hatred and rejection. Amenorrhea is associated with anorexia because the body intelligence will terminate the menstrual cycle in an attempt to prevent unnecessary loss of vital nutrients.

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Maybe it could also apply to stress and how body tries to prevent loss of vital energy. But there is also an aspect that period is a process of getting rid of toxins, maybe even shifts or cycles in female creative energy, don't know. There is a lot of symbology surrounding menstruation. So maybe it has connection to denying self, holding self too tightly, blocking. Probably having acupuncture or any kind of body work could help with that.

Wish you to feel better soon!

Keit said:

Maybe it could also apply to stress and how body tries to prevent loss of vital energy.

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Yes, thank you for mentioning that Keit, this seems to be exactly what happened. From August to December I worked non stop in both my regular job plus my house, with the exception of a one week break in October. The month of August was particularly difficult, I had so many deadlines to meet that my stress levels went over the roof. I don't recall ever feeling this stressed and working this hard for so long. By the time Christmas arrived I was so exhausted that I regretted having booked a plane ticket to go back home to see friends and family. Not that I don't like to be there, but I really just wanted to be left alone, and REST.

So yes, I am convinced that my body was protecting my vital energy.

Keit said:

There is a lot of symbology surrounding menstruation.

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Definitely.

Keit said:

Wish you to feel better soon!

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Thank you :)

I also just corrected my previous post. I meant to say that I got some Sepia, not stevia, and will try it.

Although the issue that is causing me to is post this is not amenorrhea, I think that it might be connected.

Since August, the time I had my last period, I have been suffering from bloating which is sometimes as severe as to make me look pregnant. This was pretty intense over August and September, then it calmed down and it has become very intense again over the last 2 months.
After much search on the net several things have crossed my mind: perhaps this is connected to my amenorrhea due to the hormonal imbalance; maybe it is some sort of detox reaction, considering that I started the USD in August and more recently the Candida diet 2 months ago it could well be; digestive problems (although apart from the bloating there are no other signs of this); inflamed gut; water retention.

Maybe it is a combination of several of the above.
Today my partner was massaging my belly and although my bladder was relatively empty we could hear a few impressively loud sounds of liquid being moved.

My bowels are working fine, my diet is mostly meat based and I have even rotated vegetables to check for any allergies, so far without results. Because I'm on the Candida diet, apart from avocado and coconut I have had no fruit in 2 months.

Since everything else has so far failed, at the moment I am doing acupuncture to try to get my period back. Acupuncture is expensive for me and really on the limit of my budget, so I'm trying to avoid as much as I can having to book for any other doctor (naturopath has crossed my mind) to address the bloating, particularly since I can pretty much live with it although it annoys me that I have no idea of what is going on. My last resource will be to go to the conventional doctor, but I'm still postponing it for now.

Addressing diet seems not to be the solution in this case since I have tried that already. Unless, of course, I've missed something. I admit that having searched on the net over the past months has confused more then helped me, the myriad of possible causes for bloating is overwhelming.

Soooo...I decided to post this and see whether anyone has any other tips, suggestions, insights that might help.

You have tried plant based progesterone cream?

Laura said:

You have tried plant based progesterone cream?

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Not yet. I have ordered it and have it at home. I mistakenly deleted the website from which I ordered it so I can't find the suggested use instructions.
Would it be twice a day for 14 days, then a gap of another 14 days?

Coincidentally, someone asked me just 5m ago whether I was expecting a baby :O

Gertrudes said:

Laura said:

You have tried plant based progesterone cream?

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Not yet. I have ordered it and have it at home. I mistakenly deleted the website from which I ordered it so I can't find the suggested use instructions.
Would it be twice a day for 14 days, then a gap of another 14 days?

Coincidentally, someone asked me just 5m ago whether I was expecting a baby :O

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I think Psyche has posted the protocol somewhere here on the forum, either this thread or elsewhere. She's not available until tomorrow...

Laura said:

I think Psyche has posted the protocol somewhere here on the forum, either this thread or elsewhere. She's not available until tomorrow...

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Thanks Laura, I think I found it here.

The protocol is for pre menopausal women, but I'll go with that one.

Gertrudes said:

Laura said:

I think Psyche has posted the protocol somewhere here on the forum, either this thread or elsewhere. She's not available until tomorrow...

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Thanks Laura, I think I found it here.

The protocol is for pre menopausal women, but I'll go with that one.

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That's the one! So, since you haven't had a period, just start now with that schedule.