The Real Truth About Your Period: Why It’s Not Just About Hormones
As a Naturopathic Doctor, I’ve worked with so many women in their teens, twenties, and thirties who are completely fed up with their menstrual cycle. And I don’t blame them.
Between the heavy bleeding, crippling cramps, mood swings, missing periods, and exhaustion that hits like a truck—many women are told this is just part of being female.
Let me be clear: it’s not.
Your period isn’t meant to be a painful, unpredictable, emotional hurricane. These symptoms are signs that your body is out of rhythm—and it’s asking for deeper support.
Why Balancing Hormones Isn’t the Whole Story
The most common advice for cycle issues is usually centered around “balancing hormones,” but the truth is: that’s only part of the picture.
What I’ve seen time and time again in clinical practice is that true cycle healing happens when we address three key systems:
The liver
The adrenals
The immune system
Let me explain why.
Your Immune System Takes a Hit During Your Cycle
Here’s something most women are never told:
Your immune system drops by 80% during menstruation
It drops by 40% during ovulation
This is your body’s way of protecting the reproductive organs. It shifts its energy toward the uterus and ovaries to protect and support reproductive function. But this also means you’re much more susceptible to illness during these windows.
If you feel achier, more fatigued, get sick more easily, or feel your chronic symptoms flare up around your period—it’s not in your head. Your immune system is literally working at reduced capacity.
That’s why immune system support is absolutely essential if you're dealing with painful periods, mood swings, breakouts, or infections around your cycle. It’s not just a hormone problem—it’s a whole-system issue.
The Liver, Adrenals, and Immune System: Your Cycle’s Best Friends
The Adrenals: Your Body’s Battery Packs
Your adrenal glands are like the battery packs of your body—they keep you going, day in and day out. Not only do they help you respond to stress, but they also produce a large portion of your estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These little glands play a big role in hormone health. But when you're stuck in chronic stress mode (hello, modern life), your body starts pumping out adrenaline and cortisol instead of prioritizing reproductive hormones. Why? Because your body doesn't think it's safe to grow a baby when it's running from a "threat"—even if that threat is just your inbox or an overloaded schedule. Overworked, tired adrenals can lead to major hormone imbalances and throw your cycle off track. Supporting your adrenals and actively reducing stress isn’t just good for your energy—it's essential for balanced hormones, healthy ovulation, and a more peaceful period.
The Liver: Your Hormone Filter and Detox Powerhouse
Your liver is your body’s ultimate filter—it processes and clears out used hormones, especially estrogen, to keep everything running smoothly. But in today’s world, most people’s livers are overloaded. Between processed foods, environmental toxins, medications, and daily stress, your liver can become sluggish, which means excess estrogen doesn’t get cleared out like it should. When that happens, it can show up as heavy periods, clotting, breast tenderness, irritability, and painful cramps.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that your menstrual cycle is also one of your body’s detox pathways. So when toxins build up, they often get pushed out through your cycle—leading to heavier bleeding, darker blood, or clotting. A sluggish liver doesn’t just affect your hormones; it can also be linked with symptoms like skin breakouts, digestive issues, fatigue, and brain fog, etc...
Supporting liver detox is essential not just for smoother cycles, but for long-term health. A well-functioning liver helps your body stay clean, balanced, and resilient—month after month, and year after year.
The Immune System: Your Cycle’s Silent Defender
Your immune system is a major player in your menstrual health—and most women have no idea it even plays a role. But here’s the deal: your immunity naturally drops by 40% during ovulation and a whopping 80% during menstruation.This intentional dip helps protect your reproductive organs, but it also makes you more vulnerable to inflammation, fatigue, infections, and PMS symptoms.
On top of that, our immune systems are constantly battling modern-day stressors—like environmental toxins, hidden pathogens, poor sleep, and emotional overload. When your body is stressed, it pumps out adrenaline, which not only wipes out immune cells but also burdens the liver (which has to clean that toxic adrenaline out—think battery acid in the bloodstream).
The result? A tired immune system that can’t keep up, making period symptoms even worse.
That’s why immune support isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s essential. Think whole foods, colorful fruits and veggies, targeted nutrients (like zinc, vitamin C, iodine, selenium, etc..), antiviral herbs, and—just as important—stress reduction. Supporting your immune system during ovulation and menstruation gives your body the resilience it needs to handle those natural hormonal shifts with more ease, and way less drama.
You Deserve a Calm, Consistent Cycle
If your period has been hijacking your energy, your mood, or your life—please know: it doesn't have to be this way.
Your body is incredibly intelligent. With the right support, it wants to return to balance. You just need the tools that align with your body’s natural rhythm—and I’d love to help you find them.
Ready to start healing your cycle naturally?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with me to see how I can help you support your hormones, liver, adrenals, and immune system for real, lasting cycle relief.
Visit my booking page to schedule now: https://l.bttr.to/Qvtnm
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in the state of Minnesota. While I hold a professional license, the information and content provided on this Site is for educational and informational purposes only and is based on my professional training, clinical experience, and personal insights. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and it should not be considered a substitute for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your primary care physician or other qualified healthcare provider. You should always consult with your physician or another licensed healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine, supplements, medications, or overall lifestyle. Implementing any recommendations or suggestions from this Site is done at your own discretion and risk. Our Content is for informational and educational purposes only and is based on our personal experience. Our Content is not meant as a substitute for professional advice.
