About Women's Health Issues

A woman’s menstrual cycle averages about 28 days long; however, some are shorter and some are longer. The reasons for a slow starting period are best understood in the context of understanding the normal menstrual cycle.

Periods begin usually when a girl is 10-14 years old.  She already has all the eggs she’s going to have and they begin to mature in response to hormonal changes in the body. The maturing follicles release estrogen, which allows the follicles to ripen over about a week.  The lining of the uterus thickens and the cervical mucus changes to allow sperm to pass.  This is known as ovulation.  The Fallopian tube comes in closer contact to the ovaries to allow the ripened egg to enter the tube more easily.  There is a surge of Luteinizing hormone that allows the egg to be released.

At the time of ovulation and in the days after, the follicle that released the egg becomes what’s called the corpus luteum.  It produced hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, necessary to maintain a pregnancy if one occurs.  If no pregnancy occurs, the follicle becomes white in color and is called the corpus albicans.  Before the period occurs, the woman may experience cramps, back pain, pain in the inner thighs, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, headache, constipation, breast tenderness, irritability and other changes in mood.

Periods are generally twenty eight days in length and depend solely on the date of the luteinizing hormone surge.  Exactly 14 days after that, the period occurs.  Women with a slow starting period, still have a luteinizing hormone surge, but the surge comes later than with normal individuals.  Causes of a delayed LH surge include heredity.  Women cluster in families who have a slow starting period. A woman who is obese will also have a delayed LH surge and will then have a slow starting period.  Any condition in which the estrogen and progesterone levels remain high in the first half of the cycle will delay the luteinizing hormone surge will likely lead to a slow starting period.

Women with a normal or slow starting period can suffer from premenstrual syndrome.  It is caused by the hormones existing before and during the menstrual period.  PMS can show itself as irritability, anxiety and mood swings.  The symptoms are relieved by the onset of bleeding.  It is felt to occur as a result of an excess of estrogen over progesterone in the premenstrual state.

Another type of PMS involves craving sugar, having fatigue and headaches.  Cravings to other foods, especially carbohydrates occur. It is due to an increase in insulin responsiveness prior to menses, which is, in turn, a result of the increased hormone levels.

It is a myth that every woman’s cycle should last 28 days long.  Many women have a slow starting period and find their menstrual cycles are up to 35 or 40 days long.  Women don’t always bleed every month either and find that they do not ovulate each and every month.  Women don’t ovulate every cycle and have what’s known as anovulatory cycles.  These cycles tend to be of a shorter duration than 28 days.  Some women have repetitive anovulatory cycles and always have short starting periods. The act of bleeding doesn’t mean a woman is not pregnant.  She can spot for a few days at the time of implantation of the egg in the uterine wall. It is also true that a woman can technically get pregnant or ovulate during the time of menstruation. This makes natural family planning difficult.

Regarding a slow starting period, some women have this condition as a result of a low thyroid condition or as a result of type II diabetes. If the slow starting period persists, a woman should be tested for both conditions and treated as necessary. If the problem is because of a thyroid condition, ThyroidAssist may be helpful. It is used to support the thyroid function.

The natural way to treat a slow starting period is to use herbs such as Dong Quai or Femalite. Both of these are well known for regulating a woman’s mentstual cycle and balancing the hormones. They should be taken consistently for at least 3 months before you may see the results you’re looking for.