Menopause Talks
Irregular Periods and Fertility: Why Birth Control Isn’t Always the Answer
She wasn’t asking for a prescription. She was asking for answers.
That was my first thought when I read an email from a 30-year-old woman who had recently seen her gynecologist.
She had two concerns: her periods were irregular, and she wanted to make sure her fertility was okay.
Instead of having a deeper conversation about why her cycles had changed, she was offered birth control and told she needed to lose 20 pounds.
She left feeling dismissed.
And I understand why.
Because there is a difference between managing a symptom and trying to understand what is causing it.
An Irregular Cycle Is Information
Birth control can absolutely have an appropriate place in women’s healthcare. And not every woman with an irregular cycle needs an ultrasound or an extensive list of blood tests.
But when a woman tells me her periods have become irregular, I get curious.
Why are the cycles changing?
Is she ovulating?
What has her menstrual history looked like up until this point?
Could there be a hormone imbalance or something such as PCOS?
What is happening with her thyroid?
Are there metabolic factors that could be contributing?
And then I want to understand the lifestyle factors, too.
How is she sleeping? How much stress is she carrying? What does she eat? How is she exercising? What has changed in her life or health?
All of it matters.
Your body doesn’t operate in isolated systems. Your health history, lifestyle, hormones, metabolism, sleep, stress, and nutrition can all be pieces of the larger picture.
Weight Can Matter, But It Isn’t the Whole Story
Can weight influence hormones, ovulation, and fertility?
Yes.
But simply telling a woman to lose 20 pounds isn’t the same as helping her understand why her body may be struggling in the first place.
This is especially important for women as they move through midlife.
Maybe you’ve noticed that your body is changing in ways it never did before. Your weight is harder to manage. Your periods are different. Your sleep isn’t the same. Your energy has changed.
It can be tempting to look at one symptom and decide that it must be the whole problem.
But I want to know what is happening underneath it.
This Is Why I Look for the Underlying Cause
One of the principles of naturopathic medicine that has guided me throughout my more than two decades in practice is tolle causam, which means identify and address the underlying cause.
When a woman comes to me with a symptom, I see it as information.
I don’t believe we need to order every test available or assume that something is seriously wrong.
Instead, I believe in listening, asking good questions, and determining what type of evaluation makes sense for that particular woman.
Sometimes the answer is simple.
Sometimes we need to dig deeper.
And sometimes we discover something completely different from what we initially expected.
That’s why asking “Why is this happening?” is so important.
You Are Not Asking for Too Much
I think women are sometimes made to feel as though they’re asking too many questions when they want their healthcare provider to slow down and help them understand what is happening.
You’re not.
Wanting someone to listen to your concerns, take your symptoms seriously, and work with you on a thoughtful plan is reasonable.
You don’t need your doctor to agree with every test or every treatment option.
But you should feel comfortable asking questions and seeking another perspective when something doesn’t feel right to you.
The woman who sent me this email did exactly that.
She wasn’t simply asking:
“How do I fix my unpredictable periods?”
She was asking:
“What is my body trying to tell me, and how can I support my health and my fertility moving forward?”
That’s a very different question.
And I believe it’s a question worth answering.
Start Listening to Your Own Patterns
You can begin by paying closer attention to your body.
Keep track of changes in your menstrual cycle, sleep, energy, mood, digestion, weight, and other symptoms.
Think about what else may have changed around the same time. Have your stress levels increased? Has your sleep suffered? Have your eating or exercise habits changed? Have you experienced an illness or another significant change in your health?
Bring those observations and questions to your next appointment.
You don’t need to diagnose yourself.
You simply need to start paying attention.
Because your symptoms can provide valuable clues, and those clues can help guide a much more meaningful conversation about your health.
Ask a Better Question
Whether you’re 30 and thinking about fertility or you’re 50 and navigating the changes of perimenopause and menopause, the principle is the same:
Don’t stop at the symptom. Get curious about the story behind it.
Your body is constantly communicating with you.
My role as a naturopathic doctor is to listen, investigate, and look deeper to understand what may be getting in the way of your body functioning and healing well.
You deserve more than simply being told to live with symptoms or accept that they’re “just part of getting older.”
You deserve to understand your health.
If something in your body has changed and you want to look deeper, 📅 schedule a Free Discovery Call with me. Together, we can explore what may be contributing to the way you’re feeling and create a plan tailored to you.
Not ready for a consultation yet? Start by learning more about the changes your body may be going through.
📘 Download my FREE Perimenopause Power Guide for practical tips and simple strategies to help you better understand your hormones and support your health through midlife.
Your symptoms are giving you information. Let’s start listening.
DISCLAIMER: The information in this blog is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content is for general informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your physician or qualified healthcare provider.
