Alternative to "The Pill"

I was always very irregular also and found it very frustrating. It wasn't until I was on the pill that I finally felt like I was back on track. I was less moody, less cramping, flow wasn't as heavy and I knew when to expect it, so less stress. For me it was the best choice. A friend's daughter had very heavy flows which made her tired all the time and actually anemic. She wasn't good about taking the iron pills and had to have a blood transfusion. They also had a difficult time deciding whether to put her on the pill to help control her heavy flows, and went ahead and put her on it, and it has made a world of difference. It is a difficult choice, have her help make an informed decision with you and the doctor.

I would personally not alter my daughter's hormones chemically. Our general environment is already doing that and we want to counter that! I agree that she sounds normal for a teenager. It takes awhile for a girl's body to find its cycle and settle into it.

I would seek out an herbalist and midwife to find some alternative suggestions. You might even find a midwife who is an herbalist, which would be great. I'd also look into acupuncture. And my own personal experience has shown that girls and women who follow a traditional foods diet and add quality, high vitamin cod liver oil (unfortunately not available in any retail store) to their diets find much relief from hormonal issues. You can learn more about traditional foods and cod liver oil at http://www.westonaprice.org

M.,

It's pretty normal for a 16 year old to have irregular periods. If she's not experiencing severe pain or unnaturally heavy bleeding with the periods she does have, I would just let it go. She probably even out in a few years.

I had a doctor recommend birth control to me for the same reasons as a teen and I opted not to take it. I have a very regular cycle now and get pregnant easily.

Give her a hug and tell her she's normal!

M.

I have always struggled with hormone issues still do to this day. When I was in highschool my mom gave me what I termed my happy pills. They were chasterberry herbs. I took one a day and it helped alot. Not only controlled my cramps, regularity but also my mood swings that were terrible. It got to the point my friends and boyfriend could tell if I hadn't taken my "happy pill" that day. Since growing up I have taken the progestin creme that worked all right but I seemed to cycle more often but way longer. I am currently taking Acia Berry juice I get from Costco. Since taking it I have had a period 2 months in a row with in 30days of each other. For me that is a miracle. I am lucky if i cycle more then 3x a year but it when I do it lasts months. So I say keep your daughter regular now.

Hi M.,
I know how you feel about meds, but please do this for your daughter. "The pill" will give her security to know when the period should arrive, it will be light, and her complexion will improve. All of those things are priceless to a teenager! She will feel so much better about herself and be more secure... I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. :o)

Take her to Kristin Sarna ###-###-#### (22nd Ave & Happy Valley) and have her hormones checked again. The range of normal is huge and just because she is within normal limits, does not mean she is balanced. Suzanne Somers has written several great books about BioIdentical Hormones. They are not just for menopause. They can be used to treat a wide variety of problems and they are metabolically the same as what the body makes. Your thyroid is a hormone and if it was out of balance, wouldn't you treat it?

M., Are you sure you really have a problem that needs to be fixed? It's not uncommon for teenage girls to have irregular menstrual cycles and really there isn't any real harm in it as long as they have a period every 6 months. The concern if a girl goes longer than 6 months without a period is that the lining of the uterus might be thick and perhaps an environment suitable for the development of endometrial cancer. As long as your daughter is not in need of contraception or having miserable mood swings or other signs of hormonal imbalance, why give her "the pill" which will have consequences and side effects of it's own. Just something to consider. R., Certified Nurse Midwife since 1999 and SAHM of 2 since 2005.

If it's symptoms for that long that you're concerned about, you might want to try a "Moon Cycle" tea from a health food store or health-food section. It is a blend of herbs, including Dong Quai, Chaste Tree Berry, and other herbs. As for irregularity, I would agree that it can be this way for awhile. I was a gymnast and then runner and didn't get my period until I was 20. I had friends who went on the pill, and they gained so much weight practically overnight - I did not want to deal with something so unnatural like that. When my parents took me to the doctor at 18-years-old, the doctor asked if I had any other symptoms (he named some off); I said "no", and he sent me away without even examining me with, "if it doesn't come in a year or two, come back and see me" (or something to that effect). I have been so grateful ever since that I happened to get that doctor to see me. I got my period at 20-years-old, it was irregular and light for awhile, but now I"m 30 and have a second child on the way.

All that to say that I would definitely try something natural first, and if it's not bothering her, maybe just wait it out for awhile and teach her to recognize her body symptoms of when her period is just about to come. Then she can put on a light pad or something for a few days prior. I know the symptoms aren't always that clear, especially at 16, but you may find something - discharge, aches, a lightening up of symptoms, etc.

Natural progesterone cream from Arbonne. I can get you some if you would like.

Hi M.!

Your daughter's symptoms which are talked about in a book called "Hormone Balance: A Matter of Life & Health", by Kris Klitzke, RN, BSN which I am helping to promote. ($14 instead of the regular price of $17.95)
I recommend you reading it at least. It will give you a lot of insight.
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try dabbing Rose Geranium oil on her pressure points. This is supposed to regulate "monthly" hormones

I suffered from horrible acne and irregular periods since I was 16. I still have issues today but found much relief in all natural progesterone cream. I am no doctor but I decided to try it after months of looking things up on the internet. Since she is only 16 I would ask a naturopathic doctor on doses and recommended regimes. I can tell you that an OB/GYN will want to put her on the pill as well. I went on it as a teenager after my mom took me to the OB/GYN and it helped regulate my periods but turned me into a moody monster and I HATED it. It also did not do much for my acne. As an adult I took my own path and saw a naturopathic doctor. They offer a broad range of treatments from herbs and supplements to accupressure and accupuncture, chiropractic, and diet alterations. I would say altering my diet, the natural progesterone, and taking supplements such as evening primrose really helped me the most. BEST OF LUCK!!!!

Acupuncture can help quite a bit...I would definitely try that, or an herbalist as well. Something that has helped a lot of women is Mayan Abdominal Massage. http://arvigomassage.com/practitioners_list.php#Arizona
I would definitely try that as well...initial consult could be a bit pricey, depending on the practitioner, but it is very worth it. It definitely helped me get regulated.

Check out PCO (polycystic ovaries) as that is why I am irregular (always have been from the very beginning when I started @16). On a good year, I'll have a period a couple months in a row (5-6 wks apart is the norm for me(if you can call that a norm!)) but I do not remember ever having more than 3 periods in a row. I have gone a whole year without a period. I have never been on "the pill" and while I dont have as many kids as I hoped for, I *did* get pregnant naturally. I only say this because being irregular really isn't that unusual nor a big deal.

True, whenever I travel or go anywhere, I always have to take something to be prepared because I never know when it might start, but it really is nice (and less expensive) to not have to deal with the cramping and flow every month. I am also able to give people the positive encouragement when they gripe about having their periods because "hey, at least you know your body works!" smile.

Seriously, if the worst of my irregularity was that sometimes I dont get it for 2 months, I'd be happy! I am *lucky* if I get it 2 months in a row!

Hi M.,

I am a 38 year old woman who has always refused to take a hormonal form of Birth Control. I have fought for years against Dr.s who just wanna perscribe a pill and be done with it. From the Pill to IUD's I have gone with the more natural barrier methods of birth control. However these do not help with the periods. I have three friends who since they started their periods have had very irregular periods - one friend is lucky if she gets 4 periods a year. They have adjusted their lives accordinly - and in fact love the fact that they don't have the monthly chore! :) (And when the time came to get pregnant - they all concieved with 2 years of trying)

Stand up for what you believe and if you have ANY history of Breast Cancer in you family DO NOT take a hormonal birth control. I myself have had problems for years with my various woman parts was told I had cancer when I was 22, 36 (both times wrong - thank god) and was in menopause by the age of 37. I finally found an amazing Dr. who perscribled a vitamin regime that kicked my hormones in gear and now I am menopause free (it can wait a while)

I agree with Nicole 0. Evening Primrose works wonders. But here is the Vitamin Cocktail that jumpstarted my hormones again: 1000 Milligrams of Vitamin C a day, 500 milligrams of Evening Primerose twice a day, and 25 milligrams of a Complex Vitamin B once a day.

Recently it came to light that every female on my mothers side of the family has had breast cancer. Not a good future for a woman who has taken hormones. Last week My Dr. told me that when I made this choice to not take hormones years ago that it may have saved my life.

Good Luck

First off, the pill among other controceptives causse weight gain and can worsen or cause acne problems. Secondly, your daughter is 16 a controceptive might give her an excuse to start having sex. Third, I have personally been having my period since I was 7 years old. I am 21 now. Mine was irregular at first but we found that with excerise and healthier eating that they regulated themselves out. now every month on the dot it comes around on the 21st without fail. Bodies do not need help in this area for the most part. They work themselves out over time. if I am stressing out my period lasts the week. If I am doing my normal things and not stressing out it is the normal 3 days for me. Factors like this play a role in situations like this. hope this helps.