How Fertility Yoga can help with painful periods, PCOS and Uterine Fibroids
Yoga can be a powerful tool for easing the physical symptoms of a variety menstrual disorders.
Yoga can also help to balance hormones and improve the function of the endocrine system which can often be the root cause of some common menstrual issues.
Period Cramps
Period cramps are so widespread they are accepted to be part and parcel of being a woman. But despite what we have all be lead to believe for most of our lives, mild to severe cramping is our bodies way of telling us that there is an imbalance in the system.
Stress can play a big part in causing menstrual cramping as it not only causes the body to tighten and can decrease healthy blood flow to the reproductive organs, but stress hormones can play havoc with the proper functioning of the sex hormones which are essential for a healthy (and pain free) menstrual cycle.
Yoga can help by activating the parasympathetic nervous system thereby allowing the body to relax and perform the bodily functions which require a rest and digest state to be efficient - reproduction and the healthy functioning of the menstrual cycle require this rest and digest state in a big way!
Yoga can also help increase blood flow to the pelvic region and create space and softness here which helps relieve tension and cramping.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a complex menstrual and hormonal disorder that is notoriously difficult to diagnose and can have a range of different symptoms presenting in different woman.
The most common symptoms are:
Delayed ovulation
Extended phases of cervical mucous production
Amenorrhea - temporary cessation of ovulation and menstruation
Menorrhagia - abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding
Weight gain / difficulty losing weight
Unwanted hair growth
Acne (particularly on the jaw line or back)
The exact cause of PCOS is not known by allopathic medicine. But it has been suggested that stress can be a contributing factor due to its ability to throw the adrenal glands into overdrive, increasing the levels of male hormones in the body.
Relaxing yoga, such as restorative yoga, yoga Nidra practises and mindful breath work can relieve stress and help take the pressure off the adrenal glands.
Yoga sequences like Sun Salutations and vinyasa flows can help to improve symptoms of excess weight, low mood and excessive fatigue.
Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids are benign tumours that grow in the wall of the uterus. Again, it is not widely accepted what actually causes uterine fibroids (as is the common scenario for many female/menstrual disorders) but they are thought to be hereditary and/or as a result of prolonged exposure to oestrogen.
Uterine fibroids can cause painful cramping, bloating, painful sex, back or pelvic pain and heavy periods.
Yoga can help by doing specific postures which are thought to “starve” the fibroids of blood flow, such as inversions. Twists (which should only be performed if in the first half of your cycle or not actively ttc) alternatively act to create a “squeeze and soak” action to the pelvic region increasing healthy circulation to the reproductive organs. Poses which stretch out the womb creating space can also be beneficial.
The root of a lot of menstrual disorders can be found in hormonal imbalances. Unmanaged stress, overwhelm and anxiety can feed these imbalances if left unchecked and yoga is an excellent and effective tool for managing stress.
Yoga for Fertility is a particularly good style of yoga for treating these imbalances as its yoga designed around your natural cycle and serves to support what is actually happening in your body.
The above menstrual disorders are only a few of the many common disorders affecting the female population in their droves! But you can see how the correlation between stress - hormonal disruption - menstrual disorders can form a pattern when it comes to one possible factor in the occurrence of any of these anomolies.
Are you suffering with any of the disorders I have mentioned above? Are you dealing with one I haven’t mentioned? Any menstrual disruption can have an adverse affect on your fertility. Feel free to reach out if you’re dealing with something specific and you’d like to know if I can help.
Or you can go ahead and sign up for my upcoming Fertility Yoga Workshop [Online] on the 9 December at 10am. The REPLAY will be available shortly after the live event. It’s only €22 and will be well worth it if you’re interested in how yoga can be a powerful tool in taking charge of your fertility and menstrual health!
