Menstrual Fatigue
We can become extra tired during this time of year with the darker days and colder weather, and especially when our period comes. However, we shouldn’t ignore fatigue during our period as it could be caused by an underlying health issue.
The decrease in oestrogen levels when our period is heavy can make us feel tired. Periods can be considered as heavy when you need to change your period pad or tampon every hour, you need to use both a pad and tampon at the same time, you wake up in the middle of the night to change your period product, your period lasts longer than a week, you get large blood clots in your period, or your normal day-to-day activities are affected. It is normal for energy levels to return to normal within a few days as hormone levels begin to increase again. However, for some of us, period fatigue and mood swings can last longer and be more extreme. You should see a GP as there could be an underlying medical issue like anaemia or an underactive thyroid.
The most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia is menorrhagia due to a significant amount of blood loss. Menorrhagia is the official medical term for periods which are abnormally heavy or prolonged. The symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia include tiredness, pale skin, shortness of breath and heart palpitations during your period. A full blood test which determines the number of red blood cells can provide a diagnosis. If diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia, your doctor will advise you to take iron supplements and increase iron-rich foods in your diet to compensate for the loss of nutrients during heavy periods. Red meat, beans, such as red kidney beans, edamame beans and chickpeas, nuts, dried fruit such as apricots, and fortified breakfast cereals are good sources of iron. If heavy periods are the reason for anaemia, your GP may typically prescribe medication. There are several treatment options available for menorrhagia, and these will vary from patient to patient depending on severity, medical history, and lifestyle. Where medication is ineffective, surgical treatment may be recommended.
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland found in the neck, which produces hormones to regulate the metabolism of our bodies naturally. Some of us who experience extreme period fatigue may have an underactive thyroid. This means the thyroid is not producing enough hormones. Symptoms include feeling exhausted and wanting to sleep all the time, even after a full night’s rest. Other common symptoms include weight gain and feelings of depression. Around 15 in 1000 women in the UK will suffer from hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is the opposite, where the thyroid is overactive and produces an excess of certain hormones. Your GP can determine if you have a thyroid problem by carrying out a thyroid function test, taking a blood sample to measure hormone levels. If diagnosed, hormone replacement tablets are prescribed and should be taken daily, with blood tests being carried out regularly to monitor hormone levels.
If you are experiencing heavy periods or extreme period fatigue, ensure that you see your GP or a private gynaecologist to outline whether it is due to any underlying health issues or not.
You can combat the feeling of tiredness by drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, get at least 8 hours of sleep to improve sleep quality, and doing some physical activity or exercise.