The majority of women have heard that the average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days. But what if your menstrual cycle is longer or shorter than the average? Most women don’t care if their cycle is a few days off. However, if a woman is trying to conceive, knowing what is “normal” and what isn’t can make a big difference in conception efforts.

A study recently published in Fertility and Sterility examined the menstrual cycles of 167 women. In total, the researchers followed 459 nongestational (not pregnant) and 111 gestational menstrual cycles (pregnant). They found these interesting facts:

• Menstrual cycles were 27.7 days, plus or minus 2.4 days, in length. This means that for some women, their period came as early as 25.3 days and as late as 30.1 days.
• LH peaked at 14.7 days, plus or minus 2.4 days. This means that the presumed ovulatory window began as early as day 12.3 and as late as day 17.1.
• For women who became pregnant, implantation occurred (measured by first day of sensitive detection of hCG) on day 24.6, plus or minus 3.1 days.

The researchers reported that their findings were normal for menstrual cycle length, but that that there data on implantation was different from previously published data. If you are currently trying to become pregnant and your menstrual cycle falls outside of these parameters, you should speak with a gynecologist. Furthermore, if you have been trying for over a year with no success, you should also speak with a gynecologist who can complete a thorough blood work-up.

Curious to learn more about the menstrual cycle and fertility? Read Menstrual Cycle Length and Fertility, which discusses a study that found menstrual cycle length may correlate with fertility.

When women think of menstrual cramps, we normally think of the constant ache or throbbing pain in the pelvis. We seldom think cervix, but it is a key player in menstrual cramps.

During menstruation, the lining of the uterus detaches and exits the body through the cervix. The cervix is the opening to the uterus. In its natural, midline position, it opens slightly, allowing menstrual blood to pass into the vagina.

When adhesions form around the cervix or within its delicate tissues (as shown in the zoombox), the opening of the cervix can be narrowed

But if the cervix has been damaged or adhesions have formed on or near the cervix, the cervix can elicit a great deal of pain during menstruation. If the cervix is pulled or pushed forward, backward, or to one side, it can make the passage of menstrual blood difficult and painful. If adhesions have formed on or near the cervix, the opening of the cervix can be constricted. When blood tries to pass through the constricted opening, it can elicit a great amount of pain.

Because the cervix is protected inside the vagina, many women are not aware of how easily the cervix can be damaged. Sexual intercourse or sexual abuse can physically push the cervix out of alignment. Any surgery in the pelvis can cause adhesions to form that constrict the cervix. Sexually transmitted diseases can create inflammation that leads to adhesion formation. STDs can also inflame the cervix, making the passage of menstrual blood painful. Radiation therapy causes the same process of adhesion formation and can leave the entire pelvis adhered. Even vaginal or yeast infections can lead to adhesion formation that constricts the cervix or pulls it out of alignment.

Many women who have adhesions in their reproductive tract or have cervixes that are out of alignment also experience pain during sexual intercourse. The same adhesions that constrict the cervix can also constrict the vaginal walls, leading to pain when stretched. To read more about the role of the cervix in intercourse pain, read Three Common Causes of Deep Penetration Pain.

Conventional treatment for adhesions involves laparoscopic surgery to lyse (burn) any adhesions. However, few women are willing to undergo surgery in a very delicate, personal area when their chief complaint is menstrual pain.

Clear Passage Therapies (CPT) offers a unique and effective alternative that directly treats adhesions and the cervix. Using manual physical therapy techniques, CPT therapists deform and detach adhesions. They also gently enable the cervix to move back to its natural position. Following treatment, may women report that their menstrual pain is significantly decreased or gone. Many women who previously experienced pain with intercourse also report that sex is no longer painful. To learn more about our treatment for menstrual cramps or how CPT can decrease painful intercourse, see our menstrual pain page or intercourse pain page.

What is an anti-inflammatory? The FDA describes it as a medication to reduce inflammation (the body’s response to surgery, injury, irritation, or infection).  There are common anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) out there, such as Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin and Aleve, but for those who suffer with chronic inflammation, these can have severe side effects and are not healthy to take on an ongoing basis.  How long is too long?  It differs.  We know if some people take too much for too long that it can have damaging effects, but it could be two weeks for one person, and two months for another. At any rate, if you have to go beyond the directions on the label, you should be under a physician’s care.

A quick online search will reveal that although mostly beneficial when taken on a rare occasion to treat headache, fever and mild inflammation, if any of the NSAIDs are taken in higher doses than what is prescribed on their labels, or for any ongoing period of time, the risks can include stomach upset, stomach ulcers which may bleed, kidney damage and liver damage, to name a few. A report in The Lancet said NSAIDs actually ate away at joint bone reducing the success in hip replacement surgery.  NSAIDs can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke, may inhibit your body’s natural healing response, and can create stomach ulcers. (Info taken from http://worstpills.org)

A natural alternative would be the better course of treatment for someone experiencing chronic inflammation.  Do you have chronic inflammation?  If you are experiencing chronic pain (pain persisting beyond normal healing time, or for more than 6 months) you are likely experiencing chronic inflammation.  It is always best to check with your physician if you are uncertain.  Similarly, chronic inflammation is inflammation that persists beyond normal healing time and instead of tissue healing, results in tissue destruction and ongoing pain.

Here is a list of suggestions for reducing inflammation naturally:

What you should eat:

      -         Lots of fruits and brightly colored vegetables

-         Wild seafood

-         Herbs and foods such as turmeric, oregano, garlic, green tea, blueberries, ginger, and goji berries

-         More essential fatty acids – omega 3, nuts, seeds (especially walnuts and freshly ground flaxseed.)

-         A multivitamin

-         Glucosamine-chondroitin

What you shouldn’t eat:

-         Cut out sugar and refined carbohydrates

-         Cut out gluten-containing foods (wheat flour and oats)

-         Cut out known allergens

What you should do:

-         Get moving – physical activity daily

-         Get resting – meaning you need to relax as well as get a good night’s sleep

-         Use natural products

-         Detoxify your system

What you shouldn’t do:

      -         Give up – NEVER GIVE UP!!!

-         Smoke

-         Use stimulants

There are alternatives to OTC NSAID medications for inflammation that may otherwise cause you harm.  Consider this list, also, if you are considering coming for our therapy.  If you can get a leg up on any inflammatory processes in your body before coming for treatment, you will respond to the treatment that much better!

Good luck!

A study published in the Journal of the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists examined the role of adhesions in chronic abdominal pain. 30 women who suffered from chronic pain (age 26-49) agreed to undergo laparoscopic surgery while still awake. The surgeons then palpated any adhesions they found and watched the patients to determine the degree of pain. The study found that adhesions located between two structures (such as the ovaries and the uterus) elicited the greatest amount of the pain if the adhesions still allowed minor movement between the structures. Adhesions that prevented any movement had the lowest pain scores. They also found that adhesions attached to the peritoneum elicited great amounts of pain.

This study helps explain why some women may experience intestinal and abdominal pain. If adhesions are between the intestines and still allow movement, they can elicit great pain as waste moves through. The same is true of women who experience painful menstruation. As the uterus expands, it can pull on adhesions that attach to nearby structures, causing great pain.

Please visit our chronic pain page to read more about the connection between adhesions and chronic pain.