Is Your Period Actually Normal? (Or Just Common)
Cramps. Mood swings. Bloating. Acne. Exhaustion.
You’ve probably been told it’s all just “part of being a woman.”
But here’s the truth:
Just because period symptoms are common doesn’t mean they’re normal.
If your cycle has you dreading one week (or more) every single month… your body’s waving a red flag. And it’s time to stop ignoring it.
🔍 So what is a normal period?
A healthy cycle is:
26–35 days in length
Bleeding that lasts 3–7 days
Moderate flow (you’re not bleeding through a super tampon every hour)
Minimal to no PMS—maybe a little moodiness or fatigue, but not full-blown meltdowns, acne breakouts, or cramping that knocks you out
No extreme pain, clots, or irregular timing
Consistently shows up every month, no guesswork or wondering when it will come. Usually periods come around the same time, but +/- a few days is okay.
If your cycle doesn’t check those boxes, it doesn’t mean your body is broken—it means your hormones are likely out of balance.
🧬 What throws your hormones off?
For most of the women I work with, it’s a mix of:
Estrogen dominance → heavy periods, breast tenderness, mood swings
Low progesterone → anxiety, short cycles, trouble sleeping
Cortisol dysregulation → stress is stealing from your sex hormones
Blood sugar instability → insulin swings wreak havoc on hormone balance
Poor gut or liver function → if your body can’t detox estrogen, it builds up
Nutrient deficiencies → low magnesium, zinc, B6, and iron impact your cycle
Coming off hormonal birth control → your natural cycle is trying to recalibrate
The symptoms you’re experiencing are clues—not life sentences.
💥 What you don’t need:
You don’t need to…
Go back on the pill “just to regulate things”
Cut out every food group out of desperation
Assume this is just how your body works now
✅ What works instead:
You need to understand the why behind your symptoms—then build a plan that actually supports your hormones.
This often includes:
Balancing blood sugar (yes, this impacts hormones too)
Stress support (because cortisol throws everything off)
Liver and gut support (to process and clear excess hormones)
Targeted supplementation (based on labs and symptoms, not guesswork)
Nutrient-dense food and lifestyle support (no extremes here)
If your period makes you feel unlike yourself—bloated, exhausted, moody, or in pain—you don’t have to just live with it. There’s a reason your body feels this way.
And there’s a way to feel better.
In health,
Dr. Renata, ND