1 - A hormone imbalance could be a play
For any woman, symptoms or not, hormonal contraceptives or not, it’s useful to tune into your body and try and understand what might be going on.
Each month our hormones follow a specific pattern which will ultimately result in you having your period. So, although it’s natural for your hormones to fluctuate to some degree, if they’re more ‘off’ than normal, it could suggest a hormone imbalance is at play and you could be left suffering as a result. Oestrogen dominance symptoms (common in cases of PMS), or low oestrogen (common after coming off hormonal contraceptives or in the lead up to menopause) can in some cases be contributing to those feelings of tiredness or fatigue.
How best to tackle it?
To help pin point if your hormones could be to blame for your lethargy, track your symptoms with a diary or with the help of an app to get a better idea of what might be going on. If you’re on a hormonal contraceptive and are feeling more tired than you’d like, it’s definitely worth chatting this over with your doctor to see if a change in the balance of hormones is a possibility.
If instead you feel your natural balance of hormones needs a little helping hand, depending on your symptoms, Agnus castus or some soy isoflavones could do the trick. Read my blog on 'understanding your period and hormone inbalance’ for more if you aren’t quite sure which one’s right for you.
2 - Dropping levels of nutrients
With fluctuating levels of hormones to contend with, stores of nutrients that were previously sufficient for us may no longer be doing the trick. If your periods are quite regular, but you’re still not feeling quite right, some nutrient support could be the place to start.
Common nutrients which tend to cause a problem (and on a positive note, can make a big difference to how you feel if you introduce more of them) include magnesium, zinc and chromium. Magnesium, can help with a number of problem symptoms from achy muscles to painful cramps however, it can even support troubled sleep.
Next, zinc can help to support your hormones more generally and also our cognitive functions (useful if you’re prone to feeling a little fuzzy headed). Finally, chromium has a major role in supporting our blood sugar. Wobbly blood sugar can easily contribute to cravings and even worse, dips and troughs in our mood and energy levels.
How best to tackle it?
If you feel some nutrient support will help to tackle fatigue or any other notable symptoms, a gentle multivitamin formula could do the trick. Our Balance Mineral Drink, for one, contains a good dose of magnesium and zinc, with an added bonus of some vitamin D so it might just do the trick!
3 – Anaemia
A more well known deficiency, (although still commonly ignored or tackled incorrectly!), is iron deficiency anaemia. If your periods are on the heavier side, you could be particularly at risk of low iron levels. 
Fatigue and low energy are classic symptoms of low iron, but symptoms including dizziness, pale skin or muscle cramps could soon take hold too if you don’t do something about it quick! Read my blog on this topic to help decide if your periods could be putting you at risk of anaemia.
How best to tackle it?
Although your doctor may prescribe some iron tablets if they discover you’re anaemic, just watch out for any dodgy digestive side effects which are often associated with some conventional iron supplements. Instead a gentler, liquid iron formula such as Floradix, when taken consistently, may help to boost your iron levels and your energy levels to boot.
4 - The symptoms themselves!
It’s also possible the symptoms of PMS themselves could be draining you of all energy. Sleep issues are a common complaint when it comes to hormonal fluctuations, just ask any menopausal woman, and in my eyes your period is almost like a mini menopause! You may notice you feel hotter or sweatier than usual and surprisingly, this can really disturb your sleep.
Plus, that’s not to mention those painful cramps. If they keep you awake at night, unsurprisingly you’ll be left feeling more tired during the day. Plus, let’s face it; cramps can be just as exhausting in the day time! Inflammation is well known for draining our energy reserves (think of any time you have a cold of flu) and low and behold, it’s inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins which are thought to drive menstrual cramps.
Finally, if you have a number of different symptoms going on, being stressed by the whole situation can easily drain you of energy too – these hormones can really take it out of us, that’s for sure.
How best to tackle it?
It’s time to assess the situation and figure out which symptoms are affecting you most. Unsurprisingly, sleep issues are one of the most common causes of fatigue so it’s usually one of the first things to assess! If your sleep’s flailing, work on making your bedroom more comfortable (perhaps opening a window or getting some soothing essential oils on the go), try some Dormeasan half an hour before bed and or why not try preparing a hot water bottle if uncomfortable cramps are getting you down?
5 - Unhealthy habits
If you’re feeling a little sorry for yourself, it can be easy to fall into bad habits that will ultimately only leave you feeling worse off.
Cravings are often a common complaint for women and we now know that hormones and diminished chromium levels could have something to do with it. However my advice is to try not to cave in as for one sugar is pro-inflammatory so could exacerbate those already troublesome twinges, but it can also cause peaks and troughs in your blood sugar which will only cause your energy levels to crash further.
Another issue worth mentioning is water retention. If you end up feeling bloated at the end of the month it can be really tempting to cut down on your water intake in a bid to shed some extra weight. My advice is don’t – you’ll only risk sabotaging your efforts and your energy levels further as dehydration is a leading cause of low energy levels!
How best to tackle it? 
Although it’s tempting to curl up and feel sorry for yourself, it can be really helpful to stick to your normal routine and have a positive attitude towards it all, as much as possible. If you disrupt your normal rhythms you can easily be left feeling a little worse for wear – before hormones even have their part to play!
Employing practical tips such as sticking to your regular meals as much as possible (the odd treat here or there is inevitable) and drinking plenty of fluids can make all the difference as you help to support your mood and with minimal effort. Why not add a splash of Molkosan to your daily dose of water as an added extra? This way you’ll feel be sure to keep yourself hydrated but supporting your gut can also help with awkward bloating, cravings and even your mood longer term – who’d have thought it?
6 - Other endocrine issues may be at play
Your endocrine system (basically all the glands in your body that release hormones) are all closely connected and work in sync. This means as changes occur in one area (for example in your ovaries around your time of the month), other parts, such as your adrenal glands (which have a big involvement in stress) or your thyroid gland (your key regulator of metabolism) can become affected. This is why, especially in the lead up to menopause, and for those who suffer from PMS, stress and altered metabolism can become common complaints. 
How best to tackle it?
As always, my first piece of advice is to listen to your symptoms. If stress is a big factor for you, or you find you aren’t coping as well with stressful situations as you used to, my advice is to employ some gentle herbs such as Passiflora to help you through.
Next, if you feel your metabolism is slowing and you have any of the tell-tale signs including struggling to shift some extra weight, feeling cold or noticing your hair isn’t as full or as lustrous as it sued to, supporting your system with some Kelp may be the way to go.
