Ashwagandha is a popular herb several people use to support brain health, including stress relief. It’s been used for years in a certain medicine type known as Ayurveda.
But some women have doubts about whether ashwagandha can affect their menstrual cycle. This is an important question as a lot of women are starting to use this plant for its health benefits.
In this article, we’ll discuss the current findings, and what medical experts think about this. We will as well try to figure out whether this supplement can cause any changes in a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Can ashwagandha affect menstrual cycle?
Of course, this herb can help eliminate issues with your menstrual cycle such as stress, inflammation and even hormonal changes.
In fact, it has even been found to help with issues like PCOS, which is a condition that affects a lot of women’s periods. So it can really be a natural way to help your body keep a regular menstrual cycle.
Potential Effects of Ashwagandha on womens’ Menstrual Cycle
1. Makes Dealing with Stress Easier
Too much stress can worsen a condition like PMS. It can also mess up your period cycle. But ashwagandha comes in to help your body handle stress better, which could lead to less period problems.
2. Keeps Your Hormones In Check
Unbalanced hormones are a potential cause of irregular menstrual cycle, and ashwagandha helps in neutralizing these hormones, leading to a steady period.
3. Fights Redness and Swelling
Redness and swelling are basically what we refer to as inflammation. Having a lot of these on your body can go a long way to affect your cycle, making it intermittent. But Ashwagandha fights this which can help keep your periods regular.
4. Helps women to conceive faster
If you’re trying to conceive, then your partner could chip in this as a supplement to his diet. A 2018 study by the National Library of medicine found that it increased male vitality to a great extent.
Though there isn’t any concrete research to back up claims that the herb directly supports female infertility, it is known to help a little bit as it increases women’s libido, manages their monthlies, and enhances ovarian functions. Always discuss this with your doctor before starting use.
Safe tips for using ashwagandha for periods
- Dosage & Duration: Make sure you’re taking the right amount and not for too long. This helps to avoid any side effects or interactions with other medicines. Again, be sure to start with a low dose and observe how your body responds. This allows you to gauge your sensitivity to the herb and minimize the risk of potential side effects.
- Watch Out For Changes: If you start to feel headaches, dizzy, if you’re having a bad reaction or notice gastrointestinal issues, stop taking it and talk to your doctor.
- Monitor Your Menstrual Cycle: Observe your cycle while using and inform your doctor about the results.
- Choose a Reputable Source: It’s not only about usage, but getting high-quality types from right sources is equally important. Quality and purity can vary among products, so it’s essential to choose a reliable brand.
- Consider Other Medications: Remember that Ashwagandha can mix up with some medicines like those for sleep, thyroid hormone, and those that make your immune system weaker.
- Avoid During Pregnancy: This herbal medicine is a no-go for pregnant women because its effects in pregnancies are not well understood. So best to play it safe and skip it.
- Ask Your Doctor: You don’t want to leave your doctor out of your decision to using this herbal supplement. So be sure to discuss with them. They would advise you on your current health state, including telling you when to start or stop as it may interfere with other medications.
Can you take ashwagandha for an extended period?
Yes, you can take Ashwagandha for an extended period. You can have it daily as far as you’re heeding to the recommended dosage.
However, it’s good to talk it out with your doctor before considering as a regimen, especially if you’re currently on another medication, or have any health issues.
There is limited evidence supporting its long-term use. However, It’s always a smart idea to take breaks, and not use it constantly over long periods.
Always monitor how your body responds to it and if you notice any side effects, discontinue use and gist your doctor.
Can ashwagandha cause heavy periods?
We know that it can help manage stress, deal with issues like inflammation, reduced immunity, anxiety, irregular periods, and problems with hormones.
It might also help with premenstrual syndrome, which is the set of unpleasant symptoms many women experience before their cycle.
But there is no specific information stating that ashwagandha could cause heavy periods.
However, we don’t dispute the fact that everyone’s body might react differently to supplements including ashwagandha. Thus, If you see any changes, like heavy periods after starting to take it, discuss with your doctor ASAP.
FAQs – Can Ashwagandha Affect Menstrual Cycle?
There is no research to support ashwagandha helping with ovulation. But what we know is, since it regulates your hormones, minimize stress levels and help in ovarian functions, it can better your reproductive health, increasing fertility levels.
Spotting is not commonly reported as a side effect of Ashwagandha. However, as it can influence hormone levels, changes in menstruation might occur in some individuals.
Some women have reported some side effects including sleepiness, headache, stomach upset and in extreme cases, rash. Though rare, about 1 in 20 women also reported hormonal changes which shifted their period calendar a little bit. Always discuss with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.
Though some online guides are voting on this, no concrete research supports ashwagandha boosting female fertility. But we believe that since it regulates your periods, minimizes stress and inflammation, and boosts ovarian functions, it can help your fertility too. We recommend that you talk to your doctor first before proceeding to take it for this function.
It isn’t a weight loss supplement. But after it helps you manage stress, and you exercise regularly, it might help you shed a little pounds.
Conclusion
In simple terms, this herbal medicine can indeed manage one’s stress level, check hormonal regulation as well as restore menstrual inconsistencies. But everyone’s body can react differently to it.
For some women, it may produce noticeable benefits, while others may experience side effects, or might not work well with other medicines they’re simultaneously taking.
So, if you have plans of taking it, then it’s best to chat your doctor first. They can help you decide whether to on or stop based on your health needs.
