Is It Normal or Natural? Breaking the Myths of Hormonal Health

Anya
Feb 7, 2025
7 min read

Updated: Mar 5, 2025

I struggled with hormonal imbalance for years without realizing it. I thought my symptoms were "normal"—because that’s what I’d been told since my teen years. I didn’t even consider them symptoms, just the necessary evil of having a period and being born female.

The Moment I Realized Something Was Off

I remember the exact moment I started waking up to the fact that something was seriously wrong.

I was getting cyclical, migraine-like headaches every month at the same time, like clockwork ( on top of a host of other bodily symptoms).

They weren’t just headaches; they were full-body shutdowns.

When they hit, all I could do was call off work or appointments, crawl into bed, pull the curtains shut, and wait for the pain to pass. Light felt like knives in my eyes. Sound made my brain vibrate. And month after month, it continued.

This shouldn’t be normal, should it?

Seeking Answers

I started digging for answers, reflecting on my past. I realized that my late teen years and twenties were filled with symptoms I had simply suffered through: low back pain during menstruation, heavy mood swings, low libido, hair loss, and constipation.

I never saw them as symptoms, just as my normal.

One of my first visits to a so-called professional—someone I hoped could help me out of this cyclical pain—was an ordinary medical doctor.

You know what he said when I told him about the debilitating headaches? I remember it clearly because I left his office in shock.

He said, "Well, many women have these kinds of headaches. It’s quite normal. You’ll just have to console yourself with the fact that they’ll probably end when you reach menopause."

I could practically feel his dismissive hand patting my shoulder, dripping with fake empathy.

I was 29 years old. My mother had her last period at 53. Usually, daughters experience menopause around the same time their mothers do.

According to this genius, I might have to live with these migraine headaches for the next 24 years?!

The Bizarre Thought That Changed Everything

That gut-punch of a thought hit me when I left his clinic. But it was just a fleeting moment of outrage.

Deep down, I knew in every fiber of my being that there was nothing normal about my situation. It wasn't natural, even if a medical professional was telling me it was.

Most importantly, I knew this had to be fixable—because I refused to lose a good portion of my life to this pain.

At the time, I was in a fragile state, still looking for hope from external authorities, so his words affected me more than I wanted to admit.

But they also awakened something rebellious inside me—a voice that screamed, "Screw you!" to this lazy man who thought he could speak for women’s health when he clearly didn’t know what he was talking about.

He had simply given up to the status quo and told women that “normal” equaled natural.

Normal Doesn't Equal Natural

Well, it doesn’t.

I’ll repeat that cause it's very important: Normal doesn’t equal natural.

Just because many people experience something, like migraine headaches or hormonal imbalances, doesn’t make it natural. And just because many believe the same thing doesn’t make it right.

This actually reminds me of a brilliant quote by Khrisnamurti: "It is no measure of health to be adjusted to a profoundly sick society"

Let that sink in. It's harsh, but there is some truth in it.

In more aspects than I'd like to admit and especially when it comes to women's health, our society is sick.

Did you know that most scientific studies are done one male subjects? Because males have a 24-hour hormonal clock it is easier to measure and distinguish between data variations and fluctuations in males, because their system is in a way more predictable in terms of time.

Another way of saying; it is easier to read the data coming out from the studies and easier to conclude on it. Also, easier means cheaper, since less time is spent on the research.

So when we hear of the newest research data and recommendations being blasted out on health sites and in magazines and the news, whether that is on diet, detox, supplements etc. most often, all this data is concluded on the basis on what a man's body is capable of and benefits from.

The truth is very different for women. We have very very different bodies and we do not always benefit from the same exercise, diet and lifestyle regimes that men do. In fact, we rarely benefit from the exact same lifestyle routine.

Unfortunately we are put under the same data umbrella and are told that the data produced is what is good for both sexes.

No wonder we have so many diseases and imbalances among women.

Challenging Outside Authority

Most of us have been taught to believe that the ultimate authority over our lives lies outside of us—in doctors, government, healthcare systems, and institutions. We grow up believing this, and we get homogenized.

We’re expected to fit into a certain way of living, behaving, and thinking. And if we don’t, we get dismissed—just like I was by that doctor.

But one day, after enough pain and struggle, we start to question the status quo.

We realize that we've been handing over the power to guide our lives to external systems, opinions, and beliefs.

This awakening is daunting, but it also frees us. Because once we start listening to our own bodies, we realize we were never meant to suffer like this.

What Is Natural?

So, what is natural? And how do we figure out the difference between what’s normal and what’s natural?

Through years of being forced to listen to my body above any external authority, I’ve learned a thing or two about distinguishing between the two when it comes to women’s health and hormonal balance.

Pain Is Not Natural

Pain, symptoms, and hormonal imbalances are not natural. Period ;)

Many of us suffer due to factors like poor diet, pollution, emotional and physical trauma, and lifestyle choices. We’ve been told to "suck it up" and accept pain as part of being a woman.

But our periods aren’t supposed to be a monthly curse. In reality, they can be one of the most unique and empowering aspects of our cycle—if we learn to work with them rather than against them.

4 Myths About Normal vs. Natural

Here are four "normal" myths that might have you believing discomfort and struggle are inevitable. Let’s break them down:

1. Myth: Pain and discomfort with your period are just part of being a woman—deal with it.

Truth: Pain is common, but that doesn’t make it natural. Period cramps, headaches, and back pain are signs of imbalance. They can stem from estrogen dominance, poor liver detoxification, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic inflammation. Ignoring them doesn’t make them go away—addressing their root cause does. Ignore these symptoms long enough, and they become the precursors for more serious imbalances and diseases down the line as we age. We should see this pains as an alarm bell that goes off every month, notifying us that we have to course correct, that something is off and should be taken care of.

2. Myth: Emotional instability (PMS) is just "how women are."

Truth: While it’s true that hormones absolutely can and do influence mood, severe PMS isn’t just “part of being a woman”—it’s a sign of imbalance. Extreme mood swings, depression, or rage before your period aren’t just part of the deal of being a woman.

They indicate deeper issues—ones that can be addressed through blood sugar balance, stress reduction, gut health, proper mineral intake and so on. Emotional well-being isn’t separate from hormonal health; they’re deeply interconnected.

Don’t confuse the natural ebb and flow of emotions with instability. In reality, the ability to feel deeply is a gift. It only becomes a burden when our bodies struggle to self-regulate, amplifying emotions to unhealthy extremes. Addressing hormonal health can help regain control, so our feelings stay allies—not enemies.

3. Myth: Women’s heightened intuition during their period is all in their head.

Truth: That heightened sensitivity? It’s real. Many ancient traditions acknowledge that menstruation brings insight and clarity. Indigenous cultures, Ayurveda, and even monastic practices honor this as a time of deep connection with the self. Suppressing it with overwork or distractions only disconnects us further from our inner wisdom.

In Ayurveda they see a woman's period as a monthly sacrifice, where a woman sacrifices her blood, her regular diet and activities, and instead rests, eats simply and recuperates. With every sacrifice comes a gift and the gift women get every month, is a renewed sense of well being and a purging of old blood and toxins. That is, if they honour the rest period!

For many, our period is a time when emotions and insights bubble up, urging us to notice and address things we may have been avoiding. This could bring clarity on relationships, work, or our inner lives.

Rather than brushing these feelings off as “PMS drama,” use this window as a chance to reflect and make changes that truly matter.

But be mindful: sometimes moderate to extreme PMS can distort our judgment, so it's essential to recognize the difference between genuine insights and hormone-fueled magnifications.

4. Myth: If you feel tired during your period, you should just push through it.

Truth: Resting during your period isn’t laziness—it’s biological necessity. Your body is working hard to detox and regulate hormones. Pushing through exhaustion leads to adrenal fatigue, irregular cycles, and long-term burnout. Listening to your body's signals is an act of self-respect, not weakness.

When you push yourself—whether at work, the gym, or in dealing with stress—your body has a harder time releasing and detoxing, which can snowball into bigger issues like fibroids or prolonged hormonal imbalance.

Even if you feel you can push through, taking a few days to slow down or fully rest can give your body the break it needs to reset. Doing so will likely lead to a more balanced cycle—and a more balanced life—for the rest of the month.

Conclusion

To understand the difference between what’s “normal” and what’s natural is crucial when it comes to our health. It’s 'easy' to accept pain, discomfort, and imbalance because they seem widespread—but widespread doesn’t mean natural.

Our bodies are constantly communicating with us, and it’s up to us to listen, question, and take charge of our own well-being. Instead of settling for a life spent enduring symptoms, I encourage you to challenge old myths, listen to your body, and start reclaiming your health.

Pain isn’t the price we have to pay—it’s the signal urging us toward balance.