Menorrhagia, or heavy periods, happens to more women than most people know. Bleeding that lasts longer than seven days, soaks through pads or tampons quickly, or makes you feel tired throughout your cycle can make it hard to go about your everyday life and hurt your health. Many women take supplements like folic acid, a B vitamin that is well known for its role in pregnancy and blood health, to try to feel better. But does folic acid really help with heavy periods?
Folic acid doesn’t stop menstrual bleeding, but it does help a lot during heavy periods. It can help prevent anaemia, reduce fatigue, and improve hormonal and reproductive health.
Can folic acid help with heavy periods?
Many people think that folic acid helps make periods lighter; however, science does not back this up. Folic acid does not control or lessen severe menstrual bleeding. Hormonal imbalances, fibroids, endometriosis, or other health problems are often to blame for heavy periods. Folic acid doesn’t stop blood loss, but it does help the body deal with it better.
Why do people typically suggest taking folic acid during periods?
Heavy periods make you more likely to get anaemia since you lose blood over and over again. Folic acid helps the body make and mature red blood cells, which helps it replace what is lost during menstruation. StatPearls has released studies that suggest that women with anaemia can feel better if they get enough folate. Symptoms like tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath can all go away. This phenomenon is why doctors may tell women with heavy periods to take folic acid and iron together.
How does it assist with tiredness during your period?
Many women who have anaemia feel weak and dizzy all the time during their periods. Folic acid is crucial for making healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Folic acid helps these cells work better, which can help clear up the mental fog and physical tiredness that sometimes get worse in the first few days of your cycle.
Does folic acid help keep your hormones in check?
Yes, folic acid has an unexpected effect on the endocrine system. Research in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology says that it helps keep hormones in balance by reducing high levels of oestrogen. High levels of oestrogen can cause irregular cycles and heavy bleeding, so it’s important to keep this hormone in check to help your menstrual health stay more regular.
Good for getting pregnant and having a baby in the future
Folic acid is good for your reproductive health in the long run, even if you’re not thinking about getting pregnant. A study published in Fertility and Sterility indicated that eating more folate is associated with a lower risk of infertility and better results during fertility treatment. Adequate folic acid is also important to stop neural tube abnormalities from happening in early pregnancy, which is why it is an important nutrient for women of childbearing age.
What are the best ways to obtain more folate?
Most experts say that women of childbearing age should take 400 mcg of folic acid every day. You can find it in leafy greens, beans, citrus fruits, avocados, and cereals that have been fortified. Supplements can help, but you should talk to your doctor before starting, especially if your periods are still heavy or your anaemia symptoms get worse.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
