Manage Hormone Fluctuations and Irregular Periods Naturally with Macafem

I’m going to preface this post by telling you that it contains TMI for some people. If you don’t like reading about bodily functions or women’s cycles, stop here. But if you’re looking for information on managing hormone fluctuations and irregular periods naturally, please read on.

The Background

Last February (2012), my periods started becoming very erratic. I went from having a pretty regular 28-day cycle to having a period every 17-18 days.

As if that wasn’t frustrating enough, my cycles also became extremely heavy and I was passing a lot of clots. Even overnight cloth pads weren’t cutting it some days. On my heavier days, I didn’t even want to leave the house.

This started shortly after I went gluten and dairy free, so at first I thought perhaps my body was just detoxing from the change. But it continued over and over again, every 17-18 days, without fail.

Combined with some other symptoms I’ve been experiencing like insomnia, I started to think perhaps I was entering perimenopause. I ended up talking to the doctor about it and she wasn’t too concerned about my irregular periods. She offered to put me on birth control pills to help regulate my cycle, but I declined. I have never felt good when I was on birth control.

Around the same time, I learned about Macafem, a natural supplement that is supposed to help manage hormone fluctuations and irregular periods. I looked into it a bit before making a decision, but decided it was worth a try. If it could keep me from needing to use hormone replacement therapy, like birth control, I was all for it!

What is Macafem?

Macafem is made from Lepidium Meyenii, a small root that belongs to the radish family, which is grown high in the Andes Mountains of Peru at 12,000 to 14,500 feet above sea level.

It contains high concentration of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates and fiber.

How Does it Work?

The nutrients in the Maca root stimulate your endocrine glands, which are responsible for regulating your body’s natural hormones. Macafem promotes your body’s natural ability to maintain hormones at healthy levels.

Because of this, Macafem can alleviate common women’s health disorders related to hormonal imbalance, including menopause symptoms, PMS, decreased libido and infertility and more.

Did it Work for Me?

Yes! My last 2 cycles have been 27 days apart – that’s a vast improvement over 17-18 days! I was excited for the first month where they were 27 days apart, but I was still skeptical. When the second cycle started after 27 days, I was a believer.

My flow is still heavier than it used to be, but I’m going to continue taking a Maca supplement to see if, over time, that will get back to normal as well.

Any Negatives?

I do have one suggestion for Macafem. The full ingredient list isn’t disclosed on their website (at least not that I could find). In addition to the Lepidium Meyenii, Macafem also has inactive ingredients, including cellulose, magnesium stearate and corn starch.

Unfortunately I know all too well that most corn starch is made from genetically modified (GMO) corn. And the companies that use non-GMO corn usually advertise that everywhere (my contact at Macafem was unaware of whether the corn starch was GMO or non-GMO).

So, if I can make one suggestion for improvement to Macafem, it would be to either replace the corn starch with another ingredient, or to source non-GMO corn starch and advertise that. I love supporting companies that seek out non-GMO ingredient sources.

Overall, I’m happy with the performance of Macafem, and a Maca supplement will definitely become part of my daily routine.

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