'After a decade of period struggles, here's what nobody's talking about.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Metagenics

I still remember the exact moment when I made the biggest decision of my life. I was in a toilet stall at a Leagues Club in Sydney. It was the third time in 60 minutes that I had raced to the bathroom to change my tampon, the familiar heaviness weighing me down as my brisk walk turned into a jog.

The minute I was in the cubicle, it was clear I was going to need assistance. For what felt like the hundredth time over nearly 10 years, my husband or daughter had to help me out of yet another period mishap. It was embarrassing and I was tired of it.

Like many women, I experienced abdominal pain that sometimes stopped me in my tracks, along with headaches that would escalate. Fatigue was another major issue — some days, I was exhausted to the point of falling asleep at my desk.

Although always lethargic, no amount of sleep would have me waking up refreshed, so I ended up getting a series of tests done.

These tests helped me understand my condition better and led to a diagnosis of severe anaemia due to blood loss. If you're experiencing similar symptoms, it may be helpful to discuss them with your healthcare provider to better understand your health and explore potential options.

At 38 years old, alone in that bathroom cubicle, I decided it was time for a change. After years of trying different options, I chose to have a hysterectomy — something I knew was the right decision for me.

Looking back now, I see there's so much more that we rarely talk about — but really should.

The emotional rollercoaster.

My family always got the worst of me. While I forced myself to push on at work, by the time I got home I would be so drained that I would want to be left alone or be in such a mood that I could rival Kanye facing the paparazzi.

I would often refer to myself as a one-woman circus. A circus that I didn't want a ticket to.

Feeling an intense need for some calm in my head and home, I was introduced to Wim Hof and breathwork. Breathwork has been an important tool for me. Before group breathwork classes were widely available, I read up on techniques I could adopt to manage stress and emotional responses. I learned to recognise the rising of emotions and take a moment to breathe through the feelings.

Even now, I still practice breathwork almost daily for a sense of emotional calm and to manage stress.

The support options.

For those looking to support their health during periods, Metagenics is a high-quality, practitioner-formulated vitamin brand that focuses on overall wellness.

Their product FemmeX is a magnesium supplement specifically designed to support healthy hormone balance and relieve symptoms of stress, throughout various life stages.

FemmeX contains a high-strength, easily absorbed form of magnesium that reduces premenstrual tension and supports a healthy stress response.

The shift in quality of life.

In my 20s, I was larger than life. I was always the first to agree to a holiday, I could roam a room and easily make new friends and I was at a concert or festival every month.

But as I entered my 30s, periods started to dictate my life.

I would attend events for work or special occasions, but it started to require me to check the calendar, count the days and meticulously check supplies.

My friendship circle became smaller as I was slowly not invited to things and my mood and confidence took a real dive as I spent more time at home where I knew I was close to the loo and further away from embarrassment.

I took a lot of comfort in those darker times by simply picking up the phone. In an age of texting, Snapping and Tweeting, I found the connection I needed through the now-ancient simplicity of calling the people I love and just having a yarn.

It sounds simple but in a world where human connection is slowly disappearing, this made all the difference for me.

The hidden costs.

Managing symptoms with pads, tampons, heat packs and other supplies can be expensive.

I had a whole cupboard in the bathroom that was purely dedicated to my period. It was filled to the brim with pads of all shapes, sizes and absorbencies, box after box of tampons, baby nappy bags for my handbag, cold packs, hot packs and extra period undies. It was a lot. And very expensive for the frequency in which it had to be topped up.

Eventually, I had to let some of the brand names go, and honestly, it helped a lot. Period undies, once they were a real thing, also helped alleviate some of the costs during the backend of my period; they also provided an additional layer of protection for when my flow was heavy.

The frustration.

"Why doesn't my body work properly?" I can't even tell you how many times this question was said out loud, in my head or to sympathetic doctors. I felt like my body had let me down, but more so, I felt like it was my fault.

The intense frustration and dislike for the way my body was functioning during my period was hard to reflect on. I so badly just wanted my body to "do what it was supposed to" without all the complications.

The low mood and self-doubt were exhausting, especially when I had young, impressionable girls to raise. I didn't want them hearing the things I said to myself or to see me crying, so it was all done alone, like many aspects of my period struggles.

Early one Saturday morning, I posed the above question to a counsellor after my GP recommended a few sessions on Medicare. She held space for me to express my frustrations, and together, we started to address the mental health aspects I was experiencing.

The heartache of loss.

I had my first baby the month before I turned 28. My husband and I decided to try for our daughter just three months before falling pregnant. The whole process from conception to pregnancy to birth was, well, a breeze.

Then, four years down the track, we were ready to give our daughter a sibling. When I finally saw the two pink lines, after many months of trying, our elation soon became the deepest sadness as I experienced a miscarriage at six weeks.

The road from here was long and bumpy. I spent years battling with my period, one that ended up coming once every two weeks. I couldn't tell when I was ovulating or find a big enough gap or normalcy to be intimate with my husband.

It does have a happy ending though. Eight years after the birth of our first daughter, her little sister was born.

Like me, it may take some time to work through the challenges and try a whole new set of management tools and to also accept that you should seek help, but I can't stress enough how important it is to see a healthcare practitioner when you have uncomfortable periods.

Get those scans, have those tests and use your instinct; you know your body best.

As a premium brand of high-quality vitamins, Metagenics is dedicated to enhancing women's health with practitioner-formulated solutions. Find FemmeX online. Consult with a healthcare practitioner to support your wellness journey.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. 

Feature Image: Supplied. 

Metagenics is dedicated to helping you live a healthier, happier life. As a leading brand of high-quality vitamins, we specialise in enhancing women's health with practitioner-formulated solutions. Our products feature effective ingredients, scientifically designed to bring your body back into balance.