Benign Growths That Can Continue to Grow

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumours of the uterus that may continue to grow over time. Their exact cause remains unclear, but hormones, genetics, and the condition of the uterine environment are all thought to contribute.

In women’s health and fertility care, treatment should consider not only the fibroid itself, but also the overall health of the uterus. Certain fibroids may interfere with fertility, contribute to infertility, or increase the risk of miscarriage, particularly when they are located near the uterine lining or block the cervix. Early assessment and personalised care can play an important role in protecting reproductive health.

A Condition That Can Recur Even After Surgery

Endometriosis is a condition that can affect women from the beginning of menstruation through to menopause. One of its challenges is that it may recur even after treatment or surgery. Research suggests that, unless the uterus is removed, recurrence may occur in 5–20% of cases each year, with up to 40% recurring within 5 years.

While the exact cause is still not fully understood, endometriosis is often linked to retrograde menstruation and immune system dysfunction. Menstrual blood flowing backward through the fallopian tubes is believed to occur in many women, but in most cases, the body clears these tissues naturally. When immune function is reduced, however, these endometrial cells may remain, attach to other tissues, and continue to grow.

Supporting Fertility and Uterine Health

To manage adenomyosis effectively, it is important to improve the uterine environment, reduce blood stasis, and support immune function.

The uterus consists of three layers: the outer covering, the muscular wall (myometrium), and the inner lining (endometrium). The endometrium is the part that responds to hormonal changes and sheds during menstruation, and it is normally clearly separated from the muscular layer. Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial tissue penetrates into the uterine muscle wall for various reasons. Under hormonal influence, this tissue continues to grow, causing the uterine wall to thicken.

In traditional East Asian medicine, adenomyosis is often understood in relation to blood stasis. When the body is weakened or the uterus is affected by cold, the circulation of qi and blood around the uterus may become impaired and stagnant, leading to the accumulation of waste products and toxins. This state is referred to as blood stasis.

Early Menopause in Your 20s and 30s

Menopause is ordinarily a gradual and natural transition in which ovarian activity declines over time. Early menopause, however, involves a much earlier and more rapid loss of ovarian function. This change may affect not only fertility, but also broader aspects of health and wellbeing, including bone health, cardiovascular health, sleep, mood, and emotional resilience.

In some cases, early menopause may be associated with factors such as autoimmune conditions, ovarian surgery, or medical treatments including radiation. In many women, however, the cause remains unclear. From a traditional East Asian medicine perspective, care is guided by the individual’s constitution, symptom pattern, and overall vitality. Treatment is directed toward supporting weakened function, restoring internal balance, and helping the body recover as fully as possible.

Early signs often begin with changes in the menstrual cycle, followed by symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, mood fluctuation, vaginal dryness, reduced libido, or urinary symptoms. Because early menopause may also carry longer-term health implications, early assessment and carefully tailored support are especially important.

The earlier care begins, the greater the opportunity to support hormonal health, reproductive wellbeing, and long-term balance. If your menstrual cycle has become irregular or your periods have stopped unexpectedly, seeking timely care may make a meaningful difference.

Period Pain: An Early Sign That Uterine Health May Be Out of Balance

If left untreated, period pain may develop into a chronic women’s health concern and should be assessed and managed proactively.

What is period pain?

Period pain refers to recurring lower abdominal pain that occurs in relation to the menstrual cycle. It is very common, affecting around half of women of reproductive age. In some cases, however, the pain can be severe enough to interfere with daily life and may be accompanied by symptoms such as cramping throughout the body, nausea, or other significant discomfort during menstruation.

Because the pattern of pain and associated symptoms can vary depending on each person’s constitution and underlying condition, many women do not always recognise it as a health problem requiring treatment. However, when left unaddressed, period pain may be associated with chronic women’s health conditions, making accurate assessment and timely treatment important.

Relying only on painkillers for period pain should be approached with caution, as this may suppress symptoms without addressing the underlying cause. Some women find themselves needing higher doses or stronger pain relief over time. While this may reflect reduced responsiveness to medication, it may also indicate progression of an underlying uterine condition.

Hormonal medications should also be considered carefully, as long-term use may influence the natural function of the uterus and ovaries. For this reason, period pain should not simply be managed at the level of symptoms alone. Identifying and treating the underlying cause is essential.

Period pain is generally divided into primary dysmenorrhoea and secondary dysmenorrhoea. Primary dysmenorrhoea occurs without any identifiable pelvic abnormality, whereas secondary dysmenorrhoea is related to underlying pelvic conditions such as endometriosis or adenomyosis.

Primary Dysmenorrhoea

Primary dysmenorrhoea usually develops within one to two years after menarche, once ovulation becomes more regular and established, and is most common in the teens and twenties. The pain typically begins just before menstruation and lasts for about two to three days. It is often described as a cramping or squeezing pain in the lower abdomen.

Milder symptoms may improve with pelvic massage, gentle stretching, or light exercise. In more severe cases, symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, or diarrhoea may also occur.

Secondary Dysmenorrhoea

Secondary dysmenorrhoea tends to develop several years after menarche and is more commonly seen in women in their thirties and forties. Pain may begin one to two weeks before menstruation and can continue for several days even after the period has ended.

Because the nature of the pain can vary depending on the underlying cause, accurate diagnosis is important. Identifying and treating the associated condition is essential for effective management.

Menopause: Navigating Change with Balance and Support

It is important not only to ease menopausal symptoms, but also to support long-term health and help prevent chronic conditions after menopause.

What is menopause?

Menopause refers to the transitional period of around 10 years before and after the final menstrual period. Although the timing varies from person to person, it commonly begins in the mid to late 40s and is often accompanied by a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. These symptoms may continue irregularly over several years, until the brain and body gradually adapt to the decline in ovarian hormone production. In many ways, this stage can be understood as a period of significant hormonal change, comparable to puberty.

One widely accepted view is that menopausal symptoms arise because the production of female hormones becomes unstable during this transition. Rather than declining in a smooth and predictable way, hormone levels often fluctuate up and down repeatedly before gradually decreasing overall.

Ovarian hormones are regulated through interaction with hormones released by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain. As this balance begins to shift, the hormonal cycle becomes irregular and the hypothalamus—which also plays an important role in regulating the autonomic nervous system—may be affected. This is why menopause can involve such profound physical and emotional changes.

For this reason, treatment during menopause should focus on restoring hormonal balance as much as possible and relieving symptoms according to each individual’s presentation and needs.