Dear Folks:
        Heavier periods can mean lots of things. I would never think of
breastfeeding as being a cause of heavier periods; can't figure out the
physiology of that. However, the idea that women have forgotten what a period
is like because they have been on the oral contraceptive for a long time
makes a lot of sense. And being perimenopausal is also a possibility.
        Another reason can be subclinical Sheehan's syndrome. Sheehan's
doesn't have to be from a dramatic pituitary insult. Sometimes women can
bleed enough at delivery for the pituitary to be mildly  shocked. Symptoms
may be vague at first, and then get progressively stronger over months or
years postpartum. Other things that go along with the menstrual flooding in
subclinical Sheehan's are fatigue, apathy, incredible hair loss, insomnia,
and a very dry vagina.  I wasn't diagnosed until my nursling was 4 years old.
Other women I have counseled have first the very dry vagina (which is blamed
on breastfeeding) or the menstrual flooding (also blamed on breastfeeding).
Fatigue is something that most women accept as normal after having a child.
It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of women worldwide are suffering
with this.
        I saw a Chinese physician who treated me with acupuncture and herbal
teas. It worked. If women aren't comfortable or don't have access to such a
practitioner, then try an endocrinologist or someone who will look at the
whole woman, not just her vagina or reproductive tract.
        Warmly, Nikki Lee

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