Heavy periods? Low energy? Sleepless nights? Here's where to start.

Laura came to Dr Libby feeling completely worn out. She woke up tired, dragged herself through the day, and her heavy, painful periods left her utterly depleted. No matter how much she rested, her spark just wasn’t returning.

Her iron levels were technically in range – but at the lower end. And her symptoms told a different story.

So Dr Libby looked deeper.

Here’s what she found – and how she helped. 

Heavy painful periods can indicate that the liver could use some support. Amp up your intake of bitter greens which the liver loves such as broccoli, kale, spinach, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Adding in some additional herbal support with Liver Love for 2-3 months minimum could also be beneficial to support bile production and detoxification, both essential for healthy estrogen metabolism. 

Heavy periods can drive iron depletion. While a serum ferritin above 20 μg/L is considered in range, I’ve found that clinically most people tend to feel much better when their ferritin is above 50 μg/L and ideally it would sit closer to 80 – 100 μg/L. Consider your intake of iron-rich foods such as red meat, offal and seafoods like mussels and sardines. Supplement with a ferritin-iron supplement like Iconic Iron to restore energy, focus and overall vitality without the gut upset or constipation of typical iron supplements.

Low or no progesterone can contribute to low mood, lousy sleep and heavy periods. Support ovulation and adrenal progesterone production by identifying hidden stressors that may be stealing energy or your body’s perception that it is “unsafe” to ovulate. Support the communication between the pituitary and ovaries (the pituitary sends the signals that drive ovulation) with herbs like paeonia and licorice (found in Cycle Essentials). 

With the right support and some dietary changes, Laura started to feel like herself again. Within a few weeks, her energy improved, her cycle felt more manageable – and life felt lighter.

If you’re exhausted, dealing with heavy periods, or wondering whether low iron might be affecting you more than you realise – it could be time to take a closer look.