Is the Modern Day Lifestyle Friendly to Women’s Reproductive Health

 

by Michelle Oravitz, AP, L.Ac, FABORM

One of the core concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the concept of the Yin and Yang. The Yin and Yang are two polar opposite qualities that work together in order to support all of life. The Yin is represented as dark, cool, inert, moist, stable, dense, and feminine while the Yang is represented as light, hot, active, dry, moving, expansive, and male. The sperm and egg are a wonderful depiction of the yin and yang, which contain a bit of both within one another. The sperm is extremely active and fast moving, yet it is enveloped and protected by a moist, yin fluid. The egg is stable and travels very slowly, while containing hundreds of thousands of mitochondria which are loaded and prepared to exert a lot of yang energy upon fertilization. This shows that both Yin and Yang are not only necessary for the whole, but they each contain a bit of each other and need to in order to work in harmony.

By nature, women tend to embody more Yin qualities, while men embody more Yang qualities, but both still hold a combination of Yin and Yang qualities. The body needs both complementary forces of the Yin and Yang in order to thrive. Conventional medicine acknowledges this as well, but refers to it as homeostasis. We can see that nature embodies those same balances through day and night where nature needs both in order to thrive. We can also witness in nature that it has cycle changes and pulses of opposing elements that oscillate in order to support the whole. Examples are waves receding and moving forward, heartbeats, trees moving from blooming to receding and back again in reflection to the seasons, which also pulse shift throughout the year.

In our current modern times, we have a predominantly Yang state due to constant motion, information, noise, distraction, and demands. This can cause our body's yin qualities to burn out, contributing to lack of sleep, depletion of energy stores, irritability, and possibly further symptoms such as reproductive disharmony which can lead to irregular cycles and fertility challenges. These symptoms are a way for our bodies to signal to us that they are seeking balance - specifically Yin and Yang balance.

What I Often See at My Work:

I often see women who are very successful in the workplace because they have put a lot of effort into 'doing'. While their achievements are incredibly impressive, they share that even prior to trying to conceive they have at times experienced anxiety, irregular cycles, insomnia, hair loss, and a general feeling of being disconnected from their emotions due to a need to put on a strong face at work. Women also have rhythms that are different from those of men's 24 hour cycle. Women shift and change throughout their monthly cycles. TCM views the nature of the cycle phases to be similar to those of seasons, and they shift with Yin and Yang qualities. This can impact how a woman feels and what her body needs throughout the phases of her cycle.

I remember my personal journey when working at a corporate job in NYC and having to navigate irregular cycles and extremely painful periods. I would have to just shut down my body, cry, pop painkillers, and move on. But is this the way our bodies were meant to adapt? After my own discovery of TCM and how its philosophy is not to ignore the body's natural processes, but to address them, I realize that our symptoms often arise from our conditioned response to ignore our bodies. I'll say it again - our bodies communicate symptoms to us in order to get our attention that something in our actions or environment needs to change. If we ignore those symptoms, they will persist and if unaddressed, they may turn to a chronic condition.

Let's Be Honest, We Can't Always Change Our World

While we can't always change many things in our lives, we can find ways to be proactive so that we can counter many elements that may throw our bodies out of alignment. Women in particular can learn more about the phases of their cycles and how to enter a more Yin state if they are feeling burnt out by an active and Yang lifestyle. When they become aware of that, they can work on ways outside of work to counteract some of the stressors that come their way. Here are a few ways to incorporate a self care routine that supports women's cycles:

  1. Begin charting your cycle so that you can understand how your cycle influences your productivity vs rest phases. Keep in mind:
    • During your menses: rest, eat warm foods like bone broth and stews, avoid intense activity.
    • Follicular phase: great time to start projects, eat healthy fats, proteins, and cooked greens.
    • Ovulation phase: high energy and confidence, ideal for meetings, support with proteins and orange foods.
    • Luteal phase: wind down, finish projects, eat proteins and complex carbs.
  2. Listen to your body when it comes to exercising. Don't overdo it when feeling depleted. Restorative or yin yoga may be better.
  3. Have an evening routine: shower, use calming oils, wear blue-light glasses, dim lights before bed.
  4. Consider adding a meditation practice: meditation increases body awareness and supports hormonal balance.
  5. Do breathing exercises:
    • For a Yin state: exhale longer than you inhale.
    • For a Yang state: inhale longer than you exhale.

Conclusion:

As mentioned before, while we can't always change our circumstances, we can still empower ourselves when we recognize how our bodies are feeling and counteract any outside imbalances with a self care routine. Becoming more aware of our monthly rhythms and cycles, and honoring to the best of our abilities the different phases, can make a tremendous impact on how our bodies respond. As long as we are aware and listen to our body's communication with us, we are able to take back our power and support our cycles.

Michelle Oravitz, AP, L.Ac, FABORM is a licensed acupuncturist, fertility coach, and founder of The Wholesome Lotus. After healing her own menstrual challenges through Traditional Chinese Medicine, Michelle dedicated her life to helping women reconnect with their cycles, restore balance, and awaken their innate reproductive vitality. She is the author of The Way of Fertility and host of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, where she shares ancient wisdom and expert insights for the modern fertility journey.

 
Be/WellUWM Editorswomen's health, reproductive health