For nearly 30 years, Jess lived with severe menstrual pain that affected nearly every part of her life. From the time she got her first period at age 12, her cycles were so painful that she would spend days flat on her back, crying and unable to function. At times, her pain reached an 8–10 out of 10, and she regularly missed school and work because of her symptoms.
Over the years, Jess tried many different approaches to manage her menstrual pain, including birth control, ibuprofen and other pain medications, dietary changes, and acupuncture. Birth control was presented as the primary solution, while pain medication only helped her get through the worst days. Despite seeing doctors and gynecologists, she says she was never given a clear explanation for why her periods were so painful or offered meaningful diagnostic testing. She even made significant changes to her diet in an effort to improve her health and find answers on her own.
Eventually, Jess began working with Dr. Alex Heyne and exploring traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese herbal formulas for her menstrual symptoms. She noticed smaller changes within the first three to four months, but after approximately six to seven months, she experienced a dramatic shift in her cycles.
What had once been an 8–10 out of 10 experience involving severe pain, clotting, and multiple days in bed had become significantly more manageable. Jess describes one recent period as “one of the best periods of my life.” Her pain had decreased to around a 3–4 out of 10, she was no longer screaming out in pain, and she noticed improvements in clotting, menstrual blood color, and other cycle-related symptoms.
In this testimonial, Jess shares what it was like to live with debilitating period pain for three decades, why previous approaches had not provided the results she was looking for, and what changed after working with Chinese medicine and herbal formulas. She also discusses why she believes women shouldn’t simply accept severe menstrual pain as something they have to live with.
For Jess, the experience has been a “game changer” and has given her hope that there can be another approach to supporting women’s health and menstrual wellness.
