Helicobacter Pylori - The Case of Menstrual Dysfunction Related To a Bacterial Infection!

A 38 year old woman came to me recently complaining of menstrual irregularities and fatigue. She had menstrual problems dating back to her late twenties, and is frequently experiencing the symptoms of early menopause including mood swings, shortening cycle, and occasional hot flashes. She was trying many herbal remedies to help balance her hormones with minimal success. I began my examination of her medical history and discovered that she also suffered from ongoing digestive problems, especially constipation, bloating, and pain in her upper abdomen. She felt much better when she did not eat, and her use of digestive enzymes seemed to be the only thing that gave her temporary relief against the pressure in her stomach following meals. She was taking Pepcid (as prescribed by her family doctor) for indigestion and had recently had an H. Pylori blood test that was negative for infection. After reviewing her case, I recommended repeating the H. Pylori blood test from BioHealth Diagnostics. The test came back highly elevated. The patient was treated with good success, along with nutrient support for other body systems, and in a short period of time her health improved and cycles began to normalize as the balance to her body was restored.

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterial infection that invades the lining of the stomach and upper intestine. It is commonly associated with ulcer formation, and is a major risk factor for stomach cancer. Typically symptoms of H. pylori manifest as pain and pressure in the stomach region, bloating, distention, and reflux disease (heartburn). Periodically, bad breath not associated with gum disease, and bowel dysfunction such as diarrhea and/or constipation are present. A common finding in someone dealing with this infection is the need for digestive enzymes and antacids. H. pylori can cause reduction of hydrochloric acid (HCL) production in the stomach leading to the inability to adequately digest food, especially protein. Antacids work by reducing the amount of organic acids that are released by partially digested food, as well as neutralize the stomachs production of HCL. Although there are many natural treatments for H. pylori, it is generally recommended that one use antibiotic protocols to eradicate this organism, while using natural supplements such as garlic, colostrum, mastic gum, and lactoferrin as adjunctive therapy.

A common mistake with H. pylori blood testing is inadequate data collection. H. pylori testing can be complex and misleading, and most of the medical literature still debates the most effective means of diagnosis. However, I have had good success with diagnosis based on clinical suspicion, patient history, and the use of specific antibody testing. Antibodies are specific immune chemicals that are produced against bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These antibodies are called immunoglobulins, namely immunoglobulin G (IgG), or immunoglobulin A (IgA). Most medical doctors will only test for IgG against H. pylori sometimes missing the more subtle immune response of the other immunoglobulins as was the case with this patient when I repeated the test using BioHealth Diagnostics. She showed elevated markers of IgA and IgM, but not IgG. Both IgA and IgM are strong indicators of infection.

Helicobacter pylori eradication is an important component in improving overall digestive function as well as total body balance. The human body should always be viewed as a unification of body systems and interrelated physiological function. Our patient had menstrual irregularities and the apparent onset of early menopause because her body was in a state of stress due to a chronic infection. Her hormonal stress response coming from her adrenal system was overtaxed causing an imbalance in female hormones which contributed to her symptoms. Please see my article titled "Adrenal Hormone Balance" for more information. Next month we will explore other sources of infection such as parasites that lead to chronic ill-health and can lead to a women's inability to balance her hormones.