Teen Period Clinic
Teen Period Clinic
The early years of a girl’s menstrual cycle can shape her relationship with her body for life. For many teens, periods arrive with pain, fatigue, mood changes, digestive disruption, heavy bleeding, acne, headaches or cycles that feel unpredictable. Often these issues are dismissed as “normal” or something to push through.
At NRQi Studio, I see a different opportunity. When support starts early, the body often responds quickly. The Teen Period Clinic is designed to help teens build a steadier cycle, stronger resilience and a calmer monthly rhythm, before unhealthy patterns become entrenched and lead to more complicated health problems later in life.
This clinic runs on Sundays to make it easier to accommodate school schedules, sports commitments and family life.
Feel free to download and print the NRQi Studio Period Tracker so you can help your teen keep track of her cycle to recognise patterns and begin her journey towards rebalancing her body. Complete the chart and bring it with you to your appointments. This enables me to have a very clear understanding of how I can support you and your cycle.
Why I’ve Created a Teen-Focused Clinic
Teen periods are not just a smaller version of adult women’s health. In the early years after experiencing her first period, a girl’s cycle is still maturing. The nervous system is adapting to new hormonal patterns and many girls are also carrying increasing demands from family, school, friends, sport and other extra-curricular activities.
In clinic, I see teens who have lived with symptoms for months or years before getting proper support. Earlier care can matter because it can:
Reduce the intensity of pain and discomfort before it becomes a monthly expectation
Support more stable energy, sleep and mood across the month
Help teens learn how to track patterns so they understand what is happening and what helps
Create a calmer baseline for stress reactivity which often amplifies cycle symptoms
Support recovery and resilience in sporty teens whose training load can interact with cycle regularity and fatigue
Acupuncture supports you through your cycle by working with your body, not against it!
Conditions Supported in the Teen Period Clinic
Period cramps and pelvic pain
Heavy bleeding or long periods
Irregular cycles or long gaps between periods
PMS symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety, tearfulness or irritability
Headaches or migraines linked to the cycle
Fatigue, low mood or poor sleep around the period
Digestive symptoms that worsen premenstrually
Skin flare-ups linked to the cycle
Supporting sporty teens with energy, recovery and cycle stability
If your teen has not started her period yet but is experiencing pre-puberty symptoms, this can also be supported and further discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A Teen Period Clinic appointment is calm, age-appropriate and focused on helping your teen feel safe and understood.
A Typical NRQi Studio Teen Period Clinic Treatment includes:
A health history review and cycle pattern discussion
Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis
A tailored treatment plan which may include acupuncture and other Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies such as cupping, electro acupuncture, gua sha, heat lamp therapy and tui na massage where appropriate. Treatments are discussed thoroughly and require patient consent.
Practical guidance on sleep, stress, nourishment and cycle tracking/monitoring
Please note: Treatment is always adapted to the patient’s comfort level.
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Yes, for safeguarding reasons and patient comfort, all patients under 18 must attend with a parent or carer.
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Acupuncture can be supportive, but some symptoms should be assessed by a GP promptly, especially:
Very heavy bleeding, flooding or frequent soaking through period products
Fainting, severe dizziness, breathlessness or suspected anaemia
Pain that is escalating, persistent outside the period or not responding to usual care
Periods stopping for several months after previously occurring
Any concern about pregnancy, infection or severe mood symptoms
If needed, I can also recommend what to discuss with your GP so you feel clear and confident.
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The Teen Period Clinic runs on Sundays at NRQi Studio. Appointments are limited to keep the clinic calm and unhurried so your teen feels relaxed and supported.
Click the link below for more specific FAQ’s related to acupuncture, Traditional Chinese medicine and your NRQi Studio Visit
Let’s Talk Periods: The Vocabulary
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The words below are commonly used by doctors, schools, and health resources when talking about periods. Knowing the language can help you describe symptoms clearly and get the right support.
Menstrual cycle
The monthly pattern of hormone changes that prepares the body for a possible pregnancy. A cycle is counted from Day 1 of bleeding to the day before the next period starts.Period (menstruation)
The days you bleed. This is when the lining of the uterus sheds.Menarche
Your first period.Cycle length
How many days are in the cycle. For many teens, cycles can be irregular in the first few years after menarche.Ovulation
When an ovary releases an egg. Not every cycle includes ovulation, especially in the first few years of periods.Follicular phase
The first part of the cycle, leading up to ovulation.Luteal phase
The second part of the cycle, after ovulation, leading up to a period.Spotting
Light bleeding between periods, often just a few drops or light staining. -
Dysmenorrhea
Medical term for painful periods. This can include cramps, back pain, nausea, loose stools, or headache around the period.Primary dysmenorrhea
Period pain that is not caused by another condition, often linked to prostaglandins (chemical messengers that trigger uterine contractions).Secondary dysmenorrhea
Period pain linked to an underlying condition (for example endometriosis). This is more likely if pain is severe, worsening over time, or not responding to usual support.Pelvic pain
Pain felt low in the abdomen or pelvis. It can occur during a period, around ovulation, or at other times. -
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)
A practical term for heavy periods that disrupt daily life (for example soaking through pads or tampons regularly, needing to change overnight, or bleeding that lasts unusually long).Menorrhagia
Older medical term often used to describe heavy menstrual bleeding.Clots
Thicker pieces of blood that can appear in heavier flow. Small clots can be normal, but frequent large clots with heavy bleeding may need assessment.Prolonged bleeding
Bleeding that lasts longer than expected, especially if it is heavy or draining.
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Amenorrhea
No periods.Primary amenorrhea: periods have not started by the expected age range.
Secondary amenorrhea: periods started, then stopped for several months.
Oligomenorrhea
Infrequent periods, meaning long gaps between cycles.Polymenorrhea
Frequent periods, meaning cycles that are unusually short.Irregular menstruation
A general term for cycles that vary a lot month to month.Anovulatory cycle
A cycle where ovulation does not happen. This can be more common in early teen years. -
PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
A group of physical and emotional symptoms that happen in the days before a period and ease once bleeding starts. Examples include mood changes, bloating, breast tenderness, acne, cravings, and fatigue.PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)
A more severe form of premenstrual mood symptoms that can significantly affect daily life and relationships. -
Endometriosis
A condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus and can cause significant pain, heavy bleeding and fatigue. It can begin in the teen years.PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
A hormone-related condition that can be associated with irregular periods, acne, excess hair growth and sometimes weight and blood sugar changes.Fibroids
Non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can contribute to heavy bleeding and pressure symptoms. Less common in teens, but sometimes mentioned in discussions about heavy periods.Anaemia (iron deficiency)
Low iron, often caused by heavy bleeding. Signs can include fatigue, dizziness, breathlessness, paleness and headaches.
Nutritional Advice
Because acupuncture supports the whole body, menstrual cycle care works best when it is combined with daily nourishment and steady habits. The food you eat can influence energy, mood, cramps and how smoothly your cycle flows. Click the button below to explore our guidance on nourishing your body with mindfulness and balance to support a healthier cycle.