A Korean adult woman calmly organizing her menstrual calendar and symptom records in a sunlit home

Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic · Guide to Menstruation, Pelvis, Vaginitis, Fertility, and Menopause Care

Track changes in your cycle, pain, and other bodily changes in one record

We do not dismiss menstrual pain, abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, vaginitis, fertility issues, or menopausal symptoms as 'common for women.' We first verify the possibility of pregnancy and the need for an OB/GYN evaluation, then categorize the goals of Korean herbal medicine treatment based on changes in menstruation, sleep, digestion, body heat, and fatigue.

2-minute symptom flow summary View Women's Health Column →

Record not only the start date but also changes in flow, pain, and the impact on your daily life.

Days that cannot be explained by a calendar alone

When the cycle is similar but pain and volume change, and sleep and digestion are also affected

Marking only the start date of menstruation removes many changes necessary for medical evaluation. By recording the days of bleeding, frequency of pad/tampon changes, location of pain, response to painkillers, intermenstrual bleeding, discharge, body temperature, sleep, digestion, and fatigue according to the date, the next evaluation and treatment goals become more specific.

How did the timing, volume, and pain of this cycle differ from previous ones?
Are intermenstrual bleeding, dyspareunia, painful urination, painful bowel movements, or discharge present together?
How did sleep, digestion, body heat, and fatigue change before and after pregnancy planning, tests, procedures, or medication?

From symptoms to conditions

Select the current appearance before the name of the disease

Please choose whether your most uncomfortable change currently originates from menstruation, the pelvis, discharge, fertility, or a life transition.

Pain · Cycle · Volume · Intermenstrual bleeding

Menstrual Cycle and Bleeding

Please record not only the start date, but also the duration and amount of bleeding, the location of pain, any changes from previous cycles, and the possibility of pregnancy.

AmenorrheaWhen menstruation does not occur even after the expected date Abnormal Uterine BleedingBleeding between periods, after sexual intercourse, or after menopause Irregular MenstruationWhen the cycle becomes too late or too early to be predictable Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)When mood swings, edema, or headaches before menstruation disrupt daily life Menstrual CrampsWhen menstrual pain suddenly worsens or disrupts daily activities Implantation BleedingWhen light bleeding occurs alongside the possibility of pregnancy

Endometriosis · Adenomyosis · Fibroids · Ovarian Cysts

Pelvic Pain and Structural Disorders

Connect non-menstrual pain, pain during intercourse, urination, or bowel movements, feelings of pressure, ultrasound results, and fertility plans.

Ovarian CystWhen checking for ovarian cysts and one-sided pelvic pain Uterine FibroidsWhen inquiring about the location of fibroids and associated bleeding or pressure EndometriosisWhen non-menstrual pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, or pain during bowel movements persist AdenomyosisWhen severe menstrual cramps and excessive bleeding occur together

Vaginitis · Odor · Itching · Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Discharge, Itching, and Infection

Rather than determining the bacteria or cause based on symptoms alone, we distinguish based on test results, recurrence intervals, response to antibiotics or antifungals, and the necessity of partner treatment.

Pelvic Inflammatory DiseaseWhen fever, discharge, and pelvic pain occur together Chronic VaginitisWhen vaginitis symptoms recur even after treatment Bacterial VaginosisWhen odor and watery discharge recur VaginitisWhen you want to distinguish the cause of discharge, odor, or itching Candida VaginitisWhen severe itching or stinging recurs TrichomoniasisWhen STI testing and partner treatment are necessary

Ovulation · Ovarian Reserve · Infertility · Menopause · Postpartum

Fertility, Pregnancy Preparation, and Life Transitions

Rather than judging the possibility of pregnancy based on a single value, we sequentially check test and procedure schedules, medication, sleep, digestion, fatigue, and the burden of recovery.

Menopause · PostmenopauseWhen flushing, night sweats, insomnia, and dryness occur together Diminished Ovarian ReserveWhen interpreting AMH, AFC, and ovarian stimulation response InfertilityWhen organizing the period of trying to conceive and tests for both partners Polycystic Ovary SyndromeWhen concerned about irregular menstruation, acne, weight changes, and ovulation Recurrent MiscarriageWhen organizing tests after recurrent miscarriages and planning the next pregnancy Postpartum Wind Syndrome (Sanhu-pung)When pain, coldness, and fatigue after childbirth do not recover IVF PreparationWhen checking the IVF schedule and medication together Threatened MiscarriageWhen checking for priority medical evaluation for bleeding or pain during pregnancy Breast EngorgementWhen distinguishing between breast pain, heat sensation, and fever during breastfeeding Premature MenopauseWhen concerned about early amenorrhea, flushing, and decreased ovarian function

Criteria to record before your appointment

Changes this month determine the next steps for testing and treatment

This is a comparison and recording guide to help you organize bleeding amount, pain, discharge, pregnancy plans, and test results according to your daily life.

View Women's Health Column →

01 · Menstruation Records

Beyond the start date on a period calendar, what should I track to help with treatment?

Tracking your period is not a homework assignment to fill in blanks. You should record the sequence in which bleeding and pain begin, the discomfort that remains after taking painkillers, and the recovery after menstruation ends to clarify the direction of tests and Korean medicine treatment.

02 · Bleeding Safety

When menstrual flow increases, how are the causes and treatments of excessive bleeding categorized?

Excessive bleeding is not just about the number of sanitary products used. To determine the necessary tests and the role of Korean medicine treatment, we must look at how bleeding disrupts your daily life, as well as anemia, pain, and underlying causes such as uterine fibroids or adenomyosis.

03 · Menstrual Cramps

When painkillers work but the pain worsens every month: Criteria for combining Korean herbal medicine treatment

Enduring for a few hours with painkillers is different from the menstrual cramps themselves becoming milder. We identify the role of Korean medicine treatment by looking not only at whether the medication works, but also at when the pain begins and symptoms that occur outside of menstruation.

04 · Pelvic Pain

Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and Uterine Fibroids: How do the pain and bleeding differ?

All three conditions can cause menstrual cramps and excessive bleeding, but they differ in the scenarios where pain occurs, the feeling of pelvic pressure, and the locations identified through imaging tests. Understanding these differences allows for a specific plan on how to treat remaining symptoms after testing.

Korean herbal medicine treatment that respects medical tests and reproductive plans

Prescription goals are determined by a combination of bleeding, pain, cold/heat sensations, sleep, digestion, and fatigue

We maintain gynecological diagnoses and treatments, infection control, infertility procedures, and hormone prescriptions. When menstrual and pelvic discomfort recur chronically and overall physical condition fluctuates during this process, a Korean medicine evaluation is used to categorize the actual combination of symptoms and track comparable indicators.

Starting Point of Pattern Identification

Severe pain or bleeding with a possibility of pregnancy, sudden excessive bleeding with a feeling of fainting, pelvic pain accompanied by high fever or chills, and postmenopausal bleeding require a prompt face-to-face medical evaluation before consulting on Korean herbal medicine.

Axes to be regulated in Korean herbal medicine treatment

Menstrual and bodily clues are divided into five categories

Cold Response · Qi and Blood Deficiency

When coldness and fatigue are severe and recovery after pain is slow

We check for cold sensations in the hands, feet, and lower abdomen, paleness, dizziness, and whether appetite and energy drop during periods of bleeding or pain.

Qi Stagnation · Tension

When the menstrual cycle and chest/abdominal tightness fluctuate following stress

We examine cycle changes following lack of sleep, shift work, or tension, as well as chest tightness, abdominal bloating, and emotional changes in chronological order.

Blood Stasis · Pain

When fixed pelvic pain and blood clots or pressure recur

We verify the location of pain, duration before and after menstruation, amount of bleeding, structural diseases confirmed by ultrasound, and the response to treatment.

Damp-Heat · Secretions

When itching, odor, heat sensations, and discharge recur

After identifying the cause through testing, we check the timing of recurrence, response to antibacterial and antifungal treatments, and the relationship with blood glucose, antibiotics, and menstruation.

Yin deficiency and upward heat

When flushing, night sweats, dryness, and insomnia occur together

We first evaluate the menopausal stage and medication possibilities, then record the duration of heat sensations, nighttime awakenings, vaginal dryness, and changes in heart rate.

You may consider a consultation in these cases

When menstrual or pelvic discomfort repeats chronically even after necessary tests and treatments
When you wish to manage sleep, digestion, fatigue, and discomfort during the process while maintaining hormone or infertility treatment schedules
When you wish to systematically track the recurrence interval and systemic worsening conditions even after treating the cause of vaginitis

Things to check during the consultation

Start date, duration of bleeding, frequency of pad/tampon changes, blood clots, pain, and response to painkillers for the last 3 cycles
Possibility of pregnancy, history of childbirth, surgery, miscarriage, or procedures, and results of ultrasound and blood tests
Full list of hormone medications, painkillers, anticoagulants, antibiotics, antifungals, Korean herbal medicine, and supplements

We review pregnancy-related evaluations, tests or surgeries for structural diseases, antibacterial treatment for infections, and schedules for infertility procedures and menopause treatment to divide and coordinate the scope of Korean herbal medicine treatment. Treatment goals are tracked by specifically defining changes in pain, bleeding, sleep, energy levels, and daily functioning.

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Chief Director Choi Yeon-seung, Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

Medical review of women's health care and content

We ask about the changes this month first, rather than just the cycle numbers

Director Choi Yeon-seung first checks the timing and amount of bleeding, location of pain, history of pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, or procedures, and current medications. While maintaining necessary gynecological evaluations and treatments, we observe whether sleep, digestion, body heat, and fatigue fluctuate in sync with menstruation, and set Korean herbal medicine treatment goals that the patient can compare.

“In women's health care, rather than trying to fit numbers into a normal range, I first ask what has changed from usual. Without replacing medical tests, we must look at bleeding, pain, medication, pregnancy plans, and changes in sleep, digestion, body heat, and fatigue together to clarify the priority of prescriptions and the timing for re-evaluation.”

Chief Director Choi Yeon-seungProviding Korean medicine treatment since 2010

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

View Director's Profile →View Research & Author Information →

Before your consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive Korean medicine treatment even if I have gynecological test results?

Whether it is possible depends on the diagnosis and current treatment. Please share your ultrasound and blood test results, last menstrual period, pregnancy plans, and medications; we will then set goals for concurrent treatment while maintaining your existing care.

When should I get a medical exam first for menstrual pain or irregular periods?

A gynecological evaluation is the priority if pain is new or worsening, if there is pain outside of menstruation, excessive bleeding, dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), dyschezia (pain during bowel movements), or if there is a possibility of pregnancy.

If vaginitis recurs, is it a matter of my constitution?

This cannot be determined by symptoms alone. Since treatments and partner management differ for Candida, bacterial vaginosis, and Trichomonas, we first check test results and previous responses to medication.

If AMH is low, can Korean herbal medicine increase the level?

We do not make such a promise. While AMH is used to judge the response to ovarian stimulation, it cannot independently predict the possibility of natural pregnancy. We provide consultations on discomfort and overall condition during the process without delaying fertility evaluations or procedure schedules.

Can I take Korean herbal medicine while preparing for pregnancy or undergoing IVF?

Individual confirmation is required depending on the stage of the procedure and the prescription. A determination will be made based on the possibility of pregnancy, the schedule for egg retrieval and embryo transfer, and all prescribed medications and supplements, in coordination with your infertility specialist.

Records for your next visit

Please start by recording the date the symptoms began and any changes after treatment

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