15 Things you probably didn't know about your period.........
Every month women prepare for the often dreaded
and unwelcome visit from Aunt Flo. This menstrual
blood that flows from the uterus through the cervix
and vagina is a clear sign that the body is working
normally, providing hormones to keep women
healthy. As the body adapts to the menstrual period
— two to seven days — what are external and
physical changes it undergoes?.
1. Periods decrease cognitive ability.
The abdominal pain, backaches, and nausea during
a woman’s period can actually affect how she
thinks and feels, reducing her cognitive ability.
Menstrual cramps can interfere with selective
attention, attention span, and dividing and
switching attention between two task. So,
women’s period pain goes beyond the sensory
experience.
2. It’s not just blood you’re losing.
There is a layer of the uterus that is shed every 28
days or so, along with some blood vessels, which is
why some people’s periods can be messy, says Dr.
Burns.
3. Sugar cravings or carb cravings can be a sign that
you are low on progesterone. Progesterone helps to
regulate blood sugars. Get some blood work done
with your doctor and find out. This can easily be
corrected with supplementation.
4. Heavy bleeding is a tell-tale sign, t
his could be a sign of high estrogen levels.
Estrogen is what is used for the uterus to contract.
Have your hormone levels checked by your
doctor. There are some natural ways to bring
estrogen levels down or make them more efficient.
5. Ibuprofen is your best friend.
Normally ibuprofen can inhibit platelets, so doctors
advise against taking it after surgeries where
bleeding is a problem. In periods, though, the spiral
blood vessels of the uterus actually constrict with
ibuprofen. Even if you don’t have cramping issues,
10mg/kg of ibuprofen can decrease your blood flow,
says Amy Baxter MD , CEO of MMJ Labs.
6. The absence of periods is called amenorrhea. This
can be due to anatomy irregularities or
physiological reasons, like stress or hormones, says,
natural.
If you
don’t get your period for more than three months at
a time, you should have this checked out by a
doctor.
7. Weight matters.
drops below 8-12 percent, their period will stop.
of the estrogen levels in a woman, and without this
estrogen, the body stops menstruating. Low-calorie
diets and inadequate nutrition are big contributors
to this as well.
be similar and show similar hormone receptors. A
2011 study published in the journal Ethology found
men can detect from a woman’s voice whether she
is menstruating. Three groups of men were asked to
listen to voice recordings of women who counted
from one to five during four different points of
their menstrual cycle. They identified the menstrual
voice 35 percent of the time.
longer cycles are less likely to get pregnant, since
ovulation is several days away, decreasing chances
of conceiving during this time. However, women
who have a shorter cycle (21 to 24 days) have a
higher likelihood of getting pregnant while having
sex on their period.
10. The average period releases less
than a cup of blood.
themselves going through boxes of pads and
tampons, but the blood loss isn’t so severe.
Typically, the first two days of the period are the
heaviest, in terms of blood discharge. The average
amount of blood lost each month ranges from a few
tablespoons to a cup.
pad or tampon more than every two hours is
considered outside the normal range and calls for
medical attention.
11. Women can experience vicarious
menstruation.
Normally, women bleed from their uterus during
their periods, but those with vicarious menstruation
can bleed from their eyes, ears, and mouth. A case
report published in The Journal of the American
Medical Association found a young woman who was
suffering from an ulcer on each leg experienced
excessive pain and bled profusely. The edges were
irregular and not inflamed nor raised. Despite
various forms of treatment, the ulcers remained
large during five or six days of menstruation, and
then closed three days later with a smooth,
apparently thin skin.
12. A missing period isn’t always a sign of pregnancy…
but it usually is.
of childbearing age) is pregnancy. But
that's obviously not the only reason it can be MIA. It
could be stress, weight changes, extreme diet or
exercise changes, or a whole host of health conditions
(we'll get to those in a bit). If you're worried about
it, check with your doctor.
13. Any medical condition can mess with your periods.
and thyroid conditions can affect your cycle, says
Streicher. Gynecological conditions like ovarian cysts,
endometriosis, PCOS, and uterine fibroids can also
impact the length and severity of your periods. This
definitely does NOT mean that any weird period issue
is a sign that you have a more serious condition, but
just know that if you have any of these conditions, it
might affect your flow. And again, if you're
diagnosed with any of these conditions, make sure to
talk to your doctor about what that might mean for
your future fertility (even if you have no plans of
getting pregnant just yet).
14. Your period can start changing as early as your late 30sThe average age to go through menopause is 51, but
it's not uncommon to notice some perimenopausal
changes in your late 30s or early 40s.
15. Occassional irregularities are not a big deal, but if your periods is always unpredictabl, It might be a problem for your future fertility. Having wonky periods every now and then isn't usually
a cause for concern. But if you're always irregular,
you should talk to your doctor about it. It might be
the result of a medical issue like a thyroid condition
or PCOS, or it could just be from stress, says Minkin.
The typical treatment is going on hormonal birth
control to keep your periods regular.
Consistently irregular periods may be a sign that
you're not ovulating, so if you think you might ever
want to get pregnant in the future, talk to your
doctor about what your irregularities might mean for
your future fertility — and if there's anything you
should know or do to preserve it.
7. Weight matters.
Some women do not know that when their body fat
This is because fat cells contribute to one-third
estrogen, the body stops menstruating. Low-calorie
diets and inadequate nutrition are big contributors
to this as well.
8. Periods can change the sound of voice. The hormonal changes related to a woman’s
menstrual cycle also alter the sound of her voice.
The cells from the larynx and vagina are believed to
2011 study published in the journal Ethology found
men can detect from a woman’s voice whether she
is menstruating. Three groups of men were asked to
listen to voice recordings of women who counted
from one to five during four different points of
their menstrual cycle. They identified the menstrual
voice 35 percent of the time.
9. Women can get pregnant on their period. Women who feel frisky and have sex on their
period should keep in mind they can still get
pregnant. Women who have typical 28- to 30-day or
ovulation is several days away, decreasing chances
of conceiving during this time. However, women
who have a shorter cycle (21 to 24 days) have a
higher likelihood of getting pregnant while having
sex on their period.
10. The average period releases less
than a cup of blood.
Women may experience a heavy flow and find
tampons, but the blood loss isn’t so severe.
Typically, the first two days of the period are the
heaviest, in terms of blood discharge. The average
amount of blood lost each month ranges from a few
tablespoons to a cup.
Bleeding that leads to changing a soaked
considered outside the normal range and calls for
medical attention.
11. Women can experience vicarious
menstruation.
Normally, women bleed from their uterus during
their periods, but those with vicarious menstruation
can bleed from their eyes, ears, and mouth. A case
report published in The Journal of the American
Medical Association found a young woman who was
suffering from an ulcer on each leg experienced
excessive pain and bled profusely. The edges were
irregular and not inflamed nor raised. Despite
various forms of treatment, the ulcers remained
large during five or six days of menstruation, and
then closed three days later with a smooth,
apparently thin skin.
12. A missing period isn’t always a sign of pregnancy…
but it usually is.
The most common cause of a missing period (if you're
that's obviously not the only reason it can be MIA. It
could be stress, weight changes, extreme diet or
exercise changes, or a whole host of health conditions
(we'll get to those in a bit). If you're worried about
it, check with your doctor.
13. Any medical condition can mess with your periods.
Anything from heart disease and cancer to anorexia
Streicher. Gynecological conditions like ovarian cysts,
endometriosis, PCOS, and uterine fibroids can also
impact the length and severity of your periods. This
definitely does NOT mean that any weird period issue
is a sign that you have a more serious condition, but
just know that if you have any of these conditions, it
might affect your flow. And again, if you're
diagnosed with any of these conditions, make sure to
talk to your doctor about what that might mean for
your future fertility (even if you have no plans of
getting pregnant just yet).
14. Your period can start changing as early as your late 30sThe average age to go through menopause is 51, but
it's not uncommon to notice some perimenopausal
changes in your late 30s or early 40s.
15. Occassional irregularities are not a big deal, but if your periods is always unpredictabl, It might be a problem for your future fertility. Having wonky periods every now and then isn't usually
a cause for concern. But if you're always irregular,
you should talk to your doctor about it. It might be
the result of a medical issue like a thyroid condition
or PCOS, or it could just be from stress, says Minkin.
The typical treatment is going on hormonal birth
control to keep your periods regular.
Consistently irregular periods may be a sign that
you're not ovulating, so if you think you might ever
want to get pregnant in the future, talk to your
doctor about what your irregularities might mean for
your future fertility — and if there's anything you
should know or do to preserve it.
