What was once a taboo to even bring to your lips is slowly becoming normal to discuss and learn more about. It is being taught in schools, in towns, in cities, and in villages. Today, on the 10th anniversary of Menstrual Hygiene Day, we, at Crazy Creatives, are here to discuss this very important part of a naturally occurring process in female bodies.
So what is menstruation or the menstrual cycle? It is a natural but complex cycle controlled by female hormones that cause regular bleeding (also known as periods). This cycle typically has 4 phases: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase.
A menstrual cycle typically is measured from the first day of a period to the first day of the next period and is typically about 28 to 29 days, but every menstruator's cycle is different.
The best known phase of a menstrual cycle is the menstruation (or the bleeding or the period). This is when the menstruator's uterus lining sheds and flows out of the vagina. The average length of this cycle is 3 to 7 days.
The follicular phase typically starts on the first day of the period and lasts for 13 to 14 days, ending in ovulation. This is when the brain releases a hormone to stimulate the production of follicles on the surface of an ovary. As the follicles mature, typically only one ends up in an egg.
This phase leads into ovulation, which is when the matured egg is released from the ovary and moves towards the uterus. This typically happens about 2 weeks before the next period. This is the phase in which a woman usually gets pregnant. Pregnancy can happen in the 5 days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation, but it's more likely in the 3 days leading up to and including ovulation.
The fourth phase of the cycle is the luteal phase where the lining of the uterus thickens in preparation for pregnancy. If a fertilized egg implants in the uterus lining, then hormones keep the lining thickened. If pregnancy does not occur, then the female gets her next period.
Now that we've covered some basic facts about the menstrual cycle, let's address some common myths.
1) Each period happens "on time" each month.
No it does not. Each menstruator is unique and while most menstrual cycles are 28 to 29 days long, they can be anywhere from 20 to 40 days long. Additionally, depending on hormone levels, health and wellbeing, stress levels, and other factors, a cycle could end up being longer or shorter.
2) The pain of a period is "just like" any other common pain.
It is not. Each woman and each cycle is different. Sometimes a woman may feel no pain at all. Other times it is so severe that a woman takes a day or two off work and curls up in bed willing the pain away. Painkillers may or may not help. This condition even has a medical name: dysmenorrhea.
3) It's just a tantrum, she's PMSing.
A menstrual cycle and the period causes many hormonal changes in our bodies. It is not simply "feelings". Imagine the shock your system would feel if you go from feeling happy to suddenly wanting to cry. While it does happen on a monthly basis, it is not okay to write off the feeling as just hormonal changes. The hormonal changes are causing many important changes in our body...each month.
4) Period blood is dirty blood.
This is both a myth and a superstition/belief, but we are only addressing the myth here.
Period blood is evolved vaginal secretion - there's some blood, uterine tissue, mucus lining, and bacteria. But this doesn't mean the conditions are less than ideal in the vagina. The period blood is simply less concentrated blood and has fewer blood cells than ordinary blood.
5) Periods are a personal issue.
Periods are a humanitarian crisis to the point that, in 2014, the UN declared that menstrual hygiene was a public health issue. Even today, many people don't have access to the proper hygiene, resources, and support needed for periods. In India, as an example, girls miss school 1 to 2 days every month because of their periods, which can affect their education and future.
6) There's no bleeding when in the shower or swimming.
This isn't true. Swimming or soaking in a bathtub simply reduces the flow because of water pressure. Women can swim even on their period, they just wear a menstrual cup or tampon instead of a pad.
We're sure that at some point there has been a very important question revolving in your mind about menstrual cycles but you were either too embarrassed to ask it or didn't know where to turn. Well, no fear because the Crazy Creatives are here! Today, we will do our best to answer some of those burning questions that have plagued your mind.
Q: What does a period feel like?
A: The actual flow of a period doesn't feel like much when it is happening. Once in a while, there might be a dampness or a feeling that you "peed" your pants if you have some violent reaction (like a sneeze, coughing, laughing, etc.), but otherwise the bleeding doesn't have much feeling. But a period does hurt.
Q: What does the period pain feel like?
A: It depends from woman to woman. Some common pains are cramps, stomach aches, back aches, body aches, head aches, and more. For some people, the aches are so bad that it can be difficult to even do the basic day-to-day movements like showering, eating, walking around the house, etc. Stomach aches can be comparative to someone punching you in the stomach and head aches as if someone is drilling in your skull. Depending on the uterus placement in the body, a woman may get stomach aches or back aches. Remember, the pain doesn't have to happen each month and each month a woman may not feel the same pain either.
Q: Does a period smell?
A: It shouldn't! Menstrual odor happens when the menstrual fluid comes in contact with air so while it's in the body or coming out of the body, it typically shouldn't have an odor.
Q: How much blood is lost during the period?
A: Most females lose about 1/4 cup of menstrual fluid during their periods (mostly in the first few days). Sometimes a woman may have a "heavier" period or a "lighter" period, but this is an average amount. And the body more than makes up for it.
Q: Is there anything a female cannot do on their period?
A: Yes. A woman cannot stop the judgment and prejudice even when they are on their period. Fortunately, apart from that a woman can still do everything they always do and everything they want to do.
Q: When do the periods stop overall?
A: Typically women get their periods until menopause, which is when menstruation and the ability to have children stops. This usually happens anywhere from the late 40s to the early 50s (in terms of age), but it can happen earlier or later.
Q: Why are there different sizes in tampons and pads?
A: The different sizes cater to the bleeding levels. For heavier bleeding, you have thicker pads or tampons. For lighter bleeding, you have thinner pads or tampons. Even though the bleeding may vary, it is still recommended that tampons or pads be changed every couple of hours for health and hygienic reasons. It is not good for the body and the vagina to wear a thicker pad simply to change it less.
Q: Why do women love chocolates and other junk foods during their periods?
A: While this question doesn't have a scientific answer (there's a lot about a period that doctors still don't understand), the consensus is that it has to do with hormones and cravings. The belief is that during the period, hormones are not allowing a woman to control her cravings as well as she can when she isn't on the periods (similar to cravings during pregnancies).
We hope that we were able to educate all of you on some of the basics of the menstrual cycle and, in particular, periods. As the world celebrates the 10th anniversary of Menstrual Hygiene Day come together and help the women in your families and all around feel supported and cared for! Make a difference and spread menstrual awareness!
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