Menstruation is when your body prepares for pregnancy every month. During this process, the lining of your uterus sheds to produce menstrual cycle blood. Menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue.
This comes from the lining of the uterus. Menstrual blood must be discharged when a woman's eggs are not fertilized. According to the U.S. Department of Health Services, the cycle can range from 21 to 35 days, and the bleeding lasts between 2 and 7 days.
Don't be alarmed; to have a period, also known as a "cycle", means your body is working normally. As you transition through puberty and age, your hormone levels will increase.
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Puberty is when adolescents reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction. When you discover your period, this is a sign of puberty that normally starts between the ages of 10-15, depending on the factors.
If you are underweight, exercise a lot, deal with a lot of stress, or even have a hormone imbalance, these can delay your cycle. If you have not been exposed to your period by the age of 16, it is encouraged to consult a doctor.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Menstrual Cycle?
If you ever experience bloody discharge from your vagina and are around the age range mentioned above, you probably have just started your period. Here is a list of symptoms you may experience when exposed to your period.
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Symptoms:
- acne
- abdominal bloating
- soreness in your breast
- back pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- feeling emotional or irritable
- food craving, especially sweets
- clear or white vaginal discharge
From this day forward, you will experience a 28-day cycle every month until you reach menopause. Usually, menopause happens around your mid-40s to mid-50s.
Period-Kit
To maintain menstrual hygiene, women use feminine products such as pads or tampons to absorb menstrual blood. A pad can be placed in the lining of your underwear, and a tampon is inserted into the vagina to catch the blood.
Depending on your preference. You should change your pad/ tampon every 4-6 hours to prevent infections and need medical attention.
In order to take care of your feminine needs when it comes to your period, you should always have a clean pair of underwear, a pad or tampon, wipes, and acetaphetamine (Tylenol) at your disposal.
Deja Clemments, a 23-year-old woman, shares a good rule of thumb she keeps in mind now that she has a period frequently, "I always keep a pad in my purse or in my car just for good measure just in case I start my period. I am always prepared," said Clemments.
Got Cramps?
Cramps can feel like an intense throbbing pain inside your abdomen. If you are searching for some pain relief because you are experiencing painful cramps, you can apply heat to your lower abdomen or even take a hot bath to numb the pain.
In addition, you can take an over-the-counter medicine such as Tylenol to help with the pain. Curtisa Collins, a 24-year-old woman currently on her period, shares how her cramps make her feel.
Collins normally deals with the pain naturally instead of using medicine to cure her cramps. "My period cramps are no joke; I just want to cry right now; it hurts that bad." Collins related her pain to "feeling like something is inside my uterus that isn't supposed to be in there."
Cravings During Your Menstrual Cycle
Hormone changes can cause a drop in blood sugar levels, which leads to sugar cravings. Women tend to crave sweets during their period, and shockingly the most is chocolate.According to research from PLOS, at least 50% of women in the U.S. that menstruate crave chocolate when they first start their periods. Chyna Daniels is a 23-year-old woman who started her period at 11 on her birthday.
Daniel shares what she craves the most when she is on her cycle. "When I'm on my period, I crave chocolate, I always want Snickers, and I don't know why," said Daniels.
Tracking The Progress Of Your Menstrual Cycle
Keep in mind, if you keep with your cycle and document, these records could help you and your doctor track the patterns of your body. Irregular periods can indicate underlying health issues that can be caught in the early stages.
Documentation of your cycle and what happens during it will allow you to remember more things you may forget when consulting with your healthcare provider.
Georgie Fill, a 22-year-old woman who has tracked her period since she was 15 years old, shares how she tracks her pattern. Fill has been tracking her period with an app called Flo since February of this year.
Flo is a cycle and ovulation calendar that can be downloaded from the Google or Apple play store. "I used to mark my calendar, but I use Flo to track my period because my best friend used the app and recommended me to use it. I've been using it ever since," said Fill.
If you ever experience any unknown patterns with your cycle, it is highly suggested you see your Gynecologist. Gynecologists specialize in the female reproductive system.
It is important to have a relationship with your Gynecologist to maintain good reproductive and vaginal health.
