Almost every woman of reproductive age has periods. However, many of them still don't know what periods are and how they affect their lives. Being aware of information about menstruation can help you understand your condition more and seek medical attention if something goes wrong. In this article, we have gathered eight facts about periods and the menstrual cycle that you should know about.
Many people believe that menstruation consists of blood and nothing more. But the truth is that menstrual blood also contains particles of the endometrium (a tissue that outlines the inner part of the uterus). This endometrial tissue grows and thickens during ovulation and if fertilization doesn't occur, it sheds during periods.
Some people believe that the menstrual cycle should last 28 days. Indeed, this is the average length of the menstrual cycle. However, some women can have periods every 21 to 35 days. Such a length of the menstrual cycle can be deemed normal. If your cycle is much shorter or longer, it is better to make an appointment with a gynecologist to define the exact cause of your condition.
As well as the length of the menstrual cycle, the length of menstruation can also vary from woman to woman. For example, one woman can have periods for 3 days while another woman can have 7-day long menstruation. Both of these figures are completely normal. But in the case of too short or too long periods, you should seek medical attention.
Pain during periods, also known as dysmenorrhea, is familiar to many women of reproductive age. Some women can experience mild pain and discomfort during periods while others can suffer from unbearable pain and severe cramps. If your periods are extremely painful, you should contact your gynecologist since your condition can be caused by certain gynecological disorders.
One of the most common myths about periods is that a woman can't take a bath or swim at that time of the month. However, there is no evidence that swimming or laying in the bath can affect the female reproductive system. The only thing is that you should use a tampon to not let the menstrual blood out.
There is a common misconception that sex during periods can't result in pregnancy. But you should understand that there are a lot of cases in which a woman has conceived exactly during periods. This is because the sperm can remain active for five days in that female reproductive system. So if a woman starts ovulating during these 5 days, she can easily get pregnant
Many people think that pregnancy is the only cause of missed periods. Even though pregnancy is deemed one of the most common causes of missed periods, it is not the only one. This is because there are other factors that can make your periods late. The most common of them include stress, sudden weight changes, excessive exercising, hormonal imbalance, and some gynecological disorders.
Premenstrual syndrome is a collection of symptoms that can affect a woman before periods. Symptoms of PMS can include headaches, pelvic pain, high or low blood pressure, insomnia, mood swings, and others. Some women can have more pronounced signs of PMS while others can experience only mild symptoms or don't have them at all.
