Menstruation – not as scary as it seems (just not in blue!)

What is menstruation?

The menstrual cycle has one main goal: to prepare the body for a potential pregnancy. During the cycle, the uterine lining thickens – the endometrium grows additional layers to create a friendly environment in which a fertilized egg can develop. If fertilization does not occur, a reset occurs and the whole process starts over. The body works at full speed, although not always “like clockwork” – it is commonly believed that the standard cycle length is 28 days, but this is rather conventional information. Some sources indicate that the acceptable range is from 21 to 35 days. The length of the cycle can be influenced by various factors, including:

• stress, high emotional tension,
• infections (colds),
• intense lifestyle,
• irregular circadian rhythm,
• improper diet,
• climate change,
• hormonal disorders.

The real storm of hormones that takes place in the body at this time can significantly affect our well-being and even appearance. What starts a few days before menstruation and brings to mind weakness, fatigue, nervousness and a particular appetite for sweets? We are of course talking about premenstrual syndrome (PMS) . It is most often accompanied by:

• lower abdominal pain, sometimes also back pain (pelvic muscle relaxation exercises can help relieve this pain – relaxing yoga is a great option!),
• irritability,
• increased appetite,
• a feeling of swelling caused by water retention in the body (little tip: add parsley to your favorite smoothie; also slow down – allow yourself to relax more than usual!),
• headaches, muscle pain and chest pain (if they are unbearable and home remedies fail, it is worth reaching for pharmaceuticals).

The first period, or menarche , is the culmination of puberty – in our latitude, it most often occurs in people aged 12 or 13. It is not without reason that I emphasize the location on the world map – it has a large impact on the age at which menarche usually occurs. It is preceded by a series of changes in the body – both in appearance (breasts grow, hips round) and in the psyche (during puberty, our personality is shaped, awareness of cause-effect chains increases, and so on). The first period is therefore a turning point in puberty and adolescence – for it to occur, however, the body must meet several conditions. One of them is the so-called critical body mass (BMI), i.e. achieving the appropriate weight-to-height ratio. The menstrual cycle is regulated within the first 5 years after menarche.

Stopping your menstrual cycle between the ages of 45 and 55 is a sign that you have entered the menopause stage , also known as climacteric or menopause. This means that eggs are no longer produced, so you can no longer get pregnant. Menopause is sometimes accompanied by symptoms such as hot flashes, anxiety and depression caused by hormonal changes, difficulty sleeping, and chronic fatigue.

Secrets of the menstrual cycle

"Don't bother her, her period is coming", "don't approach her without a stick", "why are you so sensitive, are you on your period?" - well, menstruation doesn't have a very good reputation. It's no wonder - the first thing we associate a period with is the sight of blood and pain, often excluding us from the normal rhythm of life.

The cycle is divided into 4 main phases – it is worth knowing what happens in each of them to better understand the whole process and give your body the respect and care it deserves during this time. These are: menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase.

Menstruation

The first day of menstrual bleeding is also the first day of a new menstrual cycle and the beginning of the follicular phase. During menstruation, the uterus clears itself of built-up layers, which results in the expulsion of menstrual fluid from the genital tract. Blood is the only component of this fluid - in addition to blood, it contains fragments of the uterine mucosa and vaginal epithelial cells.

The length of bleeding depends on many factors, but periods lasting from 3 to 7 days are considered normal. It is assumed that during a period, 100 ml of menstrual fluid is lost, of which 30 to 50 ml is blood. Heavy periods , during which more than 150 ml of menstrual fluid is lost, may be physiologically determined or indicate irregularities in the cycle.

Follicular phase

During the follicular phase, ovarian follicles appear in the ovaries. Their development is stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), produced in the pituitary gland. The follicles themselves begin to produce more estrogen, which increases the thickening of the uterine lining. The mucus is abundant, viscous, thin, and stretchy to allow sperm to reach the egg. Towards the end of the follicular phase, under the influence of FSH, a dominant ovarian follicle, called a Graafian follicle, develops.

Ovulation (ovulation)

During this period, under the influence of FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH), the Graafian follicle bursts and the egg is released. The cell then moves to the fallopian tube and is ready for possible fertilization, where it lives for about 1 day. Failure to fertilize results in the death of the egg.Ovulation begins the second phase of the cycle and usually occurs around its 14th day. The previously mentioned factors affecting the length of the cycle can also disrupt ovulation itself and postpone the date of ovulation. In some people, ovulation is accompanied by spotting (usually lasting up to 2 days), lower abdominal pain (which may be caused by contractions of the fallopian tubes) and increased body temperature.

Luteal phase

It usually lasts 14 days. During this time, the so-called corpus luteum develops in the ovary. The body stores nutrients, and progesterone is produced with increased force. If fertilization does not occur, the progesterone level drops, the uterine lining is shed, and vaginal bleeding occurs. On the other hand, if fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum changes into a gestational one – extremely important for maintaining pregnancy in its first weeks. During this period, the corpus luteum produces this hormone until the placenta takes over and starts producing progesterone on its own.

Menstruation: Truths and Myths

No kidding: what's it like with your period?

We already know a bit more about the biological processes that occur in the body during the menstrual cycle. Despite this, menstruation is often associated with a lot of doubts, assumptions and questions that are usually not answered by scientific discourse. It is time to debunk the myths and confirm the facts about menstruation.

• Missed period = pregnancy?

Not necessarily! Many factors can cause periods to stop. Stressful work, cold (weakening of the body), irregular sleep patterns – these are just a few of them. Read our article on menstrual disorders.

• Can hormonal contraception help regulate your cycle?

It's true. Irregular periods are often controlled by gynecologists with hormonal drugs. Contraceptive drugs can reduce heavy bleeding and eliminate other discomforts associated with menstruation.

• Can heavy menstrual bleeding lead to anemia?

Again: it's true! If your bleeding is heavier than usual, lasts longer than 7 days, and your skin becomes paler and drier, and you feel tired and without energy, this may indicate anemia and serious deficiencies.

• You can't get pregnant if you have sex during your period ?

False. Well, you can get pregnant during your period ! Menstrual cycles are shorter - sometimes they last 20 to 22 days. Then ovulation occurs in the last days of bleeding. The risk increases if the cycles are short, but the menstrual bleeding itself lasts a long time.

• During the cycle, one of its phases may not occur: ovulation?

True. Some people experience anovulatory menstrual cycles. The Graafian follicle does not burst, so it does not release an egg. Despite this, the lack of ovulation often does not rule out regular menstruation and is only noticed when the person is trying to get pregnant. Anovulatory cycles can indicate hormonal disorders and diseases of the reproductive organs, so they should be monitored by a doctor and given appropriate pharmacotherapy.

• Should you refrain from physical activity during menstruation?

This is of course false. If you are not experiencing any troublesome symptoms or pain, there are no contraindications to light stretching exercises. Of course, this is not the best time to break records ;) Moderate exercise can, however, ease painful uterine contractions and improve well-being.

You might be interested in an article about menstrual synchrony ?

Menstrual cycle disorders – when to see a doctor?

Even in a completely healthy person, the menstrual cycle may become unstable due to various incidental hormonal disorders or excessive stress. However, it is worth carefully observing each subsequent period in order to "catch" any alarming signals in time and quickly diagnose menstrual cycle pathologies.

You should make an appointment with a gynecologist if:

• Bleeding is irregular and does not occur every month.
• You are concerned about pain associated with menstruation. They are divided into 2 groups: primary and secondary pain. The first is related to hormonal fluctuations and concerns bleeding in the first years of menstruation. Secondary pain is caused by specific factors related to dysfunction of the reproductive organs or inflammation.
• Menstruation is either heavier or lighter than usual.

It is a good idea to consult a doctor about any disturbing symptoms. During menstruation, the body undergoes many changes and complex processes, so it is not surprising that some symptoms can be misleading. Also read our article about diarrhea during your period .

Period is okay!

Once again for the back rows: harmony and understanding are key. Periods shouldn't scare us. It's also wrong to sweep this topic under the carpet, along with all its "charms". And it's definitely wrong to downplay its role! So next time you hear a comment like "Are you on your period? You're nervous!", remember this text and pat yourself on the back. Good job :)