How Do You Know If You Are On Your Period

Youre Craving Certain Foods

While it can be a source of comfort to reach for the chocolate box in the days before our periods, theres a perfectly scientific reason for craving certain foods. Once again it all comes down to changes in hormone levels. These hormonal fluctuations can make us crave sweet or salty foods and can affect our appetite at different points in the cycle too.

Sometimes a treat is exactly what we need to pick us up on those difficult days, but keep in mind that maintaining a healthy diet and drinking lots of water can reduce bloating and other PMS symptoms in the lead up to your period.

Signs Of Period Coming But No Period

If you experience signs of period coming but no period, then it may be due to pregnancy.

Pregnancy may cause you to have signs of period Headache and cramps, but no period coming.

If pregnant, you may experience brown spotting before period or sometimes an unusual early light period.

Are you getting tired easily? Do you feel like vomiting? Are you craving for a specific kind of diet? Then its possible you may be pregnant.

Other causes of signs ofperiod coming but no period are stress, weight loss, contraceptive pills, obesity, weight loss, ovarian cyst and polycystic ovarian disease.

Six Weird Little Signs That Your Period Is About To Start

There are lots of little things which will give you the heads up about that time of the month

For most women there is one thing that tells them it’s almost that time of the month – stomach cramps.

Those horrible pains can last for days and apart from some painkillers and a hot water bottle, there isn’t much we can do about them

But it turns out cramps aren’t the only tell-tale sign your period is about to start.

There are actually six other things you can look out for, reports RSVP Live.

Some of them make a lot of sense, but others are slightly more unexpected.

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What Do I Need To Do To Prepare For My First Period

There is nothing in particular you need to do to prepare for your first period, besides having feminine hygiene products and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen on hand. If you happen to get your period with no access to menstrual products, toilet paper will work in an emergency. If you get your first period at school, your teacher or school nurse will have a pantiliner or pad on hand.

There are a variety of menstrual products available to you:

Disposable pads

These absorbent pads have an adhesive backing that sticks to the inside of your underwear. They are available in different lengths and absorbencies, and some have adhesive wings that wrap around the sides of your underwear. Disposable pads should be changed every 4-6 hours and are thrown out after a single use.

Pantiliners

These are small, thin, disposable absorbent pads that can be used on their own on days of light flow. They can also be used in combination with a tampon, in case of leaks or discharge.

Reusable pads

These are usually made of cotton, bamboo, or other natural absorbent fibres, and are often available at health food stores. They can be washed with detergent and reused. Some have velcro tabs to secure them around your underwear.

Tampons

Menstrual cup

Period Sex Has Many Benefitsand One Potential Drawback

Period sex has lots of advantages it can cut down on pain from cramping , and the extra lubrication can make penetration feel even better. Just remember to use a condom if you aren’t sure of your partner’s STI status, because your odds of contracting a sexually transmitted infection are higher at this time of the month.

The microbial population of the vagina will be different during a menstrual period than it will be during a different time in the cycle, Dr. Gersh says. Translation: the acidity of your vagina during shark week is at a point where its easier for microbes to get into your system. Also, cervical mucus might be decreased, so you dont have that layer of protection keeping bugs out.

Your partner is also at higher risk of getting an STI from you. Blood is a vehicle that transmits infections, Dr. Gersh says. Get it on during your period when you’re carrying something, and your flow could end up giving it to your partner.

Read Also: Can I Get A Pap Smear On My Period

You Have Other Symptoms

Maybe youre really not sure whether your cramps are normal or not, but you also experience other related symptoms. Other worrisome symptoms may include:

• Cramps accompanied by nausea or diarrhea
• Pelvic pain at times beside your period
• Spotting between cycles

To evaluate what may be wrong, your healthcare provider may suggest:

• Blood work
• Exploratory laparoscopy
• Pelvic exam with sexually transmitted infection testing
• Pelvic ultrasound

Its important to know that endometriosis can only be diagnosed with exploratory laparoscopy. It cant be ruled with ultrasound or a pelvic exam. However, laparoscopy is an invasive, surgical procedure, so your doctor may not recommend having it unless your symptoms are especially bad.

Sometimes it happens that you see your doctor and are told everything is fine. If your cramps arent interfering with your daily life, this may be reassuring and an acceptable answer. However, if your cramps are making it difficult to work and live, dont accept Youre fine as an answer. Seek out another doctor.

Severe abdominal or pelvic pain may indicate something more serious than your period, like an ectopic pregnancy, toxic shock syndrome, acute PID, or appendicitis.

Secondary Signs Of Ovulation

After learning how to know when your period is over and when you are near ovulation, you need to know the secondary ovulation signs. These signs are inconsistent in most women, including:

• A higher sex drive

• Increased sense of vision, taste, and smell

• Slight cramps or pain on one pelvis side

• Bloating

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How Do I Test My Cervical Mucus

Watching the changes in the amount and consistency of your cervical mucus can help you understand your cycle. Heres how it works: check your secretions before and after urinating by wiping with toilet paper. Alternatively you can insert a clean finger into your vagina to obtain a sample of mucus. Observe the consistency of the mucus, and use this chart to identify where you are in your cycle. Your mucus can be cloudy, white, yellowish, or clear. It can have either a sticky or stretchy consistency. Use your thumb and forefinger to see if the mucus stretches.

You are most fertile on the days when you have abundant, stretchy mucus. This is not a foolproof method to prevent pregnancy.

Other Early Signs Of Pregnancy

These early pregnancy symptoms tend to appear around or after the time that you miss your period, usually sometime between weeks 4 and 9. But again, every woman and every pregnancy is different, so you may not experience these symptoms at all, while other moms-to-be may notice them a little earlier.

Missed period

It might be stating the obvious, but if you’ve missed a period , you’re probably suspecting pregnancy, and for good reason. A missed period is one early pregnancy symptom all expectant moms experience!

Bloating

Having trouble buttoning your jeans? Early pregnancy bloating is hard to distinguish from pre-period bloat, but it’s an early pregnancy symptom that many women feel soon after they conceive.

You can’t blame that puffy, ate-too-much feeling on your baby yet, but you can blame it on the hormone progesterone, which helps slow down digestion, giving the nutrients from foods you eat more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby.

Unfortunately, bloating is often accompanied by constipation. Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet can help keep you regular.

Heartburn and indigestion

For many women, heartburn is a frustrating symptom that can appear sometime around month 2 of pregnancy. Its caused by the hormones progesterone and relaxin, which relax smooth muscle tissues throughout your body, resulting in food moving more slowly through your gastrointestinal tract.

Medications like Tums and Rolaids can help, as can chewing sugarless gum.

Read Also: Can You Have Your Period And Still Be Pregnant

When Do Most Girls Get Their Period

Most girls get their first period when they’re around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl’s body has its own schedule.

There isn’t one right age for a girl to get her period. But there are some clues that it will start soon:

• Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop.
• Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.

How Can Herbal Remedies Help

There are some herbal remedies which can help with symptoms of the menopause and the troublesome periods to go with them.

• Agnus castus Agnus castus is a licensed herbal remedy used to help relieve the symptoms of PMS. In the lead up to the menopause your periods might become heavier and more painful than before due to fluctuations in the hormone oestrogen

• Soy isoflavones Our Menopause Support contains an extract of fermented soya beans, providing phytoestrogenic isoflavones to gently support you through the menopause

• Sage Our Menoforce® Sage tablets is a licensed herbal remedy used to relieve excessive sweating and menopausal hot flushes.

Also Check: Why Do I Have Cramps But No Period

Menstrual Cramps Last Too Long

Its normal for the bleeding during menstruation to last anywhere from two to seven days. Its not normal, however, to have bad period cramps that entire time.

Two or three days of menstrual discomfort is considered to be normal.

Cramps may start the day of or day just before the bleeding starts, but they should not continue all the way until the end of your period. They certainly shouldnt still be there after your period ends.

You Might Be Pregnant Heres How To Tell For Sure

Your last period shouldâve started a week ago, and youâre starting to get worried. Are you just a little late, or is it possible a baby is on the way?

Having a child of your own is a big responsibility, and being overwhelmed at the thought of parenthood is common. In fact, more than a few women enter into denial and intentionally avoid taking a test to confirm their pregnancy. But knowing youâre pregnant for sure is the first step before seeking out the information, resources, and relationships youâll need to thrive during this next season of life. So before you start narrowing down baby names, what are the signs you might be pregnant?

Also Check: Why Is My Period Late And I M Not Pregnant

Whats A Normal Period

Normal periods are different from person to person. They can also change over your lifetime. Periods usually come about once a month. When you first start having your period, the bleeding may last only a few days or be really light .

During your period, its normal to bleed anywhere from 2 to 7 days. It may seem like a lot of blood comes out, but most people only lose about 1-6 tablespoons of blood and tissue during each period. Period blood can be red, brown, or pink. Its also normal for it to be kind of clumpy at times. If your period is so heavy that you have to change maxi pads or super tampons every hour call your doctor or your local Planned Parenthood health center.

During the first few years of your period, it might not always come at the same time every month. You may bleed more or less, or have different PMS symptoms month-to-month. As you get older, periods usually get more regular and itll be easier to know whats normal for you. Learn more about what a normal period is.

Even though its normal to have periods that arent always regular, missing a period can be a sign of pregnancy. If youve had penis-in-vagina sex without using birth control and you skipped your period, take a pregnancy test. Read more about what to do if you miss your period.

Want to track your period? Weve got you. Download our Spot On app.

How Do I Deal With Pms And Cramps

PMS stands for Premenstrual Syndrome. Its when the hormones that control your menstrual cycle cause changes in your body and emotions around the time of your period.

Some of the most common PMS symptoms are:

• Cramps

• Bloating

• Breakouts

• Feeling tired

• Mood swings

Some people get PMS every time they have their periods. Others only get PMS every once in awhile. You may have all or just some PMS symptoms. And some people don’t get PMS at all. Learn more about PMS.

Cramps are one of the most common symptoms to have before/during your period. They can be super painful, or just a little annoying. You can calm cramps by taking pain medicine . Putting a heating pad where it hurts, taking a hot bath, exercising, or stretching your body can also help. Learn more about how to deal with cramps.

Certain types of birth control like the pill, shot, implant, and IUD can help with PMS and other period problems. If your PMS is so bad that its hard to do normal activities during your period, talk to an adult you trust or your family doctor. You can also call your local Planned Parenthood health center. You shouldnt have to suffer every month, and they can help you find the cause and get treatment.

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Yep You Can Get Pregnant If You Have Sex During Your Period

Its very unlikely youll get pregnant while on your period, but it is possible. Though you typically ovulate about 14 days after the start of your period, some people can ovulate unpredictably, Felice Gersh, MD, ob-gyn and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Practice of Irvine, California, tells Health.

Sperm can live inside your reproductive tract for up to seven days, Dr. Gersh says. So if you have sex on the last day of a seven-day period, and your partners sperm is hardy enough to stay alive inside of you for another seven days, suddenly its been 14 days since the start of your periodand you could ovulate and then conceive.

Bottom line: If you don’t want a baby, always use birth control…no matter what time of the month it is.