Your Breasts Are Way More Sensitive Around Your Period
When you are about to start your period or you are on it, you may notice that your breasts, specifically your nipples, are more sensitive than usual. You may be super tender and any slight touch might be painful, but it’s totally normal. Things should go back to how they usually are within a few days.
When You Have Your Period You Could Literally Start Tripping
It’s normal to feel somewhat off when you start your menstrual cycle. After all, your body is going through a lot, and with all the pain, pimples, and cravings coming your way, you might not feel like yourself for a few days when you have your period. However, did you know what when you have your period, your body might cause you to be clumsier? As strange as it sounds, it’s true.
Gynecologist Alyssa Dweck, MD, who teaches at the department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, told Health that feeling off while walking is “not an uncommon complaint from my patients.” Yes, your period can make you clumsy. “It might be because of increased fatigue during this time, water retention that’s throwing your center of gravity off, or the hormonal imbalance,” Dweck shared. Additionally, all that water retention during your period might make your contacts fit differently, which doesn’t exactly help your balance either.
You May Be More Susceptible To Yeast Infections
The pH of your vagina changes before your period and when you start bleeding, explains Dr. Dweck, which makes some women prone to an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria during this time. This can lead to yeast or bacterial infections.
Get relief: If you suffer from recurrent infections around your period, your doc will assume a pH imbalance is the cause and can prescribe hormonal birth control to help level things out. Also be aware that other things besides pH can contribute to a rise in infections, like poor eating habits , and leaving tampons in too long. So can using heavily fragranced feminine washes or soaps. Reminder: You don’t need to wash your vagina, so toss any douches, sprays, or wipes you’ve been using down there.
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How Often Should I Change My Pad Tampon Menstrual Cup Sponge Or Period Panties
Follow the instructions that came with your period product. Try to change or rinse your feminine hygiene product before it becomes soaked through or full.
- Most women change their pads every few hours.
- A tampon should not be worn for more than 8 hours because of the risk of toxic shock syndrome
- Menstrual cups and sponges may only need to be rinsed once or twice a day.
- Period panties can usually last about a day, depending on the style and your flow.
Use a product appropriate in size and absorbency for your menstrual bleeding. The amount of menstrual blood usually changes during a period. Some women use different products on different days of their period, depending on how heavy or light the bleeding is.
How Long Is A Typical Menstrual Cycle
The typical menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but each woman is different.2 Also, a womans menstrual cycle length might be different from month-to-month. Your periods are still regular if they usually come every 24 to 38 days.3 This means that the time from the first day of your last period up to the start of your next period is at least 24 days but not more than 38 days.
Some womens periods are so regular that they can predict the day and time that their periods will start. Other women are regular but can only predict the start of their period within a few days.
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There May Be Plenty Of Cravings When You Have Your Period
The age-old stereotype of a woman pigging out on chocolate when she gets her period might be dated, but it also might hold some truth. If you’ve found yourself craving certain foods when you have your period, then you can thank your menstrual cycle and your hormones for that.
As it turns out, there is an important reason why you may experience increased cravings before you get your period and while you have it. According to registered dietitian and You Versus Food host Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, you typically crave unhealthy foods as an emotional response to what’s happening during your period. “The crashing of estrogen and progesterone cause our mood-boosting chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, to plummet, making food an easy solution to help us turn that frown upside-down,” Beckerman told Well + Good. And really, one chocolate bar or scoop of ice cream isn’t going to kill you, so just go for it. You definitely deserve it when you’re on your period.
Comprehensive Explanation Of The Menstrual Cycle:
The menstrual cycle has three phases:
1. Follicular Phase
This phase of the menstrual cycle occurs from approximately day 1-14. Day 1 is the first day of bright red bleeding, and the end of this phase is marked by ovulation. While menstrual bleeding does happen in the early part of this phase, the ovaries are simultaneously preparing to ovulate again. The pituitary gland releases a hormone called FSH follicle stimulating hormone. This hormone causes several follicles to rise on the surface of the ovary. These fluid filled bumps each contain an egg. Eventually, one of these follicle becomes dominant and within it develops a single mature egg the other follicles shrink back. If more than one follicle reaches maturity, this can lead to twins or more. The maturing follicle produces the hormone estrogen, which increases over the follicular phase and peaks in the day or two prior to ovulation. The lining of the uterus becomes thicker and more enriched with blood in the second part of this phase , in response to increasing levels of estrogen. High levels of estrogen stimulate the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone , which in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete luteinizing hormone . On about day 12, surges in LH and FSH cause the egg to be released from the follicle. The surge in LH also causes a brief surge in testosterone, which increases sex drive, right at the most fertile time of the cycle.
2. Ovulatory Phase
3. Luteal Phase
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You See Blood Clots When You Go To The Bathroom
On top of having to deal with blood during your period, you may see some bloody clumps when you are changing your tampon or pad don’t worry, it’s totally normal. Blood clots is caused by your uterus shedding it’s lining, which consists of coagulated blood, mucus, and developed tissue. All this leaves your body during your cycle.
I know, gross, but we all experience these things. You need to know what’s normal and what isn’t, so if you start noticing that you are seeing blood clots past the first day or two of your period, then you may want to consult your doctor to make sure everything’s fine.
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Don’t panic if you notice brown discharge typically this happens when your uterus is expelling the first few bits or last little bits of period blood, causing your discharge to have a brown tint to it. Completely normal.
But keep in mind: if you experience green, yellow, or a strong-smelling discharge, definitely consult your doctor to make sure everything’s healthy down there. Things like yeast infections and other conditions can cause discharge that you’ll need to clear up with medication.
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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.
When You Have Your Period This Is What Happens To Your Body
Whether you dread your period’s arrival each month or celebrate it and what your menstrual cycle means for your health, it’s a tricky little thing to deal with and keep track of. But no matter how you feel about your period, there are certain physical and emotional effects it has on your body that you just can’t deny.
Most women can remember exactly how old they were, where they were, and how they felt when they got their first period. A lot of times, it can be scary for pre-teens or teens. As explained by the Office on Women’s Health, your period kicks off your menstrual cycle when the lining of your uterus begins to shed. It sounds intense, but there’s actually more happening to your body than just some shedding. In fact, when you have your period, there’s a lot that’s going on in your body. While every menstruating woman’s experience may differ, here’s what can happen when you have your period.
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How To Clean Up Afterward
In general, cleaning up after period masturbation or sex follows a similar process as cleaning up after sex when not menstruating.
First, a person should wash their vulva with warm water. If a partner or partners took part, they should also wash their genitals in the same way. If a sex toy was part of the experience, a person should wash this as per the manufacturers instructions.
If blood gets on clothing or bed sheets, a person can rinse the stain through with cold water as soon as is convenient. This will make it easier to remove. Do not use hot water.
Scrape off any excess with a blunt knife, and wash the fabric in lukewarm water with laundry detergent. An enzyme-based stain remover may also help.
When Do Periods Start
Most young people will have their first periods when theyre between 11 and 14½, but anywhere from 9-16 years is considered normal.
Periods are likely to start soon if your child has:
- had a major growth spurt
- grown some underarm and pubic hair
- developed breasts.
If your child hasnt started their period by the time they turn 16, its a good idea to talk with your childs GP. There can be many reasons why periods havent started by then, and the GP can help to rule out any serious problems.
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You May Be More Susceptible To Yeast Infections During Your Period
Yeast infections are bad enough, but to get them during a period is worse. Apparently this is common for many women. As Dr. Elizabeth Boham, family functional medicine physician, wrote for Mind Body Green, “On top of the cramping and bleeding of their monthly cycle, they also get hit with symptoms of itching and burning in the vaginal area and a white clumpy discharge.”
Researchers aren’t sure why yeast infections are more common during menstruation. “It may be from changes in the vaginal pH that can occur when there are shifts in hormones,” the doctor wrote. “Another theory is that when estrogen levels increase in the body, yeast cells have an easier time growing and staying in the vaginal area.”
There are steps you can take to avoid the yeast-period combination. Dr. Boham said to start with proper nutrition, avoiding alcohol, simple sugars, and refined carbohydrates because these foods will “feed the yeast that can result in an infection. Focus on other ways to tame the cravings by focusing on self-care.” She also said not to douche, avoid unnecessary antibiotics, and consider taking a probiotic.
What Causes A Period
A period happens because of changes in in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the female hormones and . These hormones cause the lining of the uterus to build up. The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to and start developing. If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. Then the same process happens all over again.
It usually takes about a month for the lining to build up, then break down. That is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.
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Symptoms That Raise A Red Flag
While there are a range of normal symptoms that may be part of your personal menstrual cycle, there are a few that should prompt you to call your doctor in case theyre a sign of something else. If someone has debilitating pain during their menstrual cyclemeaning pain that limits your normal activitiesit could be a marker for things like endometriosis, says Dr. Cron. Other reasons to ring your physician would be intermenstrual bleeding, meaning bleeding between periods, and excessively long or excessively heavy bleeding. For these things women should seek help, Dr. Cron urges. Learn more about the things your first period can reveal about your health.
As You Wait For Your First Period You May Have Lots Of Questions About What Will Happen What Will It Feel Like What Do I Need To Do To Prepare How Do I Use A Tampon
Getting your first period is an important milestone in a young womans life. It signals the beginning of a long phase of life that you may be fertile. This means that if you have sexual contact, you might get pregnant. While you may have learned about menstruation in school, you probably have questions about what to expect. This section is designed to provide you with all the information you need as you approach getting your period for the first time.
Explore Your First Period:
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Mood Changes Before And During Periods
Many people will experience mood changes just before or during the first few days of their periods. These changes can include being a bit irritable or more sensitive, or feeling angry, anxious or even depressed.
This can be hard for your child and the rest of the family to cope with. Giving your child a bit more privacy and space around this time can make it easier for everyone, without making a big deal about it.
If your childs mood changes are upsetting or disrupting their everyday life, they might like to see a health professional, like the GP.