Periods: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Cost, and Side Effects

A period or menstruation is the monthly release of blood and tissues caused due to the shedding of the lining of a girl’s uterus also known as endometrium. During this process a girl’s body prepares itself to support a pregnancy by thickening its wall but when the egg does not fertilize or attach itself to the uterine wall it is discarded and passed out from the body through vagina also known as the birth canal.

Young women, when they reach puberty begin to ovulate, as a result, experience menstruation. Generally a woman's menstrual cycle typically lasts 28 days (beginning on the first day of one period and finishing on the first day of the following period). However, in adolescents, cycles can last anywhere from 21 and 45 days. Anything outside of this range is considered abnormal and may need medical attention.

The duration and intensity of a girl's periods may fluctuate for the first five years after she starts menstruation. Normal menstrual cycles can last up to seven days, although each person's blood flow throughout that time will be different, ranging from heavy to mild. Also, for some people menstruation can be painful with lower abdominal pain or discomfort during this time, as well as spotting or bleeding, while others show no symptoms at all.

A typical symptom related to normal menstruation may exhibit;

• Mood swings
• Trouble sleeping
• Craving for particular food
• Lower abdomen pain
• Back pain
• Abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Breast tenderness
• Acne

On an average, a girl begins her period at the age of around 10 to 12, typically 2 years after her breast development but in some girls it can start at as early as at the age of 8 years or as late as 16 years old. However, when a woman reaches her transitional menopause stage, which typically happens at age 51, her period stops. When you reach menopause, you stop ovulating. One year without periods is considered menopausal state, after which a women looses her ability to get pregnant.

Periods are directly related to the hormonal release and their levels in a woman's body. Your body prepares itself by releasing an egg from your ovaries during the first phase of your cycle. Additionally, it produces more estrogen and progesterone that thickens uterine lining and gets your endometrium ready for a prospective pregnancy.

Ovulation, or the release of an egg, causes your ovary to create the hormone progesterone. Additionally, progesterone maintains your uterus' endometrium 'stable' and prepares it to receive a fertilized egg by helping the uterus get ready for a potential pregnancy. When an egg is fertilized, it travels to the uterus over the following few days, attaches itself to the uterine wall, and begins to develop a placenta that produces hormones.

However, levels of estrogen and progesterone fall if your body hasn't already received a hormonal signal indicating a pregnancy is progressing by that point. This decrease in hormones triggers the production of prostaglandins, which act as hormone analogs and cause your uterus to contract, resulting in your period. The cycle then repeats.

A girl's menstruation might not come on a regular basis during the first few years after she starts having it. At first, this is typical. A girl should start getting her period on a regular interval of time once every 4-5 weeks after 2-3 years from having her first period. You can calculate the next date of your menstrual cycle that is typical for you by noting your start date on a monthly basis for several months in a row.

Yes, even though it's unlikely. If a girl engages in sexual activity without taking contraception, she can become pregnant at any point in her menstrual cycle, including right before or right after the period. Additionally, she can become pregnant if she has never had a period before, during her period, or right after your very first sex.

There is no 'safe' time of the month to engage in unprotected sexual activity without running the risk of getting pregnant. However, there are times during the menstrual cycle when one is most fertile, and this is when one has the highest chance of becoming pregnant.

Periods can last anywhere from 3 to 8 days, although they often last about 5 days. The first two days are usually when bleeding is the heaviest.

Due to changes in hormone levels, each woman's menstrual cycle is unique in length. Due to hormonal changes, the date of your menstruation may vary somewhat from month to month. The typical menstrual cycle for most women lasts 28 days. Although they might be shorter or longer, typical periods last between 21 and 40 days. If a cycle starts 28 +/- 7 days following the start of the preceding menstrual cycle, it is regarded as normal.

Typically in a normal menstruation a person loses between 30 and 40 milliliters of blood per period, which translates to two to three tablespoons (of 14ml) or six teaspoons (of 5ml). However, some studies contend that the real amount might be closer to 60 milliliters, or roughly 4 tablespoons. While that is the average, many women have reported various amounts, from just a spot to nearly two cups (540 ml) in a single period.

Muscle cramps are typically manageable with self-care techniques. Your physician can recommend stretches that will lessen your risk of developing muscular cramps. Maintaining proper hydration is also beneficial. Your doctor might suggest a drug to relax your muscles if you experience frequent cramps that keep you up at night.

These actions may be helpful for cramp relief:

Exercise: This can be the best way to treat any pain or cramps. It is said that physical activity is a natural pain reliever and can help relax and rest.

Massage and stretches: Gently stretch and massage the area to help the tight muscle relax.

Apply cold or heat: Applying heat or cold can help relax tense or cramped muscles. A warm cloth or heating pad can also help. Heating patches can provide discreet, on-the-go pain relief in addition to warm baths or hot showers, which are excellent ways to relieve period pain. Alternately, using ice to the cramped muscle may help to relieve pain.

Take medicines: Given how terrible period cramps are, it should come as no surprise that painkillers are included in the list of treatments. Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). However, it is always recommended to follow the directions on the package or consult a medical professional when using any medications.

Reduce stress: Stress has several negative effects on your health, one of which is a decreased pain threshold. You can get relief from period cramps by reducing your level of stress. Here are some ways to reduce stress:

• Yoga
• Deep breathing exercises
• Meditation
• Counseling

Vitamins and minerals: Since some vitamins and minerals have been shown to help reduce cramps, eating a balanced diet may be yet another strategy to soothe period pain and cramps.Magnesium and vitamin B1, often known as thiamin, may ease cramps during periods. You can take these vitamins and minerals by following a balanced diet that many include magnesium and vitamin B1-rich foods, like;

• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains
• Legumes, including beans, lentils and chickpeas
• Spinach
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Avocado
• Asparagus
• Oranges

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cycle of symptoms that begins one to two weeks before a person's period. In general, these symptoms disappear four days later. Premenstrual symptoms like bloating, headaches, mood swings, sensitive breasts, food cravings, exhaustion, irritability, and despair are reported by more than 90% of women.

While other women may not be bothered by low intensity symptoms, other women may encounter symptoms that are so severe that they must miss work or school. Women who suffer from PMS often are in their 30s.

Although the exact cause of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is unknown, the following factors may be the primary causes:

1. Hormonal change: During pregnancy and menopause, premenstrual syndrome symptoms and symptoms disappear due to hormonal changes.
2. Brain chemistry: Fluctuations in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) known to regulate mood, may cause PMS symptoms. Low serotonin levels may contribute to premenstrual depression, tiredness, food cravings, and sleep problems.
3. Depression: Depression: Although it may not always be the root of all of the symptoms in women with severe premenstrual syndrome, depression may increase your risk of developing PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more severe type of PMS.
4. Lifestyle factors: Your PMS symptoms may be more severe if you engage in certain habits. Following are some possible lifestyle elements that could exacerbate PMS symptoms:
   • Smoking
   • Eating a lot of foods high in fat, sugar, and saltTrusted Source
   • A lack of regular physical activity
   • A lack of quality sleep

Whether it’s a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup, women all around the world have been using them all for a long time. Use of period hygiene products is a personal choice and every product does its job perfectly. Here is a brief description regarding each of them:

One of the first forms of feminine hygiene, sanitary pads, also known as sanitary napkins or menstrual pads, are still widely used today. Pads, which come in a variety of lengths and absorbency levels, are frequently favored by women on days when their periods are light or when they might be spotting in between cycles. For further protection, some women use a tampon in addition to a pad. The drawbacks of sanitary pads include the fact that some women find the product uncomfortable or that it isn't appropriate for particular forms of physical exercise or activity like sports and swimming.

Tampons are the most common option for feminine protection and are frequently chosen by women for more physical freedom during their period. Tampons are available in a range of sizes and absorbency levels, just like sanitary pads. It is advised that women use the least absorbent kind of tampon and change them at least every four to eight hours to control menstrual flow. Tampons are not advised between periods.

There is a common misconception about the usage of tampons and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) that did come into notice in the 1980s, but the main cause of TSS was use of 'hyper absorbable' tampons that were taken off the market, as a result the incidents of TSS fell sharply. You can use tampons with low absorbency without worrying about TSS if you change your tampon on time.

Although menstrual cups have been around for as long as tampons, women do not now frequently use them. Menstruation cups come in two varieties: The first is a disposable cup that mimics a diaphragm and is soft and flexible. The second item is a bell-shaped cup made of silicone or rubber that, after thorough cleaning, can be used once more. Both varieties of menstruation cups are intended to collect menstrual fluid for later disposal rather than to absorb it.