Facts about Menstruation that You Never Know

Things You Need to Know about Menstruation

      Menstruation is a normal and healthy phase for women's life. Roughly half of the US female population, and about 26% of the global population are of reproductive age. Most women have menstruation every month for about 2 to 7 days. But, as always, menstruation is stigmatized around the world.

So, you think you understand all there is to know about menstruation? Think again. No matter how intelligent you are, there's always something that's been off your radar, especially some unusual facts about periods.

The commonly menstruation cycle is 24 to 38 days (womenshealth.gov) The typical menstruation lasts 4 to 8 days. Monthly or regular menstruation is a sign of your normal menstrual cycle. Your physique is working to prepare for the possibility of pregnancy.

Apart from bleeding, 90% of menstruating women experience various signs and symptoms.

Food cravings are one of the most common symptoms. In fact, one study found that almost half of American women crave chocolate at the start of their period.

What Is the Meaning of Menstruation Cycle?

The menstrual cycle doesn't just refer to your period: It starts on the first day you get your period when your ovary releases an egg (ovulation), and your uterus makes a soft, spongy lining in case the egg is fertilized (pregnancy).

It's normal that your cycle is different than your friend's, or even your sister's, cycles that can last from 21 days to more than 35, although Planned Parenthood notes 25 to 30 is the sweet spot for most women, and it's not the same every month.

Interesting Period Facts You Should Know

Here are some interesting menstruation facts you never knew.

All Menstrual Cycles do not Last For 28 Days

Many menstrual facts state the average cycle is different. What's more, many menstrual myths state that your period lasts 28 days. However, a woman's menstrual cycle can range from 21 days to 35 days, depending on age, and various other health factors.

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, but a shorter or longer cycle doesn't mean your health is at risk. Experts consider cycles that deviate from the 28-day average to be normal and healthy, as long as they're tidy, and predictable enough.

You Can Still Get Pregnant When You're Menstruating.

Many people say that a woman cannot get pregnant if she has intercourse during her period. But, this isn't true.

Even if it's unlikely that you will get pregnant, when you are on your period, it is not impossible at all.

This is because sperm can survive in the body for up to 5 or 6 days, so if you have relatively short cycles, have intercourse towards the end of your period, and ovulate right after your period is over, you have the potential to get pregnant.

The Average Age for Girls Starting Their First Menstruation Has Changed

Generally, the age at which girls start their periods is getting younger and younger.

A century ago, the common starting age for menstruation was 16 years, but now the average is 12 years, and it is not uncommon for girls as young as 8 to have started puberty too.

This is presumably due to several factors such as diet and better health. However, other things, such as being overweight, stress and climate, can all influence the age at which girls start puberty.

Sleeping with a night light can help regulate your cycle.

Light exposure impacts the secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin, which helps regulate the release of the female reproductive hormone, which determines when your menstrual cycle begins, and ends.

In a study published in the journal Psychiatry Research, in the early 90s, women with longer, or irregular, cycles who slept next to an ordinary 100-watt light bulb, for several days in the last 2 weeks of their menstrual cycle, had their periods. being 12 days shorter on average, meaning this targeted approach can help manage your periods.

Period Timing Depends on Ovulation

Your period usually occurs 14 days after ovulation. The first phase of the cycle can vary from 7 to 20 days, which can result in longer or shorter cycles, depending on when the woman ovulates. For example, if you ovulate on the 14th day, you might have your period on the 28th day. So if you ovulate on the 10th day, your period will arrive on the 24th day.

Your Period Can Affect Your Smell and Voice

According to vocalization researchers, women's voices may change slightly during their menstrual cycle, as a result of reproductive hormones affecting the vocal cords. This means women can sound different on their periods, and even be “less attractive” according to participants in their test.

The same female reproductive hormones also have an impact on your natural scent, meaning you smell different, when you're on your period. It's very subtle and totally consciously detectable. This is more of an animalistic thing, considering the caveman days, when men were more interested in women who were ovulating than menstruating.

Heavy Menstruation Can Mean You Have Hormonal Imbalance

Some women experience heavier periods than usual. If you suspect that your periods are very heavy, it is important to pay attention to your menstrual symptoms, as this can indicate that you have a hormonal imbalance.

In this case, heavy menstruation is often accompanied by painful cramps.

Last words

American women are less comfortable talking about their periods with men than women abroad.

Only 35% of U.S. women report no discomfort discussing their periods with male coworkers and classmates, according to a survey by women's health app Clue.

On the other hand, 50% of Spanish women say that they enjoy discussing their periods with their male colleagues and classmates. Almost 50% of women surveyed in Argentina and the Philippines said the same thing.