Five Facts About Menstruation
By Nmami Agarwal 13-Oct 2021 Reading Time: 4 Mins
Menstruation is a natural process for every girl, that time of the month can be very frustrating. During this process, there is a surge of hormones like estrogen and progesterone both of which lead to various body and mood changes. In most cases of menstruation, people show various symptoms, and one of the most common symptoms is food cravings.
Period pain can be an issue for many women out there, the reason being Prostaglandins, which are chemicals that trigger muscle contractions in the uterus, but these hormones shed the excess uterine lining, leading to cramping.
Due to the plenty of information available around this topic, a lot of women started believing in misconceptions that can further decline their health. Here are some basic facts about menstruation:
- Many urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections are caused by poor menstrual hygiene and can lead to physical health risks, many women have limited resources due to unaffordability.
- The average age of starting menstruation has changed over the years. Back in the 1800s, the women would usually start their period at the age of seventeen or later, but now the starting age of periods has become twelve. There can be a lot of reasons behind the same like better nutrition, and fat cells are responsible for the making of the hormone estrogen, more fat cells, more estrogen in the body which triggers the menstrual cycle earlier.
- You lose less blood than you think you do, although the blood flow seems huge, the amount of blood lost during a period is about one tablespoon to a small cup of blood for a normal period. Talking to professionals is required if you lose more blood than this, it can cause issues like anaemia, which can be the cause of underlying issues like dizziness, tiredness, and poor circulation.
- Menstruation affects how you sound or smell, women’s voices change slightly since reproductive hormones affect the vocal cords, hormones also affect your natural scent, meaning you smell differently depending on your period. The change is so subtle and mostly goes undetected.
- Yes, it is true that periods generally last from three to five days but there is nothing wrong with a shorter and longer cycle of the period. Periods can also last for a minimum of two days and as long as seven days and there is nothing to worry about. Always count your days and if your period lasts for a single day or more than a week then it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Footnote
Many interesting processes go in the women body during this process and believing myths will always do harm rather than any good. Make sure that you consult a health expert if you feel difficulties during menstruation.