One of the phases women go through during their menstrual cycle is the MENSTRUATION phase. Understanding what is it, what can be considered "normal", what products to use, what to avoid during menstruation, is of significant importance for each woman.
Let's focus on the most important info about this phase of the menstrual cycle, mostly called PERIOD. These would be:
Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. Every month, a woman's body prepares for pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn't occur, the uterus (womb), sheds its lining. Then, vaginal bleeding appears (menstruation). Menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the small opening in the cervix and passes out of the body through the vagina.
The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus. The bleeding might be light and barely noticeable, or heavy enough to make women uncomfortable. Cramps may be present and they could be mild or intensely painful. The period sometimes might be also accompanied by headaches, acnes, or even migraines.
The period typically lasts anywhere from two to eight days, but it will usually last for about five days. The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days.
The first period in life, women experience during puberty, or between the age of 8 and 16.
The time when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally is called menopause, and it usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age.
A missed period is usually the first sign of pregnancy. The date of the last period is important because it will help in determining the due date for delivering the baby. During pregnancy, the period does not occur and will come back when the woman is not pregnant anymore. Also, periods may not be present during breastfeeding.
When women experience their period, they need suitable products that absorb the blood. Nowadays, there is a huge range of products suitable to manage the period. Some of them are:
The sanitary pads/napkins are probably the most commonly used period product. This product has been around commercially for over a century. They are attached to the inside of the underwear. They are made of layers of absorbent material – usually rayon, cotton, and plastic, and can easily absorb menstrual blood. The design of pads has evolved to become much more absorbent and comfortable, with a wide range available to suit different flows. Pads can be disposable (one use) or washable (used more times). These came in many sizes, different materials, differences in layers. Anyone can find their match.
Tampons are another product used for absorbing menstrual blood. It is used internally, by insertion into the vaginal canal. Not everyone finds them comfortable to use, but with practice, a lot of women nowadays choose them when having a period. Tampons absorb menstrual blood internally and can be left in for about four hours, at which point they are removed by pulling gently on the string. Using tampons requires extra hygiene because of their connection with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by bacteria getting into the body and releasing harmful toxins. It's often associated with tampon use in young women. Why is that? As well as absorbing menstrual blood, tampons can also absorb the vagina’s natural lubricant and bacteria. To lower the risk, the lowest absorbency rating tampons should be chosen. Tampons vary in size and possibility of absorbance.
Menstrual cups are small cups made of silicone or latex. They are inserted into the vaginal canal. The cup works by collecting the menstrual blood. Just like tampons, it takes a bit of practice to get the positioning right, and after this is accomplished, they are considered very comfortable. The cups can stay in for up to 12 hours, at which point they should be removed, emptied, rinsed, and re-used as necessary. When the period finishes, they should be sterilized in hot water to be prepared for use for the next period. They can be re-used many years, which means their use is very economic. It should be noted that as with tampons, there is a small risk of TSS with menstrual cups. Menstrual cups usually come in two sizes.
Menstrual discs are very similar to the menstrual cup; they are inserted into the vaginal canal; collect the menstrual blood, and after up to 12 hours should be removed. But the difference is that discs are usually not re-usable. They are much less economic than menstrual cups. Usually, discs came into one all-fit size, but some companies offer them in different sizes.
It is one of the newest period products. Period underwear looks like regular underwear, except they have a special absorbent layer that prevents leakages onto clothing. They are washable, and because of that, they are one of the most sustainable options available. They are comfortable for wearing. Sometimes leakage is possible while heavy flow, but they can be combined with some other period product.
| Sanitary pad/napkin |  |
| Tampon |  |
| Menstrual cup |  |
| Menstrual disc |  |
| Period underwear |  |
Proper hygiene practices during menstruation are of huge importance. If not performed properly, it may increase vulnerability to infections of the reproductive tract. Poor menstrual hygiene is one of the major reasons for getting Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI).
How should women properly maintain hygiene during their period?
Some women experience problems with menstruation. They are:
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is the hormonal event before a period, which can trigger a range of side effects in women at risk, including fluid retention, headaches, fatigue, and irritability. Treatment options include exercise and dietary changes.
Dysmenorrhoea is a condition of painful periods. It is thought that the uterus is prompted by certain hormones to squeeze harder than necessary to dislodge its lining. Treatment options include pain-relieving medication and the oral contraceptive pill.
If heavy menstrual bleeding occurs, and if left untreated, can cause anemia. Treatment options include oral contraceptives and a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) to regulate the flow.
Amenorrhoea is a condition of an absence of menstrual periods. This is considered abnormal, except during pre-puberty, pregnancy, lactation, and postmenopause. Possible causes include low or high body weight and excessive exercise.
Women should always talk about their doctors when need some info or when in doubt. But the following are some cases in which contacting the doctor is of huge importance:
