MENSTRUATION

What is Menstruation?

Menstruation is also called as periods. Menstruation is a very normal thing for women and it reflects the healthiness of women. Some women experience some difficulties before or during menstruation. For majority of women their first period starts at the age of 09 – 16. If your period doesn’t start although you become the age of 16 you have to meet a doctor.

What is Menstrual Cycle?

Menstrual Cycle is the time period from the first day of the period to the first day of the next period. Normal menstruation cycle can be short as 21 days and long as 35 days. Menstruation cycle for many women is 25-30 days. But, month to month this can change.

Duration of a normal period is around 3-7 days. After periods hormones mature the ovaries eggs. Same time uterus linings become thicker.

During the menstrual cycle one mature egg is released by the ovary. This is named as ovulation. Some women don’t even feel when they get ovulation while some women get a pain.

After releasing the ovary, the egg comes to uterus via fallopian tube. During that process spongy, soft lining develops. Fertilized egg is attached in this lining to make a woman pregnant. If pregnancy doesn’t happen these linings break and those blood and tissues come out from the body via the cervix. This process is called as periods. In an average period 04 tea spoons of menstrual fluid is released by a woman.

Should I use Pads, Tampons, Menstrual Cups?

Majority of Sri Lankan women use pads. But you can use Tampons & Menstrual Cups also. Some women don’t even know about tampons and menstrual cups. Trying different methods is the best way to understand what suits you best.

Pads are used by sticking to the underwear. Pad should be changed after several hours or after pad is filled with menstrual fluids. A thick pad should be worn before going to sleep.

Tampons & Menstrual cups are fitted in to the vagina. It is not painful to insert a tampon or a menstrual cup in to your vagina but, it needs a good practice.

Cramps during menstruation

During menstruation, womb is shrunken in order to make easy for lining to go out from the body. Due to this cramps occur. Under menstrual cramps you will get a pain in your pubes. This pain becomes less when you are becoming older.

Getting relief from menstrual cramps

Exercise
Resting
Having a hot water bath
Using a heating pad
Use pain killers

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Physical or emotional changes occurring before a week or two to your periods is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Below are the changes that can happen.

Acne
Becoming fat
Breast tenderness
Depression
Headache
Joint or muscle pain
Sleepiness

Missing periods or irregular menstrual cycles

If you miss periods the only thing comes to your mind is pregnancy. However, missing or irregular periods doesn’t happen only because of pregnancy. This is a normal thing for some women. In some months you may miss periods and in some months you may get early or late periods. Many reasons cause to change the menstrual cycle of a woman.

Birth control
Hormone imbalance
Medication
Menopause
Over exercising
Poor nutrition
Stress
Sudden weight gain or loss
Travel

When you should meet a doctor regarding your menstrual cycle?

Some women may not confident whether their menstrual cycle is normal or not. In this situation the best way to do is to get consultation. Other than that it is very important to meet a doctor under following instances.