Signs of Being on Your Period | Menstrual Cycle Facts You Don’t KNOW !

Best Answer

Starting Your Period

Menstruation or period is regular bleeding from the vaginal that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly cycle.

And if no pregnancy occurs, the uterus or womb shuts its lining.

This bleeding usually called menstrual blood is the combination of blood and some tissue from inside the uterus.

This menstrual blood is been pass out through the vagina.

Menstrual Periods usually start between ages 11 and 14 and continue until menopause.

And at about age 51 they usually last from three to five days.

Most times during the phases you will experience abdominal or pelvic cramping, lower back pain and bloating.

Sometimes it could be sore breasts, food cravings, headache and fatigue, mood swings and irritability.

But, if you have big changes in your cycle, they may be signs of other problems that should be treated.

Signs and Symptoms of Menstrual Period

Menstrual Headache: Causes, Symptoms, and Relief

If your headaches are in fact during your period instead of a premenstrual cycle, there are various causes and perhaps symptoms for them.

The hormones that change based on the phase of the menstrual cycle are thought to cause women to suffer more often from several kinds of headaches such as migraines together.

A lot of women experience fever and nausea together with headaches.

Then, it looks just like you are getting more estrogen when you’re really not.

When estrogen declines, there’s also a drop in serotonin alongside a rise in chemicals linked with pain.

Women that have a headache during the period have a tendency to get a mixture of factors that trigger their headaches.

Although it is difficult to stop headaches developing 100 percent of the moment, you can attempt to keep them by exercising to relieve any stress and receiving adequate rest.

Some women gain from over-the-counter drugs for menstrual migraines, while some seek prescription therapy.

Birth control pills are normally utilized to even out hormones and decrease hormonal headaches.

Also, you might want to provide headache pressure points a try.

Work with your physician to determine which one is ideal for you.

Migraine is probably to develop in either the 2 days leading up to a period of time or the initial few days during a period.

Your doctor will be able to help you treat or protect against hormone-related headaches.

Or your health care provider may also advise that you take magnesium supplements, which can help decrease headache intensity.

Pelvic Cramps: How to get rid of Pelvic Cramps

Pelvic cramps are due to a hormone-like substance, which is known as prostaglandin.

It’s Painful menstruation also referred to as dysmenorrhea, which is usually not an indication of a significant health condition, they can place a crimp in the way you live.

Nearly all women experience no symptoms during the early phases, and they normally appear within 2 to ten days, or at times, even after 30 days of the bacterial infestation.

Heavy cramping and severe pain on a single side of your pelvis may also be a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy, which can be exceedingly severe.

There are lots of issues that may cause pelvic cramps and uterine pain.

At times serious cramps might also be a symptom of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Sometimes, cramps or abdominal discomfort might even result from using fertility drugs.

Because there are cases, where the condition doesn’t demonstrate any symptoms, it’s important to acquire your usual check-up done with a gynecologist.

Leg aches and pains are normally not serious but should you start to experience swelling and pain in only one leg, it might be a symptom of a blood clot.

Other signs include bowel problems like constipation or pain during sex.

Sometimes when the signs are only mild you might come across self-help treatments that are effective.

Being on your Period | Do you experience all this Symptoms?

Menstrual Cramp Remedies

Strenuous exercise may not be beneficial if an individual is in pain, but gentle stretching, choosing a walk, or doing yoga might help.

Yoga is very good and frequently relieves cramps.

Papaya is among the useful home treatments for menstrual cramps too due to the anti-inflammatory properties inside.

Ginger plays a significant role in lowering the pain level due to prostaglandin.

Some herbs may also lead to unintended side effects, particularly if you’re taking medication.

Always be certain you’re buying herbs and supplements from a reliable source since they aren’t regulated.

Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory agent that includes antispasmodic property too.

While essential oils are proven to improve the effect, you may also utilize coconut oil or even body lotion in a pinch.

Using a critical oil alongside sesame oil can give quicker results since they provide you with a calming effect.

Ylang-Ylang essential oil is famous for its excellent antidepressant characteristics.

Water has umpteen benefits on our entire body, and the correct amount of water intake can continue to keep a range of diseases at bay.

Drinking more water can help ease bloating.

Heating – The very first remedy that you can apply is heating.

A small heat goes a very long approach to decrease the effects of your menstrual cramps.

So it’s regarded as one of the effective home treatments for menstrual cramps.

Menstrual Bloating: Causes and Remedies

Menstrual bloating is just one of the most typical symptoms that lots of women experience after or during their menstrual cycle monthly.

Extreme bloating occurs during the very first stage that is the follicular stage.

Premenstrual bloating occurs as a consequence of the hormone progesterone.

It does happen when a woman feels her belly is heavy and swollen before and at the beginning of her menstrual period.

Since the reason for bloat is fluctuating hormonal levels it can’t be entirely eliminated but managed.

Bloating and irregular periods are two individual problems, but they can occasionally co-occur, leaving some women wondering if there’s a link between them both.

Period bloating can be uncomfortable and could negatively impact self-confidence.

Irrespective of symptom severity, the indicators and symptoms generally disappear within four days of the beginning of the menstrual period for the majority of women.

Period bloating can be decreased by drinking more water which could force you to retain less water.

Another technique to stop bloating is to limit salt intake.

Consuming rich potassium foods also helps to reduce period bloating.

Also eating diuretics foods can help to reduce water retention.

Examples of diuretics foods are ginger, pineapples, peaches, leeks, asparagus, cucumber, garlic.

You can also get the pills/supplements here as well.

Skip eaten refined carbohydrates foods that can cause a spike in your blood sugar level.

Foods like white flour and process sugar should be avoided at all costs so as to decrease insulin in the blood and help the kidneys not to retain more sodium.

This will make your estrogen levels to gradually drop as you begin your period.

Making fluid retention due to ovulation bloating to get better within a couple of days.

Being on your Period | Do you experience all these Symptoms? Courtesy BRIGHT SIDE

Menstrual Pain in Lower Back

The pain is principally in the lower portion of the abdomen but has the potential to go in the back and down.

It is an identifiable medical problem like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease, it is known as secondary dysmenorrhea.

Lower back pain is one of the indicators of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome).

Pain in the lower back during your period is wholly normal and it’s a result of the uterus contracting that is radiating via the web of your nerves within your pelvic.

As it contracts it presses on the blood vessels in that area thereby cutting off the supply of oxygen to adjoining muscles.

This pain is called “Referred Pain”. That is pain felt on the part of the body other than its source.

Sometimes this pain affects your thighs and radiates to your back.

In the event, the pains are severe, use anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen for fast relieve.

Having a hot shower is another good method for relief and likewise, use a heating pad.

Pycnogenol and Fennel are very effective herbal medicine that works great and you can use them.

Using Oral birth control pills is also very good because it contains hormones that help prevent ovulation and reduce the severity of menstrual cramps.

This pill comes in different forms like injection, skin patch, a slip placed beneath the skin of your arm, a stretchy ring that you insert into your vagina.

Surgery might be a better option but this can only be in a situation whereby your case is a disorder such as endometriosis or fibroids.

For this case make sure you consult your doctor for a comprehensive test and advise.

A supplement like a vitamin E,  omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-1 (thiamin), vitamin B-6 and magnesium will also help to reduce the cramps.

When are Breasts Tender during Menstrual Cycle

It is normal to experience breast pain during your progesterone peaks, or about one week before your period is happening.

For women with a 28-day cycle sometimes they do experience breast or nipple tenderness around day 21.

Normally you should be relieved as your hormone levels plummet, before or during your menstrual period.

Mind you, breast pain sometimes can be an early sign of pregnancy too.

But the difference between premenstrual breast soreness and soreness that indicates pregnancy is based on how you feel the pains.

For early pregnancy, the soreness will extend to the whole part of the breast while the premenstrual breast soreness only affects the nipples.

Premenstrual breast soreness only lasts for a few days while the pregnancy tends to last for an extended period of time.

The cycle that your breast goes through during your menstrual period is called Premenstrual breast soreness.

Breast tenderness prior to, during or following your menstrual cycle is truly an extremely normal occurrence.

Breast tenderness during menstrual periods may be caused by various facets.

Based on the duration of your cycle, your breasts may begin to hurt about a week or so following your period.

The breasts are the very first region to swell.

At precisely the same time, your breasts might be tender.

Sore breasts following your period could signify that you’re pregnant because hormones inside your body begin to fluctuate.

What causes Diarrhea during Menstrual Cycle

Usually, the hormones that your body releases during menstruation do cause bloating, abdominal cramping and water retention.

While inflammation is being caused by Prostaglandins or fatty acids.

Prostaglandins cause the intestine’s rate of food absorption to below and that makes the food go through the colon quickly.

But what happens is that the cramping and the bloating that women feel during menstrual periods does not happen in their stomach but it’s actually in their uterus.

So, what causes this constipation is built-up of the hormone progesterone.

It is the hormone that grows and thickens the uterine walls and it peaks right before ovulation.

This process is what triggers constipation, which usually happens during ovulation or some days after your ovulation.

As an establish facts Diarrhea does happen when prostaglandins calm smooth muscle tissues immediately as your menstruation starts.

How to stop Diarrhea during the Menstrual Cycle?

A clean diet is one of the first approaches to combating Diarrhea by making sure that you eat a healthy diet.

Vegetables, leafy greens, and fruit should be food that you take much so as to help maintain your normal bowel habits.

Sometimes you can opt for supplements to be able to get the required nutrients but consuming this nutrient from the right source (food) works better.

You can only jump to this option of supplement in cases where you don’t have the appetite for food.

Likewise taking medications like linaclotide or lubiprostone does help when taking often.

Oral contraceptives are another good option but it does reduce the frequency of your cycle.

Meaning you have to skip your periods by skipping the weeks of placebos.

Also, drink a lot of water to replace the lost fluid from diarrhea.

Likewise, avoid sugary foods that make diarrhea go worse.

Foods like caffeine, artificial sweeteners, dairy products, spicy foods, very sugary foods.

Reduce your stress, and this should be both physical and mental stress.

Because stress is one of the major menstrual symptoms and cramping that make diarrhea worse.

So also form the habit of exercising so as to reduce the stress even if it has to be for just some minutes.

Menstrual Acne: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Menstrual acne usually starts around 10 days before your periods and starts to subside when your flow starts.

The reason has been that your hormones fluctuate all through your menstrual cycle which makes the levels of your estrogen rise in the first half of your cycle.

And in the second half of your cycle, the level of progesterone hormones rises.

As soon as your period gets closer the level of both hormones drops.

And that’s to say that the level of your testosterone (a male hormone made in small quantity by women) stays constant.

Meaning, before and during your menstrual periods your testosterone is definitely high compared to your estrogen and progesterone which is the female hormones in you.

These changes make most women experience changes as well on their skin.

Because during the middle of your menstrual cycle the rise of progesterone hormone has stimulated the secretion of sebum from sebaceous glands.

What is Sebum?

It is a thick and oily substance that lubricates skin naturally.

And with the increase in progesterone, it does cause swelling of the skin and compression of the skin pores.

Making the sebum to accumulate under the surface of your skin.

Likewise, as the testosterone grows before and during your menses it stimulates the sebaceous glands and makes it secrete more sebum.

Though the results on women vary.

In some women, it might make their skin glow, while for others it causes premenstrual acne due to their skin pores that clogged because of an excess of oil with dirt, debris and the skin cells that are dead.

And this accumulation of oil forms a good breeding place for the acne-causing bacteria Cutibacterium acnes.

Making your immune system to react to this bacteria and metabolites which cause inflammation following pimples before your period.

Menstrual Acne Symptoms

These abnormal changes on the skin caused by premenstrual acne include comedones (whiteheads and blackheads).

These blackheads are the comedones that are open at the surface of your skin. You will see them in black because of the oxygen effect on them.

While the whiteheads are the comedones that are closed under the surface of your skin.

Other symptoms you may see or notice are:

Papules – It is a bump reddish in color, small and causes by the infection and inflammation of the hair follicles.

Pustules – It is pus-filled pimples and also reddish.

Nodules – This comes in the form of a solid lump and very painful and gathered under the skin surface.

Cysts – This is big lumps always with pus gathered under the skin and very painful.

 

Menstrual Acne Prevention and Treatment.

Using Birth Control pills

If you experience this acne too often, taking these pills can be a bailout.

Birth control pills have the capacity to increase your estrogen levels thereby reduce the effect of testosterone.

It increases sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) which is a protein in your blood.

What the protein does is, it works like a sponge to soak the testosterone in your bloodstream.

Meaning you will then have a little amount of testosterone that could cause acne before period.

Likewise, Birth control pills work as a reducing agent to reduce oil production.

For some, it might take some months before you start to see the result of these pills because of hormonal changes.

But it does work very well when your body adjusts to it.

Spironolactone

Spironolactone is another good drug that reduces oil production related to testosterone in the skin.

This might not right for all women and that’s why you need to consult your doctor before using it as its side effect might not be okay for you which includes fatigue, irregular periods, breast tenderness, and headaches.

Weight loss

Weight loss is a good practice to prevent and reduce acne.

Consuming a well-balanced diet and maintaining an ideal and healthy weight is key as it will help you to control acne.

Neatness and Hygienic Skin

One of the major sources of premenstrual acne is bacteria.

Periodical cleaning of the skin and keeping it clean can help to avert acne.

Form the habit of not touching your face often and even if make sure your hand is clean as it may introduce bacteria.

Your phone is another thing to watch as form a breeding place for bacteria.

And any time you want to use it make sure you keep it against your jaw or chin. If possible always use earphones.

And on the gym make sure you cover your mats with a towel.

This will help you in contacting other people’s germs on your face.

Quit smoking if you do as it is a gateway to acne.

Being on your Period | Facts about Menstrual Cycle you weren’t told Don’t KNOW

What Causes Menstrual Cycle to Change Dates

Because each woman’s cycle differs, and since there are so many aspects that cause an irregular cycle, it can at times be difficult to pinpoint specific reasons for irregular periods.

A woman’s monthly cycle, for instance, is thought to be the physical trigger accountable for offsetting hormone-induced mood swings.

If you are experiencing short menstrual cycles, there’s generally nothing to be concerned about.

Because your menstrual cycle could possibly be getting shorter for many explanations.

For example, the anovulatory cycle can occur as a consequence of adopting a restricted diet and engaging in a large amount of exercise.

Longer cycles come from a deficiency of routine ovulation.

And if it continues to be abnormal, see your physician for preliminary evaluation that could just be a simple body examination or hormonal testing, if the need arises.

It can have a lot to say about your health and fertility.

Possessing regular menstrual cycles is an indication that important portions of your body are working normally.

Short menstrual cycles affect fertility because, in the event that you do not ovulate, you cannot become pregnant.

If your cycle is still in flux for over three months, however, think about scheduling an OBGYN visit just to be certain.

If you are in possession of a very long cycle, the dry days following your period might also be safe.

A brief menstrual cycle will appear much different in each and every woman that experiences it.

 

How does Stress affect Menstrual Period?

Psychological stress may raise your chance of menstrual cramps and their severity.

The pain results from uterine contractions that occur just before or during the start of your period.

Stress is a vital cause of many bodily functions and overall health.

Exercising regularly, lowering your stress with relaxation practices and keeping a great diet will help.

Stress doesn’t necessarily lead to a complete cessation of the menstrual cycle.

But if the stress is significant enough in order to affect menstruation, it is probable that it will also hinder other body functions.

Stress is, in fact, the most common cause of why women experience irregular periods.

A big source of bleeding after the period is stress, an excessive amount of stress on the body can impact hormones which could result in bleeding.

Any bleeding after menopause is abnormal and needs to be reported to your doctor.

As a consequence, you might have irregular bleeding or spotting.

There are lots of causes of prolonged bleeding, for instance, if ovulation isn’t occurring regularly, irregular bleeding and prolonged bleeding can happen.

Any other vaginal bleeding while pregnant ought to be checked by a physician or midwife.

Meaning the menstrual blood has flowed from the uterus during the little opening in the cervix and passes out of the body by means of the vagina.

If you have discovered a change in your period, then your very first step needs to be to attempt to work out exactly what’s causing it.

How Weight Gain affects Menstrual Cycle

Changes in your weight can have an impact on the hormone levels within your body.

Weight gain affects the hormone and insulin levels and most cases interfere with your menstrual cycle.

And weight gain and irregular periods are major signs of PCOS and hypothyroidism.

Likewise, excess of oestrogen can also affect how often you have periods, and can also make your periods to stop.

They are often irregular during the first couple of years of menstruation.

Although irregular periods are most frequently connected with weight loss, it’s important to understand that weight gain may also impact your menstrual cycle.

Some easy lifestyle changes to consider include good nutrition is not ever a lousy habit.

How Weight Loss affects Menstrual Cycle

Women that lose weight or losing weight too quickly may stop having a period, or have irregular periods.

For instance, anovulatory cycles can occur as a consequence of adopting a restricted diet, in addition to engaging in a large quantity exercise.

Exercising can be physically demanding on the body so it might change your menstrual cycle and hormone amounts in various ways.

The ideal way to return to normal is lower exercise and place on some body fat.

Changes in appetite and physical activity might also be contributory aspects.

Dietary changes will be different from woman to woman.

How does Alcohol affect Menstrual Cycle?

Alcohol has a strong impact on the period it increases estrogen and testosterone levels, which affect when you menstruate, thereby causing missed or unexpected periods.

It does cause mild increases in cortisol within the body.

Thereby slowing down the neurotransmitters that make the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.

Alcohol can cause chaos by making your blood glucose levels go high.

It also increases your level of oestrogen and testosterone, which do interfere with the healthy functioning of a woman’s cycle.

Abstaining from it or controlling the intake will help.

How does Infection Affect Menstrual Cycle?

An infection as we know is a stressor to the body.

A very good example is a pelvic infection which results in smelling discharge from the vaginal.

This does happen when bacteria gain access into the vagina through the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause an infection.

Other infections that can gain access to the inside of your uterus to become inflamed and bleed are (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)) pelvic inflammatory disease and sexually transmitted infections (mostly from chlamydia and gonorrhea).

How do Antidepressants affect Menstrual Cycle?

Intake of antidepressants and antiseizure drugs do cause amenorrhea.

It increases prolactin which then releases follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) from the ovaries and halts the ovaries from releasing eggs, making menstruation not to occur.

How does Thyroid Affect Menstrual Cycle?

The thyroid is a good controller of the menstrual cycle, but the excess or shortage of thyroid can cause menstrual problems.

Most times it is the excessive consumption of iodine that makes the thyroid to produce a high amount (hyperthyroidism) of thyroid hormone.

Likewise, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can also cause menstrual disorders.

Indirectly this thyroid hormone causes an increase in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and can prevent ovulation.

If you in this situation and it persists, make sure you perfect TSH and be on the right thyroid drug to control it.

How does Smoking Affects Menstrual Cycle?

Smoking affects women’s levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and that can cause menstrual cycle disorder.

It affects the normal hormonal fluctuations that are necessary for ovulation.

And that make women with smoking habit to have shorter and more irregular menstrual cycles.

Although Cannabis is a pain reliever and lessen period cramp, but can affect the length of the menstrual cycle.

Marijuana affects the duration of the menstrual cycle and always responsible for the delay, making it lower the fertility rate.

It causes vasoconstriction, or constriction of the blood vessels, therefore, it is wise to prevent smoking weed to avoid menstrual disorder.

How does Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affect Menstrual Cycle?

Lack of ovulation which is usually caused by Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is due to abnormal uterine bleeding.

Meaning it create hormonal imbalance in the ovaries where eggs are released every month as part of a healthy menstrual cycle.

And also associated with a slightly higher chance of early miscarriage due to an imbalance of reproductive hormones.

If you find yourself having PCOS you should speak your physician.

Menstrual Phase

There are four phases of menstrual cycles and are as follows: Menstruation, Follicular phase, Ovulation, and Luteal phase.

The menstrual cycle contains several stages, or phases, that the female body should go through to get ready for the chance of becoming pregnant monthly.

A lot of glands and hormones produced by glands control this menstrual circle.

And possessing regular menstrual cycles is an indication that important portions of your body are working normally.

Menstruation.

The menstruation phase is when the period starts by the shedding of uttering lining (endometrium) from your body via the vagina.

This menstrual fluid is made up of blood, cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrial cells) and mucus.

Though it is considered the beginning of the cycle, it is actually the beginning of the end of cycle that is just ended!

These periods averagely last for about 3 days to 1 week.

That’s why tampons and sanitary pads are regularly used to absorb the period flow in at least every four.

But that still doesn’t stop the rare illness risk associated with tampons called toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Follicular Phase.

The follicular phase is the time gap from the first day of the menstruation and then ends with ovulation.

It is triggered by the hypothalamus and makes the pituitary gland discharges follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

The hormones then discharge the ovary to produce around five to 20 follicles (tiny nodules or cysts).

Mind you, these follicles contain an egg that is undeveloped. Of which later one of the follicles will develop to egg and the rest will waste (die).

Usually, this does happen within day 10 of a 28-day cycle.

Thereafter these follicles while growing then stimulates the uterus lining to thicken in readiness for a possible pregnancy.

Ovulation.

Ovulation is the delivery of the developed egg from the surface of the ovary.

This takes place within 2 weeks (mid-cycle) before menstruation.

While follicles are developing in the follicle phase rise in the level of oestrogen occurs.

Making hypothalamus in the brain to know these rise and produce a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (a chemical).

What this hormone then do is to make the pituitary gland produce high levels of luteinising hormone (LH) and FSH.

This then makes ovulation to trigger within 2 days.

Meaning through the wave of small and hair-like projection the egg is transported to the fallopian tube and toward the uterus.

Please note that the egg can only survive for a day (24hrs) and unless it meets with a sperm along the way it will fertilize but if doesn’t it will die off.

Luteal Phase.

When ovulation takes place it makes the egg break from its follicles and which then makes this follicle stick to the ovary.

And within the next 2 weeks,’ a structure called corpus luteum to take place which is the transformation of the follicle.

Which then discharge progesterone, along with small amounts of oestrogen.

This thickened lining of the uterus is then being watched over by these 2 hormones, getting ready a fertilized egg to stick called an implant.

So, once the fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus, it will then deliver the necessary hormones to take care of the corpus luteum.

And that includes hormone that is detected in a urine test for pregnancy called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG).

As the days go by, maintenance of the thickened lining of the uterus takes place and that makes corpus luteum to keep producing the raised levels of progesterone needed.

Now, within day 22 in a 28-day cycle if the pregnancy does not happen before then the corpus luteum has no option but withers and dies.

The lining of the uterus then falls off due to the drop in progesterone levels making menstruation happen and the phase repeats itself.

Conclusion

How does being on your period feel? Does it bring you more pain? Do you burn calories being on your period?

Please share your experience in your comment below.

And likewise please share this post with others to know and learn what it takes.