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By: Angelina W. and Ciana M.
The topic of periods is often treated as a taboo subject: although we briefly learn about what periods are in our biology classes or touch over the topic with close friends and family, conversations remain on the surface.
Periods are often treated as an embarrassing subject to talk about, but this blog is here today to begin to break the stereotypes about periods and educate more people about periods. After all, it’s just a natural cycle in our body!
After all, it’s just a natural cycle in our body!
Here’s how and why periods happen:
The menstrual cycle is a monthly process in which the body undergoes various changes to prepare the body for potential pregnancy. There are 4 phases of the menstrual cycle. The hormones in the body trigger each step in the menstrual cycle. The first step of the menstrual cycle is the menses phase.
The menses phase starts on the day that you get your period. The lining of the uterus sheds through the vagina. This happens because pregnancy has not occurred as the released egg from the ovaries is not fertilized. During the menses phase, menstruators start to bleed, and it typically lasts for three to seven days.
The next phase is the follicular phase when the hormone level of estrogen rises and the lining of the uterus thickens. Estrogen is an important hormone in the female body that is responsible for the health and development of the reproductive system. This phase takes place throughout the entire period and ends during ovulation.
The third phase of the menstrual cycle is ovulation, which occurs around day 14 of the 28-day cycle. During ovulation, the luteinizing hormone, a hormone crucial for pregnancy, is suddenly increased and causes the ovary to release its egg.
The final phase of the menstrual cycle is the luteal phase, during which your egg travels from the ovary to the uterus, and progesterone levels rise to prepare for pregnancy. If the egg is fertilized and implants on the uterine wall, then pregnancy begins. If the egg is not fertilized, then hormone levels drop and the uterine lining sheds during your period. This entire cycle occurs over 28 days, and it repeats itself monthly.
How can we take care of ourselves when we are on our periods?
Many menstruators experience periods cramps, that cause them to feel extreme pain in their lower abdomen. The cause of period cramps is because of the excess of prostaglandins, chemicals produced by the uterus. These chemicals cause the uterine muscles to contract and relax, leading to cramps in the lower abdomen.
Use a heating pad or bag and place it on your lower abdomen to ease period pain
Take a hot bath
Exercise (e.g. yoga and pilates)
Create a relaxing environment
Eat dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is high in magnesium, which relaxes muscles and reduces uterine contractions and pain by slowing prostaglandin production.
Periods Myths
Period blood is dirty.
Historically, period blood was seen as impure and dirty because no one understood the biological reason behind periods. People could not explain how periods happened, so different explanations, many unscientific, were postulated. There are no scientific explanations that could explain why period blood is considered dirty!
Period blood is made up of the same blood that flows in our veins. The reason why period blood may seem dirty is because of the difference in color and consistency from regular blood. This is because period blood not only contains blood from our body but also contains the tissue that has been shed from the lining of the uterus.
Period cycles sync up.
Many women may have experienced getting their periods around the same time as their friends, known as the McClintock effect. The McClintock effect is the belief that women who have spent a lot of time together will begin to menstruate on the same day and their periods will start to be synchronized. However, numerous studies have shown that menstrual cycles typically do not align after spending time or living together. So why might period cycles sync up?
Exercising while menstruating is bad.
Other than the pain that occurs during your periods, there is no other reason why you should not be able to exercise during your periods. In fact, exercise is highly encouraged for women during their periods as it may help lower painful cramps. Exercising can give you a natural endorphin high, which can boost your mood and is beneficial for during periods.
Periods are a natural and beautiful part of life, showing the body’s remarkable ability to support women's reproductive health.
Periods are a natural and beautiful part of life, showing the body’s remarkable ability to support women's reproductive health. While periods may come with many mental and physical challenges, it is nothing to be ashamed or scared of. We should instead turn our attention to how the body can regulate itself and maintain its reproductive health naturally. Menstruation highlights the strength and resilience of the human body.
Remember, periods are simply just a part of what makes us human.
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Works Cited
Cornforth, Tracee. “Period Blood Color: Brown, Pink, Bright Red, and More.” Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 27 Mar. 2024, www.verywellhealth.com/what-does-menstrual-blood-look-like-2721937#:~:text=Isn’t%20Period%20Blood%20Just,%2C%20say%2C%20cut%20your%20finger.
“Does Your Period Really Sync with Close Friends’?” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 28 June 2024, health.clevelandclinic.org/myth-truth-period-really-sync-close-friends.
“Luteinizing Hormone: Levels, Function & Testing.” Cleveland Clinic, 1 May 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22255-luteinizing-hormone.
“Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 Apr. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186
Menstrual Cycle (Normal Menstruation): Overview & Phases.” Cleveland Clinic, 9 Sept. 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10132-menstrual-cycle.
Nazneen Memon, BHMS. “Is Chocolate Good for Cramps?” MedicineNet, MedicineNet, 28 Sept. 2022, www.medicinenet.com/is_chocolate_good_for_cramps/article.htm.
“Period Pain.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/periodpain.html#:~:text=The%20cause%20is%20usually%20having,women%20it%20can%20last%20longer.
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