Menstruation or period is a monthly discharge of blood from the inner lining of the uterus out through the vagina. Every individual’s period pattern is unique to themselves. These patterns can even change with time. The menstrual cycle usually occurs for 2-7 days every 21-45 days in young women and 21-31 or 21-28 days in adult women
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What is Menstruation?
Menstruation or period is a monthly discharge of blood from the inner lining of the uterus out through the vagina. The menstrual cycle usually occurs for 2-7 days every 21-45 days in young women and 21-31 or 21-28 days in adult women. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hormones.
The cycle is triggered by falling progesterone and an abnormal rise in male hormones. The average age when the period usually begins is 12-15. Some girls even get their period at the age of 8 which is completely normal. The beginning of period in young women is called Menarche. The period stops during pregnancy and does not resume initially when the mother is breastfeeding. Menstruation stops between the age of 45-55 and is called Menopause.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS is a set of emotional and physical symptoms that starts to occur regularly, usually one or two weeks before the start of period. It’s the body’s way of alerting about the commencement of period. These symptoms settle by themselves once the period begins. Different women experience different symptoms and follow different patterns. The most common symptoms include sore breasts, bloating, mood swings, headache, acne, etc. Every individual’s pattern is unique to themselves.
To be diagnosed with PMS that’s more than just the usual discomfort of period, these symptoms must interfere with a person’s daily life, and it must make it hard to do the little things which can be done easily otherwise. Often PMS related symptoms occur for about six days. These patterns can even change with time.
Menstrual Hygiene Products
Menstrual hygiene plays a very important role in maintaining healthy cycle throughout and to avoid any period related problems. Menstrual products make sure to avoid these problems and to ease the hassle of period. These products are made to absorb and catch blood and they make sure that the blood don’t leak.
There are different kinds of products available in the market, some are reusable while others are disposable. There are usually 4-5 menstrual products available in the market. Sanitary napkins and Tampons are usually disposable whereas menstrual cups, reusable cloth pads and period panties are reusable period products.
Even in today’s time, a lot of women still are deprived of basic menstrual hygiene which causes them a lot of issues. Even in many parts of the world, women are not even aware of menstrual products and how to maintain basic hygiene when on period. Due to this reason a lot of women, especially women in rural areas use leaves, sand, dirty clothes etc. to prevent leakage which causes them a lot of serious and irreversible internal issues.
Myths related to Menstruation
In many cultures, women on period are considered unhygienic and impure. The biggest reason for it is the lack of information and awareness regarding period. In many western countries, menstruation is taught along with sex education in schools which gives many perspectives for students to think about.
In many rural areas, even today, women are forced to live separately when on period. They are isolated from the world in these 5-7 days of period. They are not allowed to enter the kitchen or temples. It is also believed by many people that while being on period, if a women touch a pickle jar, it may go bad.
Chhaupadi, a social practice that forces a women to isolate herself and it prohibits women to even do the basic things in life while on period. It is believed that when on period, a women become impure and she may bring bad luck or energy to people who she encounter. Although, the practice has been banned by the government, it is still practiced in many parts of Nepal, India.
