"On your ladies", "on your reds", "on your period", "that time of the month" etc. It carries so many names, right? In secondary school we just say we are "on". But it all means the same thing (bleeding from your vagina).
Medically speaking, "A period is made up of blood and the womb lining. The first day of a woman's period is day one of the menstrual cycle". (NHS)
What happens during the menstrual cycle?
"To understand the menstrual cycle, it helps to know about the reproductive organs inside a woman’s body. These are:
- two ovaries (where eggs are stored, develop and are released)
- the womb (uterus) – where a fertilised egg implants and a pregnancy grows
- the fallopian tubes – two thin tubes that connect the ovaries to the womb
- the cervix – the lower part of the womb that connects to the vagina
- the vagina – a tube of muscle connecting the cervix to the outside of the body
The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. In each cycle, rising levels of oestrogen cause the ovary to develop an egg and release it (ovulation). The womb lining also starts to thicken.
After ovulation, the hormone progesterone helps the womb lining grow thicker, ready for pregnancy.
The egg travels down the fallopian tubes. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the egg is absorbed into the body. Levels of oestrogen and progesterone fall, and the womb lining comes away and leaves the body as a period (the menstrual flow)." (NHS)
We don't like talking about periods do we really ladies? Men find it repulsive and excruciatingly painful to think about and women see it as a necessary evil. We need it because how can be birth nations without it? We are "forced" to have it once a month from the age of 12 (or younger for some girls) and we are told it is a blessing. It what makes us unique, different, special, women. Well, 16 years later, it is still a pain in the butt (pun intended) and I will like to share some tips I have learnt over the years, not in too much detail but just to raise a few points to help us get through it. So here are my tips on how to get through those 5 days as stress-free as possible.
The good news is, it only last for 5 days and once you have passed the second day, you soon forget you are on your period. The bad news is, it's recurring! It goes but only to come back in 28 days time! For a good reason of course.
The length of the menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman, but the average is to have periods every 28 days. Regular cycles that are longer or shorter than this, from 24 to 35 days, are normal (NHS).
9 TIPS TO SUSTAIN YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR PERIOD
1. If you don't keep a note of your dates and when to expect your monthly flow, maybe you will notice your breast getting bigger and a little sore, your face starts to break out in spots and maybe you feel bloated. For me, all those symptoms happen at least two to three days before my period is due. For starters, try to keep a stash of pads at home already. Also when you are out and about, pop one into your purse. There is nothing worse than being at work and your period comes when you are trying to work to a set deadline and your nearest pharmacy/supermarket is a 15 minute walk away. Or when you are at home, it's 10pm, the shops are closed and you have none left. So it's always a good idea to have a spare packet.
2. If you are emotional, CRY now. Spend a day going through everything that makes you cry. Watch a sad movie on the first day of your period or when you see your first spotting. Bring out all your emotions and get it over and done with in one day. You don't want all five days to be emotional and you are cranky at everyone for one minute and the next minte you are bursting into uncontrollable tears. You need to keep your emotions in check and don't let it affect your day. Especially at work.
3. Call a friend you are in sync with. They are probably going through the same thing and understand how you are feeling right now. Have you noticed that when you are within close proximity with any lady and you see her often (every day or every other day), you are always on your period at the same time? I know at least two people that share the same period dates as myself and it has always been like that in the past, from my colleagues to my sisters.
4. Don't wear your pad or tampon for more than 4 hours at a time. It's disgusting. For hygiene reasons, you need to change ok. It starts to ooze. You don't want maggots and worms coming to pay you a visit down there. Also when your pad/tampon is full, just change it. Don't wait for 4 hours to elapse please. You don't want a situation where you start staining yourself like a 14 year old in secondary school. No one needs to see all that. Accidents do happen I'm sure, it happens to the best of us, especially when it is gushing out on the first two days, but let's keep such incidents to the bare minimum.
5. If you are not one to wear perfume all the time, for this week only, try to use a little perfume. Any perfume. Not to mask the smell but to make you smell nice. When you smell good, you feel good and it takes your mind off the fact that you are leaking. If you cannot afford to buy perfume, any body spray will do.
6. Shower twice a day. Even on a really cold day. When you shower, you feel fresh and clean. It makes the days go quicker and you don't feel so yucky down there because you know you are clean. If you find showering boring, make it fun, put some music on or fill the bath tub and have a long soak. It takes the stress of the day away. Everything looks better after a bubble bath.
7. Take paracetamol when you get those cramps. I know some have it worse than others and I even know two people who are confined to their bed for the first 3 days of their period. Well, if you have a full time job or you are a mum, you can't afford such luxury. Things need to be done. Dishes need to be washed. The kids need to be bathed and fed and taught. You can't get out of your bed, eat, shower and then return to bed crying you are in pain. You need to go to work! So take some pain killers and don't let the pain ruin your day. If your regular pain killer doesn't cut it, speak to your doctor. The average woman has 480 periods in her lifetime. You will have your period for at least 40 years of your life, the sooner it stops controlling your life, the better.
8. Read a novel, play board games etc. Anything to distract you.
9. It's best not to have sex during this time. For obvious reasons. I wouldn't elaborate.
Lastly, I was going to say, although it is private and personal, being on your period is not something you should be ashamed of. We all just find ways to get around it as smoothly as we can. As they say, it is what makes us unique, different, special and women! Women! Wow! Women! The one thing we do that men can never do is procreate. Isn't that awesome? That is the way God intended and that should be celebrated.
Be Inspired
xoxo
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