What are periods, and why it's high time to discuss it?

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

Pperiods, also known as menstrual periods or menstrual cycles, are a natural part of a woman’s reproductive process.

They occur when the uterus sheds its lining, a process that is necessary for pregnancy to occur. Periods typically occur once a month and last for several days.

During a period, a woman may experience bleeding from her vagina, as well as abdominal cramps, bloating, and other symptoms.

These symptoms are caused by the changes that occur in the body during the menstrual cycle.

When will it happen?

Young females often start having periods between the ages of 8 and 15. The initial cycles may be fairly erratic. In the United States, menstruation typically begins at approximately 12 years old. dependable source

Most women’s periods will return after 28 days. However, adult women’s periods can also be between 21 and 35 days.

Girls above the age of 13 may have more erratic cycles that last 21 to 45 days. These cycles are governed by hormones.

If the mensuration cycle is missed what are the problems?

There may occasionally be issues or anomalies with a woman’s menstrual cycle. Typical issues include:

Amenorrhea: This describes a period-free period of at least 90 days. Pregnancy, nursing, eating disorders, intense exercise, and stress are all causes of amenorrhea.

Dysmenorrhea: This is a type of occasionally very painful menstruation. Uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and elevated amounts of the hormone prostaglandin are among the potential causes.

Any vaginal bleeding deemed abnormal for a menstrual period is referred to as abnormal uterine bleeding. Any vaginal spotting, particularly heavy or protracted menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods or after intercourse, and postmenopausal bleeding may fall under this category.

Some women may also have implantation bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy as a result of the embryo adhering to the uterine wall. Around 10 to 14 days following conception, implantation hemorrhage is to be anticipated.

Instead of the typical bright, red flow of a menstrual period, implantation bleeding manifests as pale, brown spots. Most women do not need therapy for short-lived and, most women, require no treatment.

“A girl is just a person, but a woman is a force to be reckoned with.”

What causes period?

The onset of a period is caused by changes in the body’s hormone levels. A chemical messenger is a hormone.

The feminine hormones progesterone and estrogen are released by the ovaries. The uterine (or womb) lining thickens as a result of these hormones.

A fertilized egg might attach to the developed lining and begin to develop. The lining disintegrates and bleeds if there isn’t a fertilized egg present. The technique is then repeated one more.

The lining normally builds up, then degrades, in a month or so. Because of this, the majority of girls and women have menstruation once every month.

How long does this period last?

Periods usually last about 5 days. But a period can be shorter or last longer.

Should I Use a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup?

When they initially start their periods, most females utilize pads. Cotton-based pads are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. They attach to the underpants with sticky strips.

Tampons are often more practical for girls than pads, particularly while participating in sports or swimming.

A girl inserts a cotton plug called a tampon into her vagina. The majority of tampons have an applicator that helps you position the tampon.

The blood is absorbed by the tampon. Tampons shouldn’t be left in for longer than 8 hours as this raises your risk of toxic shock syndrome, a dangerous infection.

Some females Favour menstruation cups. Silicone makes up the majority of menstruation cups. A girl inserts a menstruation cup into her vagina to use it. The blood is contained there until she drains it.

What Amount of Blood Emerges?

Even though it appears to be a lot of blood, a girl typically only sheds a few tablespoons of blood throughout her entire period. About three to six times per day, most girls need to replace their pads, tampons, or menstrual cups.

Chandana Surthi is a writer based in India; this is her article for Medium. This article focuses on the topic called periods, mentions all about periods when it starts, when end, what happens if periods are not happening, etc.