Irregular periods are a way for your body to grab your attention like a wild card- unpredictable and unwanted. Menstrual health is not just about physical endurance, but mental too. Women do feel depressed due to improper menstrual cycle, which signifies the importance.
The purpose of the article is to highlight why it matters, what consequences can occur, and how PMs and irregular periods can be managed.
Why does Menstrual Health Matter?
It is a sign or an indicator of a woman’s reproductive health. From preparing the body for pregnancy to the luteal phase, every phase of a cycle matters a lot. It helps to balance hormones, and reproductive function and allows females to track health issues. It also influences the immune system, metabolism, bone health, and psychological processes.
Irregular period: Let’s understand
Abnormal uterine bleeding like heavy or light flow, bleeding longer than 8 days, and spotting between your periods are some significant indications of irregular periods. When your periods are less than 21 days or larger than 35 days apart, then this is an indication of an issue. Sometimes, due to stress, this happens but if this started to happen for several months, then you should consult a doctor. As per Economic Times Health World, around 50% of Indian women have irregular periods.
Consequences of long-term irregular periods
Due to this, estrogen levels started to decrease, and this made weak bones, leading to osteoporosis. This medical condition increases the risk of bone fracture by 50%. Menstrual irregularities are linked with diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, anemia, psychological problems, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary heart disease, and infertility. Women can consider their period as a monitoring indicator of their health. Apart from that, periods that stop for more than 90 days can result in amenorrhea, you might start to have 8 to 9 periods a year (oligomenorrhea) and can have painful periods and abnormal uterine bleeding.
Track your period cycle.
How to know my periods are normal? – one of the most common questions, so here are ways. There are several apps available that can help you track your menstrual cycle, and these include-
Apple health:
To all Apple users, an app called Health App where you can log your periods on the cycle tracking option. Before every period or fertile window, the app will notify you. Also, a log of pregnancy can also be mentioned which will help you to track gestation age. One of the best things is that you can check whether or not your periods are regular, and if not, then you know who to consult.
Smartwatches:
Fitness trackers like Samsung and Apple Smartwatches, etc., have an option to add your cycle days and dates, and it helps you predict your next cycle date.
Calendar method:
One of the most common methods is to write down your calendar, so you will get an idea about your next month’s period date.
Although apps and devices will let you know about different phases like menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal, if you want to track by yourself, then let’s demystify your cycle-
- Phase 1 Menstruation: “Aka Period” when your uterine lining is shed by increasing progesterone and decreasing estrogen level. This is your day 1, and the period typically lasts up to 4 to 7 days. Mark the date of your last day of the period also.
- Phase 2 Follicular: this started at the end of your period, and this covers your 10 to 14 days. Although it varies from woman to woman, but that time your ovaries develop mature follicles and each one contains eggs.
- Phase 3 Ovulation: it is when your ovaries release matured eggs to prepare for pregnancy. This is the window where women have the highest chances of pregnancy and it last up to 16 to 32 hours. That time, you feel abdominal pain, basal body temperature, and cervical mucus.
- Phase 4 Luteal: it is the time when the body prepares the uterus for pregnancy. It lasts up to 14 days, and during that time, women feel bloated as the uterine line gets thicker during this phase.
Leading factors of irregular period
- Leading a stressful life is one of the causing factors of irregular periods.
- An unhealthy diet and consuming substances significantly impact hormones.
- Viruses, infections, and illnesses can increase the possibilities.
- Heavy period or blood clotting disorder.
- Thyroid or pituitary gland disorder impacts ovulation and reproductive health by balancing thyroid hormones.
- Uterine or ovarian cancer affects the menstrual cycle.
- Apart from that, ectopic pregnancy, surgery, birth control pills or medication can also impact.
Wisdom of hormonal harmony- kindly start focusing on your health rather than delaying it further. You never know what it can bring to your table.
What is PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)?
It is a group of emotional and physical imbalance that women experience before their periods starts. Around 20% to 50% of women experience PMS. However, these symptoms go away once periods start, and the major reason behind this is the fluctuation of hormone levels which also play games with brain chemicals.
Normally, PMS results in an emotional toll which includes depression, irritability, crying, and fits of anger, and these sudden mood swings make women more anxious. Some prefer to deal with this through binge eating, leading to an eating disorder. Psychologists even stated that premenstrual condition causes a severe trigger of eating disorders. More than 26% of women have this issue.
Symptoms of Premenstrual syndrome include-
- Trouble sleeping
- Constipation
- Headache and backache
- Sore breast
- Excessive acne
- Trouble concentrating
- Anxiety, intense mood swings, and irritation all day
- Food cravings
- Bloated
Treatments for PMS
- This is highly based on the lifestyle and type of irregularities a woman is facing. Such as those women who are trying to get pregnant.
- Make sure you eat, sleep, exercise, and repeat the concept following. This is simple yet one of the effective ways to manage your health and PMS symptoms. Further, you can also try meditation, yoga, and deep breathing to calm your inner self.
- Sometimes limiting unhealthy food and exercising is not enough, then doctors recommend water pills (diuretics) to shed excess fluid.
- If you feel that you are unable to control your condition, then you should consult with an expert.
- Limiting caffeine, sugar, and fatty food, and increasing protein intake is also a proven strategy to deal with PMS.
- Additionally, women should not avoid their menstrual health. Any changes that might look common to you can bring drastic changes in your life and health. So, there is no harm in consulting with specialists.
Tips to maintain reproductive health
Reproductive health is an area of health that is majorly neglected by people, mostly women. Now just because you are planning to have a baby, then only you are looking for an expert is not the solution. Here are some of the tips to manage your reproductive health.
Check-up
It is understandable that you are shy, but visiting doctors for regular check-ups will let you know about your health. Through screening, they can let you know about infection and other conditions that might be showing any symptoms but it’s there. Remember, check-ups are equivalent to early detection of issues.
Eat a healthy diet
Diet and weight are reflections of each other. This might seem off the board, but eating a healthy diet will not only improve your physical health, but mentally you will feel more energized. According to the National Institute of Health, the consumption of good food and healthy fat helps to reduce the risk of depression.
Not only that, it also helps in managing weight, which is necessary. Increased weight means high cholesterol, high storage of fat, improper blood flow in the pelvic area, and a high risk of diseases.
Not tobacco, no alcohol, no smoking
This should be the priority of everyone. Toxins directly impact the quality of eggs, and disturb ovulation, making it difficult for women to conceive. Hormonal imbalance is one of the common signs that majority of the people experience, leading to dehydration, reducing the ability to metabolize hormones, and can cause early menopause.
Emotional balance
Chronic stress causes health concerning diseases, which is why, doctors recommend practicing yoga, meditation, and physical activities. It aids in releasing happy hormones which manage your stress. Physical activity not only manages mental health but also assists in managing weight.
When to see a doctor?
Whenever you want, because there is no right time to get a consultation on reproductive health. So here are the following symptoms that you should not ignore-
- A feverish condition during or before periods
- Unbearable pelvic pain
- Foul smell
- Unexpected vaginal discharge
- Intermenstrual bleeding can be a sign of fibroids, infection, uterine issues, etc.
Conclusion: Now you know why your menstrual health is important. Although navigating menstrual health can be challenging, it is worth tracking. Irregular periods, PMS, pain, etc., are some of the alleviating symptoms. But through simple tricks, you can easily resolve the issues. All you have to do is be patient, listen to your body, and implement changes for better health. Furthermore, if you are looking for more precise and accurate information, contact an expert.