Many women take their period for granted. They see it as something that provides discomfort, bloating, mood swings, and pain. No one really likes to talk about it, but it’s important to take a look at what’s happening inside. In a survey from the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, it found that 72% of women said they did not like getting their period (no surprise), even though 40% of those would prefer to have it. Why? The menstrual cycle is meant to prepare you for reproduction and when you skip one that affects a woman’s testosterone and iron levels, not to mention it might be a sign that something else is wrong
The average woman’s menstrual cycle is 28 days long and it lasts on average from 3 to 5 days. There’s no such thing as a “normal” period, which is why you have to at least think about the patterns and jot down the date you last got your period. There are many reasons why you might not be regular and it can vary from exercising too much, having eating disorders, thyroid problems, obesity, stress, or even polycystic ovarian syndrome. It’s important to talk to your doctor to see what’s happening inside your body, especially if you notice these things:
- Spotting: It’s perfectly normal to see blood between your periods, especially if you’re on the pill. But if you notice it more and more, it might mean that you have a cyst or a polyp, fibroids, bacterial vaginosis, or even cancer.
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: If you’re binge eating, super moody and emotional, angry and feeling out of control, then you might have this. Your doctor can prescribe medication to control those emotions.
- Heavy and Long: Heavy bleeding or having your period for over 10 days can be a sign of having fibroids, polyps, or even adenomyosis, where the tissue from the uterine lining grows into the wall of the uterus, causing you to become anemic.
Like previously stated, there’s no such thing as a “normal” period, which is why it’s very important to schedule a pap smear and talk to your doctor about what you’re experiencing. Keeping the small details can prevent you from finding out what really is going on there. At the end of the day, whether or not you want to have kids in the future, being healthy should be your number one priority.