“A menstrual period is vaginal bleeding that occurs at the end of the menstrual cycle. Each month, the female body prepares itself for a possible pregnancy. The uterus develops a thicker lining, and the ovaries release an egg (between 14-16 day of the cycle) that can be fertilized by sperm. If the egg isn’t fertilized, pregnancy won’t occur during that cycle. The body then sheds the built-up uterine lining. The result is a period or menstruation.”
FACTS
- The first period is between age 11 – 14
- Menopause is around age 51
- The average menstrual cycle is 24 – 38 days
- The typical period lasts 4 – 8 days
- Woman in her lifetime will menstruate approximately 450 times, for a total of 2,280 days
- On average, periods produce 2 to 3 tablespoons (35ml, it varies from 10-80ml)
- It’s not just blood, it is made up of thickened endometrial cells + actual blood from arteries in the uterus
- 50%< – women experience pain during their period, some estimates 84% (Prostaglandins trigger muscle contractions in your uterus. These hormones help the body shed the excess uterine lining, which can cause pain and cramping in the first days of your period)
- 3 in 4 women are affected by PMS (Premenstrual syndrome). Symptoms occur around 1 week before period and includes: headache, fatigue, irritability, sore breasts, cramps
- YOU CAN STILL GET PREGNANT. If you have a shorter cycle, like 22 days, you can still get pregnant. Sperm can live in the uterus for up to 5 days.
- You can get STIs (sexually transmitted infections), they can be transferred through blood and fluids. During lovemaking use condom/protection.
TRACK YOUR CYCLE
In which day of the cycle are you? The cycle starts with the first day of bleeding, this is day 1.
For tracking your cycle, you can use the app (FLO or Clue are my favorites) or write it down in your diary. You can also pay attention to your mood, temperature (to know when you ovulate, the temperature is higher by 0.3 °C during ovulation), patterns of behavior that repeat every month.
Having an overview of our cycle helps us plan various activities (for example, a weekend at the spa), take better care of ourselves when we need it, slow down when the body requires it, or vice versa, make things happen when we are charged with energy. We can better estimate how we respond, how we are likely to behave and specify our needs. We have more control over ourselves and our bodies. Not to mention that your gynecologist will be delighted.
The next suggestion is to share your menstrual calendar with your partner. Things are much easier! He can plan accordingly weekend getaways, or be supportive during your first days by preparing dinner or cleaning. If you’ve noticed that you’re arguing once a month, be sure to share your calendar with him!
PHASES
Period (Winter phase) – from day 1 – 5 approx.
Proliferative/Post-period/Pre-ovulatory (Spring) – between menstruation ending and ovulation beginning, days 6 – 13 approx.
Ovulation (Summer) – occurs between days 12 – 16 approx.
Secretory/Post-Ovulation/Pre-menstrual (Summer+Autumn) – after ovulation and before menstruation, days 16 – 28 approx.
Follicular Phase – from day 1 until the day before ovulation occurs. Oestrogen is prominent and helps prepare the ovarian follicle for the release of the egg, works to mature the uterine lining in preparation for pregnancy and peaking before ovulation, giving us ladies youthful and healthy skin, hair and bones.
Luteal Phase – begins the day after ovulation occurs and ends once menstruation begins. Progesterone is prominent, produced in the ovaries after ovulation and helps to maintain and nourish a potential pregnancy.
Have you ever wondered how different phases affect us in daily life and sexually?
Period / Winter
How is winter? The days are dark and cold, we prefer to stay inside huddled under a warm blanket and relax. We tend to reflect on what happened during the year.
During our period we feel tired, heavier, doing little, we are less motivated to action, and we spend time alone.
What helps me feel good at this stage? This time is great for inner work, to reconnect with ourselves, write to the diary, embrace the truth that we are OK, just the way we are.
Be gentle and kind to yourself, sleep more if needed, allow yourself to rest & relax, meditate, do only important stuff, connect to nature, and enjoy being in your cave. If possible on the first day of menstruation, skip meetings, avoid parties, and doing heavy exercise.
We are up to a slow, calm and deeper sex. We care about establishing a spiritual connection with our partner. The dominant archetype is a wise woman who needs eye contact, cuddles naked with her partner and loves massages.
Winter is preparing us for the coming seasons so that we can live them full of energy. Therefore, we must take care of ourselves, and take it easy.
Proliferative / Spring
Spring brings life. It’s a charming season with singing birds and blossoming trees. During pre-ovulation, we feel energized, enthusiastic, happy, and focused. We have a more positive picture of our body, we are more confident about ourselves. We want to be active, achieve positive results, make a change, and move forward.
This time is great to finish your to-do list, take the first step, and make things happen. Use spring to learn new skills, try new things, and exercise.
Our dominant sexual archetype is the Maiden. She is energetic, playful, excited, and sex is more fun for her.
Ovulation + Secretory / Summer
In the summer we go on holiday, meet friends and enjoy life.
Thanks to resilience and self-confidence, we dare to present our ideas to others, let projects develop, and accept things as they are. We like to meet people, we are social, we engage in team activities, and we build relationships. We have a strong need to help and support others.
We are caring and loving, emotionally strong, and we can better understand people’s feelings.
During ovulation, our hormones reach their peak. We experience a higher sexual desire. Archetype Mother is a strong woman who nurtures the relationship and strengthens the emotional commitment to her partner.
Secretory / Autumn
The days are shorter, the leaves fall from the trees and animals prepare to sleep. This is autumn.
We are more sensitive and impatient with emotional fluctuations. We desperately try to fix our lives or the lives of others because we have a lot of creative ideas. We’re more critical of ourselves, feel tired, and want to be alone.
This time can be tough, so it’s important to slow down. Lower your expectations on yourself, on the other hand, take care of yourself, practice self-love, set boundaries, and focus inwards. Take advantage of this creative stream, it can be painting, poetry, dancing, baking, cleaning up your space or solving problems.
Sexually, we are emotionally needy. Sex can be wild, erotic, and powerful or angry, and frustrated depending on whether our needs are met. The seductress is the dominant archetype.
Keep an eye on each phase of your cycle. Which activities are easier to do at a given stage?
MY JOURNEY
When I got my period for the first time, it was a pretty weird feeling. I felt I wasn’t ready because I didn’t know much about the menstrual cycle. My mom gave me pads, but we didn’t talk about it, I was trying to figure out how to use them. It was also a big taboo amongst my friends. Later I discovered tampons, and it took me a while to learn how to use them (today we have “the internet of things” for everything). I didn’t like my period, I felt disgusted with myself, clumsy, unattractive, and experienced severe pain. The worst thing was when the blood leaked through my panties and stains were seen, or when I left the bedsheets dirty. During the first days, I experienced a lot of pain and the only way to deal with it was taking a pill.
It took me some time to realize how sacred a woman is during her cycle, that she holds the key to creating new life. I was blessed to have a healthy cycle. The woman cycle is ok, natural, normal, and not weird.
Now I’m using my menstrual cup, and yoga makes my period manageable without pills. A period of bleeding is an opportunity to reconnect with me at a deeper level. I recognize four different women who are dominant at every stage of my cycle. (Your experience is probably different if you use contraception, then it is mostly the same throughout the cycle, except for menstruation)
What was it like when you first got your menstruation? How do you talk about your menstruation, blood, and cycle? What is your partner’s attitude toward menstruation? How do you teach your children about it? Do you make love during the period?
Sister, if you still didn’t find the time or courage to try a menstrual cup, hear me out!
- It saves a lot of money (the price of a menstrual cup is around 20-25 EUR/ lasts 10 years, while pads+tampons cost around 60-120 EUR/1 year only!!)
- It helps to preserve our planet while reducing the waste (1 woman uses 110-130kg of tampons/pads per lifetime! Around 240 tampons per year!)
- Tampons and pads are tested on animals, while cups (Mooncup, Lunnette, Diva or OrganiCup) are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly
- Odour free
- Ideal for water & outdoor activities, perfect for holidays
- No dryness or irritations
How to find yours? It’s different for every woman, they have various sizes, pick one which is more convenient for you. All the mentioned above are ecological and economical ways to live with periods. You don’t feel it if entered properly. It takes a little bit of practice but is definitely worthy, I can’t imagine my period without it. Ecological alternatives are period underwear or cotton washable pads.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/facts-statistics-menstruation#1
http://www.mirandagray.co.uk/
http://thisislifeblood.com/
https://medlineplus.gov/menstruation.html
https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle
https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/period-problems
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3392715/
https://www.womenshealth.gov/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-causes/syc-20374938
https://www.self.com/story/this-is-whats-actually-in-your-period-blood
https://www.organicup.com/blog/powerful-environmental-reasons-to-switch-to-a-menstrual-cup/