Let’s take the average Dutch woman as an example. She may experience the following: She had 450 periods in her life. (The time spent menstruating can add up to more than eight years).
However, in populations where pregnancy is common, such as the Dogon people of Mali, women may only experience a fraction of them. 100th period throughout their lives.
Scientists speculate that this sharp increase in total life span is occurring in developed countries. pregnant or breastfeeding (Both suppress menstruation).In addition, menarche, or the beginning of menstruation, begins when I was young than previous generations.
This is significant because excessive bleeding and severe pain during menstruation can now be far more deadly for women.
What is normal menstruation?
So what does this mean? Well, there is a textbook definition of normal, and there is a normal for you. Sometimes these things overlap, and sometimes they don’t.but These parameters from the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics is often used by clinicians.
- Normal periods occur every 24 to 38 days
- Bleeding does not last more than 8 days
- It occurs with some predictability and varies within 9 days (for ages 26-41, it should be within 7 days).
- Blood loss doesn’t seem too heavy (or too light)
The last part may seem a little difficult. After all, we only live inside our bodies, so how can we know how much is “too heavy”?
Doctors will wait for the patient to tell us if there is significant enough bleeding that the patient is concerned. Other signs that you are losing more blood than usual include:
- I change pads and tampons every 1-2 hours.
- Pads often need to be changed at night.
- Passing through large blood clots (1 inch or larger).
- The doctor diagnoses you with anemia.
But even after checking all these parameters, it’s up to you to decide what is “normal”.
“The key question is how can we optimize people’s menstrual cycles,” said Allison Edelman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University. “Even if your periods are ‘normal,’ if something is not working, you should talk to your provider about it.”
How to treat menstrual pain
One adjustment to consider if you have severe cramps is when to take your medication. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, target prostaglandins, compounds that are produced in the body at the start of menstruation and can cause painful uterine contractions.
Will ibuprofen not work? Edelman says that may be because many of us are used to taking these drugs when we’re in pain, at which point prostaglandin levels are already pretty high. It is called the body.
Instead, start taking ibuprofen one to two days during your cycle. in front The cramps will start. “If we can achieve that before prostaglandin production, we may be able to better control pain,” she explained.
Still, NSAIDs don’t work for everyone. Options for controlling painful spasms and figuring out why they occur should be discussed further with your doctor.
Reasons why menstrual cycles fluctuate
Depending on the month, your period may be “off.” While this alone may not be cause for major concern, it’s important to keep track of irregular periods, as they can be a sign of certain health conditions. Use a period tracker app on your phone, a spreadsheet, a digital calendar, or an old-fashioned paper calendar.
pregnancy: Pregnancy is always at the top of the list of reasons for missed periods. Therefore, if you are sexually active, take a pregnancy test. Keep in mind that you may still see spotting in the early stages of pregnancy.
Endometriosis: This is a very painful condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. It can cause irregular bleeding and is underdiagnosed despite its impact on symptoms. 10 percent of women of reproductive age.
Other events: Other events that can cause period fluctuations include stress (such as traveling or preparing for a big test), extreme exercise, large changes in weight, poor eating habits, acute illness, and of course pregnancy, breastfeeding, puberty, These include menopausal disorders. .
vaccination: As we enter vaccine season, it’s worth remembering that coronavirus vaccination is associated with a temporary slight increase in cycle length. Slightly higher risk of increased menstrual flowas shown in the study of Edelman and her team.
She said these changes usually resolve by the first menstrual cycle after vaccination, but she believes the public should be aware of them as well as other potential side effects. I am.
“You never expected to get a high fever from getting a vaccine, but if you suddenly get a high fever from getting a vaccine, you’d think something was really wrong.”
But that knowledge can provide some peace of mind, Edelman said.
What we want patients to know
People who experience heavy bleeding during menstruation often think it’s normal because their mother or sister also has the same symptoms. It is really important not to normalize suffering. Take a step back and assess your symptoms from a distance. If they interfere with your daily life, much less enjoy it, don’t put off seeing your doctor.
