Menstrual cycle, especially menstrual period probably is one of the taboo topics, but if you observe more closely it can reveal a lot of information when it comes to your health. Read this article and find out the six things your monthly visitor can tell about your health from what’s normal to what’s not at any age.
Period Pain
The medical term for menstrual cramps is dysmenorrhea. Those cramps cause pain due to the shedding of the uterine lining during your period. According to statistics, it happens to 50 % of women and is the result of excessive amounts of prostaglandin. This hormone is involved in pain and inflammation. Severe, disabling cramps felt in the lower abdomen. Still, it can indicate even more serious health problem: endometriosis. Women with the disorder have uterine tissue growing outside the uterus, typically in the pelvic area. As the tissue begins to shed away, the blood has nowhere to go. About 7 – 10 % of women suffer from endometriosis.
Color and Flow of Your Menstrual Cycle
Alisa Vitti is a holistic health counselor and functional nutritionist who describes most period colors in three ways:
- mashed frozen blueberries
- strawberries jam
- cranberry juice
According to this doctor, the color of your period can expose many things about your hormonal health.
Frozen Blueberries
Period which texture and color is similar to frozen blueberries may indicate high cholesterol estrogen levels. Moreover, this may lead to heavier cycle since higher estrogen levels mean the uterus lining could be thicker than normal.
Strawberry Jam
Menstrual cycles with a lighter color, similar to strawberry jam may be a sigh that estrogen levels are low. These cycles may be irregular and often late because less estrogen means thinner lining. For some women, a light flow is related with birth control use.
Cranberry Juice
The red color like cranberry juice is the perfect color of a menstrual cycle, according to Dr. Vitti. This flow often starts and ends on time and won’t be too heavy.
Spotting
Spotting is the little bleeding in between periods. It may indicate that something is wrong, so if you are experiencing spotting check with your doctor.
The biggest causes of spotting are:
- Hormonal imbalance – the imbalance of progesterone and estrogen can be caused by dysfunctional ovaries, thyroid problems, and birth control methods.
- Infection
- Cancer of the cervix, vagina, uterus, or ovaries
- Stress
Pain During Period
Dysmenorrheal is the right term for menstrual cramps and it happens to about half of the female population. This condition is caused by excessive amounts of prostaglandin, which is the hormone involved with inflammation and pain.
However, experiencing severe and disabling cramps for more than two days is not normal. It is a sign of endometriosis, which is where the uterine lining is growing outside the uterus, normally in the pelvic area, instead of inside. This is the reason if you are experiencing severe pain and cramps. Around 10% of women suffer from endometriosis.
