The Science of Menstruation

According to a 2024 WHO report on water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools, globally, only 39% schools provide menstrual health education, and less than 1 in 3 schools have bins for menstrual health in girls toilets. It’s indeed a concern that natural biological phenomena like menstruation are still poorly understood, even in developed nations.

What is menstruation?

A period/menstruation is the monthly shedding of the uterine lining (called the endometrium) when pregnancy doesn’t occur. It's a natural process where the body sheds blood, tissue, and mucus as part of the menstrual cycle, during which the body is preparing for a possible pregnancy.

What is a menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is a periodic journey the body undertakes to prepare for pregnancy. Each cycle prepares the uterus to receive a fertilized egg by thickening the endometrium. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the estrogen and progesterone levels fail, and the endometrium is shed. To avoid contamination, the body naturally discards through periods. Most cycles last between 21 to 35 days, with the bleeding lasting 3-7 days. Periods usually start with puberty (9-15 years) and continue till menopause (45-55 years).

Issues Menstruators have:

Menstruation has typically been called the “fifth vital sign” alongside pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and temperature, and for good reason, as its impact is seen on the body. Some days before and during menstruation, menstruators may experience mood swings, irritability, anxiety, cramps, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, and fatigue. This phase in a menstrual cycle is called the luteal phase. Consequently, biological (age, genetics) and lifestyle factors (diet, sleep, exercise, and harmful chemical exposure, etc.) can significantly impact the severity of the luteal phase.

Care

Period care revolves around two approaches biologically altering the way the body processes periods or physically managing the periods. Generic medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen mainly target cramps and abdominal pain where whereas prescription drugs like hormonal contraceptives and IUDs are used for regulating or suppressing periods. In addition, supplementary drugs like iron or vitamins are used against anemia from heavy bleeding.

Products that physically manage periods like disposable pads, tampons, or reusable products such as period underwear, menstrual cups & discs.

You may need to consult your doctor if you see changes in your period patterns, if your periods are heavier, if they last longer than 8 days. If the period cramps are extremely painful or if you bleed between your period cycles.