7 Amazing Facts you Need to Know about your Period

7 facts about periods

Having your period may feel like an inconvenience, but it is actually a sign that you are healthy. Check out 7 amazing facts about periods you need to know.

Your period is not a monthly inconvenience, it is just one of the many amazing abilities of the female body. While your monthly cycle can bring discomfort and unpredictability, it also has many incredible abilities all on its own.

We asked Dr. Kate Killoran to share her medical insights about periods. Check out these seven amazing facts about periods.

1. You Can Get Pregnant On Your Period

The arrival of your period is often a woman’s first sign that she is not pregnant. However, just because you are not currently pregnant does not mean you don’t need birth control during your period.

While unlikely, it is possible to become pregnant during your period. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the majority of women who have normal menstrual cycles that are 28 to 30 days long will not get pregnant on their periods.

However, in women who have shorter menstrual cycles, it is possible to become pregnant during periods. This can occur if you have intercourse towards the end of your period. Sperm can live inside your body for up to five days. So if you ovulate earlier with a shorter cycle, fertilization can occur.

While conceiving on your period is not likely, sex right after your period is much more likely to result in pregnancy. During the average 28-day menstrual cycle the fertility window is between day 11 and day 21. This is because sperm can live up to five days within the female body.

Your chances of conception will increase with each day after your period.

2. Toxic Shock Syndrome

While many may associate toxic shock syndrome with the use of tampons, in reality, this rare side effect of bacterial infections can affect men and children as well as menstruating women.

Toxic shock syndrome will often result from toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria.

Toxic shock syndrome also can affect someone with any type of staph infection, including:

  • a skin infection
  • an infected wound
  • pneumonia
  • an abscess
  • the bone infection osteomyelitis
  • the blood infection septicemia

In rarer cases, it can be caused by toxins produced by group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. When strep causes toxic shock syndrome it is usually because bacteria have gotten into injured skin.

Toxic shock syndrome has been linked to the use of super-absorbent tampons. As tampon ingredients and education on how often to change them has improved, the instances of toxic shock syndrome have decreased. Today about half of the instances of toxic shock syndrome are due to tampon use during menstruation.

Two birth control methods, the contraceptive sponge and the diaphragm have also been linked to toxic shock syndrome.

What Menstrual Products Cause Toxic Shock Syndrome?

It is important to change your tampon at least every 8 hours in order to protect yourself from toxic shock syndrome. While more often associated with the use of tampons, there has been at least one confirmed case of toxic shock syndrome associated with the use of menstrual cups.

The case occurred when a 37 year old woman with a history of heavy menstrual periods used a menstrual cup for the first time. Upon insertion she noticed she got a minor injury inside her vagina. Within ten days she was in the ER.

Forgot when you last changed your tampon well you need to be aware of that if you want to avoid toxic shock syndrome (TSS). According to Diana Hoppe you need to change your tampon at least every eight hours. But if you don’t remember the last time you changed it and you start feeling flu like symptoms it is better that you rush to ER.

Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome

The symptoms of toxic shock syndrome can have a sudden onset.

  • a high fever (temperature at least 102°F [38.8°C])
  • muscle aches
  • Feeling lightheaded or faint (this is due to a sudden drop in blood pressure)
  • diarrhea
  • headache
  • A rash on any part of the body (including the palms and soles of the feet) that resembles a sunburn.
  • constant thirst
  • vomiting
  • confusion
  • weakness
  • tiredness
  • peeing less than usual

If the toxic shock syndrome is the result of an infected would you may notice the wound becomes swollen red and tender. The infected person may experience bloodshot eyes with an unusual redness under the eyes, inside the mouth or inside the vagina.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect you may have toxic shock syndrome it is important to get medical help right away.

intersting pregnancy fact: you can have as many as 450 periods in your lifetime
Source: Canva

3. You can have as many as 450 periods or as little as 150 periods in your Lifetime

The amount of periods women have in their life can vary wildly. There are many factors that go into the amount of periods you will have in your lifetime. One of the biggest factors is the amount of pregnancies and time you spend breastfeeding.

Pregnancy represents a break from your period. This break is often extended by breastfeeding. In some women (but not all) exclusive breastfeeding after the birth of your baby can extend the break from your period as well as act as a natural contraceptive.  Since this break is not guaranteed and could suddenly stop it is important to not rely on breastfeeding as your only source of contraception. Ovulation could suddenly occur and without contraception you could find yourself pregnant again.

Girls Entering Puberty Earlier

Another determining factor is when you begin your period. The age for the onset of puberty in girls has fallen steadily. Some studies have linked higher amounts of body fat to earlier onset of puberty. Getting your period earlier in life not only means you will likely have more periods in your lifetime, but it is also linked to health complications.

The earlier before age 12 a girl starts her period, the higher her lifetime risk for breast cancer This is likely from the prolonged estrogen exposure. Another study has also linked early puberty with an increased risk of drug use, bullying and teenage pregnancy.

4. A Missed Period does Not Always Mean you are Pregnant

Interesting period fact: a missed period does not always mean you are pregnant
Source: Canva

For many women, a missed period is the first sign of pregnancy. While this is often the case, it is not always. There are actually many reasons why you may have missed your period other than pregnancy.

Stress: Stress can have major impacts on your health. While some stress is healthy in your life, too much stress can negatively impact your mental and physical health, including your period.

Your menstrual cycle is regulated through the rising and lowering levels of several hormones. These hormones work within a delicate balance to keep your cycle regular. Stress raises cortisol levels and disrupts your blood sugar which disrupts your ovulation and period.

Hormones and Weight Changes

Hormone imbalance: The female reproductive system requires a delicate balance of hormones needed to trigger ovulation. Many women with hormonal imbalances may suffer from delayed or irregular periods. One common condition caused by a hormone imbalance that results in delayed or missed periods is polycystic ovarian syndrome.  This condition is caused by an excess of androgens (or male hormones) within the female body.

Significant weight changes: A significant change in your weight can affect your period. The change in your period often depends on your starting weight. For example, extremely overweight or underweight women may not have a period. A weight gain or loss that results in a healthy body weight could cause ovulation to resume. Consequently, if the weight loss or gain results in an unhealthy body weight, it could cause ovulation to stop.

The reason that these changes can stop your period is because of the way they affect your body. Women who are underweight put additional stressors on the body which can trigger a low estrogen level and hormonal changes in the body. Adding weight to achieve a healthy BMI (body mass index) will remove these stressors so ovulation can resume.

Gaining weight (especially resulting in a BMI over 35) often leads to missed or irregular periods. The reason for this is because additional body fat produces an excess of estrogen which causes additional hormone imbalance.

source: Canva

5. Heavy Periods Could Indicate a Hormone Imbalance

While some women may think they are losing large amounts of blood each month, the majority of women are only losing between 10 and 30 ml each period. That is as little as two tablespoons! Considering this loss is spread out over about 5 days, that means most women are not actually losing that much each day.

While this is the typical amount, some women have much heavier periods. This is a condition known as menorrhagia.

Typical periods last up to seven days. If your period lasts longer than seven days or you have to change your pad or tampon more often than every two hours you likely are experiencing menorrhagia. Another common sign of this condition is passing blood clots larger than a quarter.

Worrying Blood Clots

Not all women get blood clots during their period and it is not abnormal or unusual to see a few. According to Susan Wysocki, a nurse practitioner and board member of the American Sexual Health Association. “Our bodies are engineered in a way that blood, with the help of internal chemicals, clots so that we don’t bleed to death,” she says. Some of these clots can be from uterine tissues that were not completely broken down but others can be bigger. If the clots are bigger you should visit your doctor as there might be some other problems associated with it.

When hormones are balanced properly the estrogen and progesterone regulate the build up of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). It is this lining that is shed during menstruation. When hormones are imbalanced the endometrium can build up in excess which causes the heavy menstrual bleeding.

This type of hormone imbalance can be caused by a number of conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), obesity, insulin resistance and thyroid problems.

Related: My period is 27 days late. What is wrong with me? 

6. Your Period can Affect your Libido

While many studies report that your libido should peak at ovulation, many women report feeling amorous during their period. It may be because you have a respite from your PMS symptoms that resolve with the onset of your period. It could also be due to the increased blood flow and lubrication that accompanies your menstrual flow.

Unfortunately menstruating has been shown to make women less attractive to men. A 2012 study in the Journal of Hormones and Behavior had men rate the attractiveness of 202 women’s faces and speaking voices at two different points in their menstrual cycles.

Men rated the women’s faces and voices more attractive when their progesterone levels were low and their estrogen levels were high. This occurs during ovulation.

7. Period Synchronization

Source: Canva

Strange but true, according to research some women sync their periods with their best friends. This is mostly because of odorless chemicals called pheromones.  People living in close proximity may have similar diets, exercise routines, sleep/wake cycles, and shared stressors that can impact menstruation, says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., an OBGYN at the Mount Kisco Medical Group and author of V Is for Vagina.

Read next: 5 Tips to Avoid your next UTI

Do you Have Concerns About Your Period?

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