Period Information

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The Average Period:

The average age that girls start getting their period is 12, but a lot of girls get it a couple years earlier or later than that. And that's ok too. But if you have not had a period by the time that you're 16, talk to a doctor about it.

This is what the average 28 day cycle looks like.



The first day of your period is day 1 in your cycle. Periods usually last about 5 days. Ovulation (when you're most fertile) happens around day 14.

Not everyone has that perfect 28 day cycle though. And that's usually fine (scroll down and read the post titled 'How Normal is Your Period' for more information about when you should be concerned and should see a doctor about your period).

But since not everyone has a 28 day cycle, since even people with a 28 day cycle might not be ovulating around day 14, since some people have long periods and ovulate early and therefore may ovulate during their period, and since sperm can live in the v****a for almost a week, there is no time during your cycle when pregnancy is impossible. There are times when pregnancy is more or less likely. But there is never a time when it is impossible. So if you don't want or can't provide for a baby, you should be using at least one method of protection (ideally male latex condoms and one hormonal method) every single time.  

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Period Supplies:

Disposable pads have a sticky side that sticks to your underwear. They often have wings that wrap around and give you extra protection on the sides of your underwear. There are thinner pads and thicker pads. So choose the ones that are right for you at that point in your cycle. You can sleep with a pad on. If you're having a heavy flow day, you'll probably want to look for a pad that's labeled "overnight." Change your pad before bed and again when you wake up (or after your shower if you take them soon after waking up). When you're done with a pad, you can roll it up in the wrapper of your next pad and throw it away. Never flush a pad or its wrapper down the toilet.

Disposable tampons are inserted into the v****a and absorb fluid. Some tampons come with an applicator. Others do not. If they don't, that means you have to use your finger to get it in there. It can be difficult to know how far it needs to go at first. So if you're new to tampons, get the kind with the applicator at first. If your tampon is in correctly, you shouldn't really feel it. If you can feel it, it's probably not in far enough. Make sure you leave the little string hanging out. That's how you'll get the tampon out later. Most tampons can be flushed, but most of their applicators cannot be. Even if your tampon has an applicator and even if the string is hanging out like it should be, wash your hands before and after you change your tampon. There are lighter tampons and heavier tampons. You can use whichever you prefer. Although lighter tampons are recommended, even if it means you have to change them more often and even if it means you can't sleep with your tampon in. Heavier tampons have a higher risk of TSS. TSS is an infection that has been linked to tampons and can actually be deadly. Your chances of getting TSS increase if you don't wash your hands before and after changing a tampon, if you leave a tampon in for too long, or if you use the heavy absorbency tampons.

Cloth pads are an alternative to disposables pads. One of the most popular brands is LunaPads. The pads have wings that snap together under your underwear. They also have a little insert on the top so that you can put cloth liners in them to make them thicker. They can be washed and used over and over. They can be a little pricey up front, but they last for years, so they save you money in the long run. And they don't contain bleach (most disposables do; that's how they get so perfectly white), so they're healthier for your v****a. Reusable cloth pads are also better for the environment since they produce less garbage. They're also great for those days that you don't have your period but know that it's due anytime, so you want to wear something just in case (you can use disposable pads for that too, but disposables can develop a funky smell after a few hours, even if you don't have your period; cloth pads won't get any funkier than your underwear would). The only downside is that if you don't do your own laundry, that might be a little awkward. Other than that, cloth pads are great. They're what I use, and I highly recommend them. If you're having trouble visualizing how they work, here's a video:
http://www.youtube.com/v/JSrmIPFvdE4
Here are some cleaning tips: (I just toss mine in the washing machine and add a cup of vinegar - vinegar is a natural germ killer, and it kills some things that soap might not get rid of): http://www.youtube.com/v/WWwJXipTcdw
For more videos, including advice on how to how to make your own pads if you're handy (I bought LunaPads, then I just use pieces of old T-shirts or pajama pants for the liners): http://lunapads.com/tips-and-advice/how-to-videos

Menstrual cups are an alternative to disposable tampons. One of the most popular brands is the DivaCup. You insert it like a tampon. But instead of absorbing the blood, the cup collects it. That's actually better for your v****a; disposable tampons can dry you out, which can means your v****a doesn't flush itself out as easily, which means an increased risk of infection. Reusable menstrual cups don't leave any fibers behind like disposable tampons can, and they don't have bleach like many disposable tampons do, so there is a lower risk of infection. There have been no reports of TSS in menstrual cup users. The cup has a little handle on the bottom so that you can pull it out. You can then dump the liquid in the toilet, rinse the cup out in the sink, and reinsert it. You should wash your hands before and after. Like reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups are better for the environment than disposables and will save you money in the long run. I have never used one myself, but I have heard some great reviews of them. Be aware that they might take a little practice to get in and out at first. If you're new to menstrual cups, you might want to wear a pad with it at first until you're sure you've got the hang of inserting it correctly.
If you want to see one and learn more, watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/v/Gdmq73ZogVU  

[LorienLlewellyn]

How "Normal" Is Your Period?
Erika Stalder
September 6th 2013

"The government can graph and chart its way to stuff like “normal” BMI rates and weight all it wants, but from adolescence on, most women (and increasingly, science) know that when it comes to our bodies, there’s no such thing as “normal.” Just ask the 30-year-old women facing the elusive 50 shades of perimenopause, flat-chested 15-year-olds, or anyone who gets a period. Sure, we're taught from early on that a so-called normal period will inconvenience us every 28 days. Or, that we will bleed up to seven days a month. It turns out, there’s a far greater range for what doctors consider okay when it comes to how often, how much, or how long we bleed.

So, how are we to know when skipping a few periods is medically sound vs. a sign that something bigger, like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) — in which the ovaries go overboard on testosterone and other androgen production — is kicking in? The first step is to ditch any idea of “normal” and figure out what’s normal for you.

By paying attention to your monthly cycle — including how frequently you bleed, how much you bleed, how long you bleed, and how much physical pain strikes — you’ll best realize when a change in your period occurs, which is the first step in discovering an underlying health problem. And, should your body-mind connection not be so attuned, there’s an app for that (or 20), which will track these stats and more.

Once you get a sense of what’s rhythmically right for you, then you can start to delineate between what might not be worth worrying about and when something may be wrong (and warrant a trip to the OB/GYN). We talked with Dr. Lauren Streicher, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s medical school and author of The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy, about the most common freakouts that come with changes in periods and when to see a doctor for help.

You’ve Skipped a Couple of Periods
After ruling out pregnancy (and here’s where an app comes in handy) figure out exactly how many periods you’ve skipped. If it’s fewer than three periods, there’s no need to book an emergency appointment with your OB/GYN, according to Dr. Streicher. “Missing a period once in a while is no big deal,” she says. “A lot of times someone is going to miss her period for reasons, like stress or travel.” But, if your normal cycle has been disrupted for three months or more (a condition called amenorrhea), it’s time to take the money you’ve saved from not buying tampons over the past few months and use it to pony up for a co-pay to see your doctor.

“The major concern when someone isn't getting a period is that she will be getting an endometrial build-up in the lining of the uterus, which can be problematic down the road,” Streicher says. Other health problems tied to missing three or more periods include endometriosis, thyroid problems, premature ovarian failure (POF) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Likewise, disordered eating and extreme weight loss can cause periods to vanish for long chunks of time. And, those who suffer from eating disorders and amenorrhea are also at risk to lose bone density. "The normal hormone cycle gets disrupted when there's no body fat," Streicher says. "The concern is that [such women] risk osteoporosis because their estrogen levels are so low."

Your Periods Are Painful
It’s easy to think that cramping is just part of the raw deal we get with menstruation, and that we should put to up with it, no matter how intense it gets. Since pain is so subjective, and such a tough thing to measure, it’s hard to know when period-associated pain warrants a trip to the doctor. In many cases, a couple of ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen pills will help kill the pain. Research also shows that sex, exercise, and applying heat can also reduce menstrual pain.

But, if you find that cramping and pain around the time of your period is so severe that it leaves you bedridden, then it’s time to seek medical help. “It’s never normal to have such bad pain with your periods that you have to stay home, cancel normal activities, and you're not able to do the things that you like to do,” Dr. Streicher explains. “There’s a big difference between the person who needs a couple of Advil and the person who looks at the calendar before they schedule anything because [they’re preparing for severe menstrual] pain.”

You’re Spilling Much More Blood Than Usual
Heavier periods are the most high-maintenance kind. But, when they become a health concern is often indicated by the number of cubic centimeters (CCs) you bleed. Doctors often cite a total blood loss of 80 CCs as being a point at which further medical examination is necessary. But, it’s not like we’re going to measure the stuff, so Dr. Streicher suggests a more intuitive cue as far as how much is too much. “What I tell women who notice a big change in how much they bleed is to notice how many pads or tampons they’re using. If they were going through four or five pads or tampons a day and suddenly, they’re going through 10, that is something to get checked out,” she says.

Heavier periods have been linked to everything from smoking to endometriosis and uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths on the uterus that can cause back pain or make it tough to pee). All three of these health concerns have been linked to infertility, so re-regulating a period after a big change in flow can potentially help with reproductive health down the road.

Heavy periods can also reduce red blood cell counts and deplete iron levels. If you experience heavy periods, your doctor may suggest oral contraceptives and lifestyle changes, like boosting iron and vitamin C intake, with foods like fish and red peppers, about two weeks before your period in order to prevent the onset of anemia.

You’re bleeding more than once a month.
Though it’s often stated that a “normal” period should come every 28 days, it’s perfectly normal to have one every 21 to 35 days. Women can even have a period only 14 days from her last and have nothing to worry about. “If this happens once in a blue moon, don't get crazed about it,” Dr. Streicher says. But, if you find that you’re bleeding every two weeks, then it’s a good idea to get that checked out, as bleeding between regular periods may indicate changes in hormone levels or even miscarriage.

The Bottom Line
While Streicher says it’s “very common” to have a funky change occur with your period, only to return to normal, it’s important to gauge what’s normal for you, then look for major changes like missing a period for four months, heavy bleeding for several continuous months, and debilitating pain. Changes like this require medical attention, as they can help reveal other medical conditions or n** further complications in the bud.

And, just like there is no “normal” period for all women, says Dr. Streicher, there is no specific guideline for period irregularities for women of all ages. “Any of the gynecologic conditions increase with age, so the approach is very different with the 23-year-olds who say they had a couple of heavy periods and the 44-year olds that come in with heavy periods. The older you are, the greater the chance that there is something amiss that you may need to get checked out.” So, if there’s something amiss, don’t delay — after all, none of us are getting any younger."
http://www.refinery29.com/menstrual-cycle#page-1  

[LorienLlewellyn]

Menstruation Facts: Twelve Things You May Not Know About Your Period
Christina Huffington
02/12/2013

"If you want to view VICE's 2012 photo series "There Will Be Blood," you have to confirm you are over 18 years old. The series is neither violent -- as its title might imply -- nor sexualized, so why the NSFW label? Because the photographer, Emma Arvida Bystrom, captured women visibly menstruating while engaging in otherwise ordinary daily tasks. Your period, as HuffPost Women Associate Editor Emma Gray put it, is something that we're taught "should be covered, hidden and cleaned up."

That may be why some women don't seem to know important details about how their bodies work. For instance, a 2012 Australian survey found that only "13 percent of women could correctly answer which days of their menstrual cycle they were fertile."

Whether your last encounter with the minutia of menstruation was in your middle school sex ed class -- my fifth grade teacher helpfully announced to my class of girls that I had already become a woman! -- or whether you sometimes feel like you know more than your Ob-Gyn, chances are there are still a couple things you have yet to learn.

Here are 12 things you may not know about your period:

1. You can get pregnant on your period. Yes, it is highly unlikely but it's not impossible so don't use menstruating as an excuse not to use protection.

2. You are most fertile during -- and around -- ovulation. Ovulation -- the release of an egg from an ovary -- typically happens midway through a woman's cycle. Ovulation calculators are helpful in tracking your cycle.

3. Irregular periods can mean any number of things. Irregular menstruation -- whether in the form of missing a period, spotting between periods or a period lasting more than seven days -- can be caused by everything from extreme weight loss or stress to pregnancy to the use of certain drugs to serious illnesses like uterine cancer. Consult your doctor if you are concerned about an irregular period.

4. Walt Disney made a movie about it. In 1946, Disney released The Story Of Menstruation as an educational aid for sex ed classes. It is rumored that the film was the first to use the word "v****a." Betcha didn't expect that from the pretty princess factory!

5. The average period releases less than a cup of blood. Complain about heavy flow all you want, but the fact is that most women lose between a few tablespoons and a cup each month. This is not to say that Tampax 'super plus' are not sometimes necessary.

6. Menstruation by any other name is still menstruation. Remember in middle school when you were embarrassed to say you were on your period so you and your friends made up code names? No? Uh, well... Code names through the ages include Crimson Tide, TOM (time of the month), Elmo riding the cotton pony, Aunt Flo, the rag and the, er, crime scene.

7. Views on period sex vary. We know sexual preference is individual -- there's a spectrum on everything from preferred gender to preferred position -- so it makes sense that opinion on period sex would be individual too. (This goes for both men and women.)

8. On that note, your period might make you frisker than usual. Progesterone -- the hormone believed to potentially lower your libido -- is at its lowest during your period so if you're craving more than a Snickers, chances are you're not alone.

9. No one knows if period syncing is a real thing. Yes, it's very well possible that you / your sister / your roommate / your partner share more than just secrets. The science behind the theory continues to be controversial, but as anyone who has ever found themselves reaching for Midol and a pair of sweatpants at the same time as their BFF can attest, it seems pretty legitimate.

10. Menstruation is still considered taboo in some places. While pre-teen girls in America may have to endure teasing from their less-than-understanding male classmates, in places like rural India girls are told not to cook food lest it be polluted, not to touch idols lest they be defiled and not to handle pickles because they will go rotten.

11. Always was the first company to show blood in an advertisement for sanitary napkins -- in 2011. They broke the "women bleed blue liquid" trend but the ad still only appeared in print. Guess the taboo factor still stands.

12. The average age a girl in the United States gets her period is 12. Girls are getting their periods younger than ever and it is unknown what's causing the puberty speedup, with theories ranging from environmental factors to higher fat diets to stress."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/07/menstruation-facts-things-to-know-about-your-period_n_2639523.html?utm_hp_ref=womens-health  

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