5 Things Your Menstrual Cycle Tells You About Your Body

The menstrual cycle is a natural process that every woman experiences, but did you know that it can also reveal important information about your health? In this article, we will explore 5 key things that your menstrual cycle can tell you about your body.

  1. Bright red blood marks the beginning of your period

Yes, if your blood is bright red at the beginning of your period, this is just normal. It is not a sign of a health issue or anything to worry about. Fresh blood just flows naturally when your period has only started.

Bright red blood is the blood that has not oxidised, so the fresher your blood is the brighter its hue of red. You will notice that on the second or third day of menstruation the colour of your blood begins to darken.

This is not a source of concern either. Your menstruation blood naturally becomes browner in colour as your period progresses because this is old blood that is only being flushed out of your body now.

The blood has stayed in the uterus for a day or two and has gone through oxidation, so then, the colour becomes darker.

  1. Blood clots are normal, but if they are too big and too often…

A lot of women will notice blood clots getting shed during their period. Blood clots are actually a very normal part of menstruation and almost all women shed them here and there, every now and then.

In essence, blood clots in themselves are just a sign of heavy bleeding. This is not necessarily a source of concern, especially if you feel just fine anyway.

However, some women may shed much bigger blood clots in a more regular pattern and this may concern them. If you are worried, you can talk to your gyno to get yourself checked.

Bigger blood clots may be a sign of several health problems, such as hypothyroidism, symptomatic anaemia, and uterine fibroids.

All of the health issues mentioned have amazing treatment options, so if you and your gyno found out about one of them, don't panic.

  1. A skipped period may be a sign of extreme stress

Women can sometimes skip a period and there are many reasons for this. Even if you may think not having a period for an entire month is very convenient, this is actually not a good sign of health.

When your body skips a period, the next one that comes along may be more painful due to more blood and uterine lining that need to be shed. With that said, it is always a good idea to maintain a regular period.

Based on research reported by WebMD, stress can be one of the reasons for skipped periods. When your body skips a period, the subsequent one may be more painful due to the accumulation of more blood and uterine lining that need to be shed. Therefore, it is beneficial to prioritize maintaining a regular menstrual cycle to potentially mitigate the discomfort and effects of irregular periods.

Be that as it may, skipping a period itself is usually caused by hormonal imbalances. One thing that can lead to this imbalance is extreme stress.

When you are stressed out—either by school or work—your body produces cortisol in exchange for female sex hormones. When you are lacking female sex hormones, the body doesn't get the signal to shed the uterine lining.

  1. Spotting between periods could indicate STD or cancer

Women shed blood from their vaginas during menstruation, any spotting that happens between periods is not usual the least bit.

But don’t be alarmed just yet, sometimes spotting between periods can happen due to injury or hormonal changes. If that is the case, and you notice that spotting is very light, this is hardly a source of concern.

However, spotting between periods can indeed also mean a more serious health problem.

Based on the Northwestern Medicine study, it's important to note that spotting between periods may not always be a cause for concern. However, it is essential to have open discussions with your physician about any instances of extra bleeding to ensure proper evaluation for potential issues. Spotting could be associated with abnormal tissue growth or uterine cancer.

Bleeding when you’re not in your period could be a result of ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, or endometrial cancer. In another scenario, bleeding when you’re not having your period can also signify a sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia.

You will never know the truth if you don’t get yourself checked by a doctor. With that said, if your spotting feels concerning, don’t hesitate to make a visit to your gyno.

  1. Heavy and long periods could indicate uterine fibroids

Studies have suggested that most women bleed out some 60-80ml of blood each period. 80ml is usually experienced by those who typically bleed 'heavily' in their first and second days of menstruation.

Heavy bleeding is normal in many women and is hardly a source of concern. However, if you feel like you always bleed very heavily and your periods typically last longer than 7 days, this may be an indication of a disease.

Most women usually bleed for 4 to 7 days; 5 days being the average. If you bleed for more than 7 days and this happens often, you may be dealing with 0uterine fibroids.

According to the research reported by Cleveland Clinic, approximately one-third of women report concerns about heavy menstrual bleeding to their gynecologists. The term "heavy" refers to the need to change tampons or pads every hour or so, experiencing periods lasting over a week, or passing blood clots larger than a quarter. Several potential causes for heavy bleeding include issues with reproductive organs or hormones, pelvic inflammatory disease.

Uterine fibroids are a non-cancerous growth of muscles in the uterine walls and this causes the lining of your uterus to get thicker. This then causes more blood and lining to be shed. You may notice large blood clots as well.

To summarize everything, we can say that the menstrual cycle can tell a lot about female reproductive health and overall physical well-being. The list of things we provided about the menstrual cycle can help you identify the current state of your body.


Causes Of Low Female Libido

February 14 is considered as a Valentine’s Day. However, it is also known as National Impotence Day. Lack of sex drive is commonly found in females than in males. The American Medical Association has reported that millions of US women suffer from female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).

Low female libido is caused due to many reasons.

Physical Causes

A varied range of illnesses, medications and physical changes causes low sex drive which includes the following.

Psychological Causes

Even if you are perfectly healthy, few psychological problems can result in low female libido.

Hormone Causes

Changes in hormone might decrease your sexual desire

Though there are many pills and potions introduced by various drug companies, you can cure yourselves in a natural manner which is effective and safe for an overall sex drive.

For this, firstly, you need to make lifestyle changes as they can make a big difference in sexual desire. You need to perform the exercise and be stress-free. Exercises would increase your stamina, elevates your mood and enhances sexual desire. It is also important that there is a sense of happiness and well being to create an interest in sex.

Secondly, you need to make relationship changes with your partner. Disagreements and conflicts are part of any relationship. You need to communicate your issues in an open and honest manner to maintain a strong emotional bonding which leads to better sex. You can seek counseling with a sex-therapist in addressing sexual concerns.

Thirdly, there are many medical treatments available to treat low female libido. Estrogen therapy –by patch, pill or gel show a positive effect on sexual response. This therapy helps in increased blood flow to the vagina and helps improve sexual desire.

Women can take help in either of these treatments to enhance sex drive. However, it should be remembered that fluctuations in sexual desire are a natural part of any relationship.

Henceforth, you should not focus your complete attention on sex. Instead, try nurturing your relationship with your partner by going for a walk, getting extra sleep, make a date night at the favorite restaurant. This would make you feel good about your relationship that would drive you for sex foreplay.