Period mistakes are not a myth, and women have been making them for decades. There are some dos and don’t that must be considered during the menstrual cycle. Here are five-period mistakes that women make every month.
- Eating spicy and greasy foods
A week before your period, you may have a huge craving for spicy and greasy foods. Actually, your body does this because of the fluctuating hormones.
Of course, as long as you are eating in moderation, you can eat anything you want in the week leading to your period, and also on your period.
However, the biggest mistake would be giving in too easily to greasy foods like junk foods, French fries, and other heavily oily food items. Spicy and greasy food items can easily increase your risk of bloating.
Also, most food items like this are high in salt content, so this can worsen your water retention, which can make your boobs and stomach hurt even more.
Taking spicy food in moderation isn’t bad. But you still need to hydrate your body more.
Staying hydrated help to flush out bacteria which may be introduced by using hands to insert tampons,
Besides, plenty of water in your body maintain the natural vaginal lubrication, while preventing its dryness.
An article on the Health Shots website advises that you drink more glasses regularly if you are physically active.
Try instead to eat as many fresh fruits and veg during this time. Coconut water is usually great for quenching your thirst for sweet drinks during this time, too.
- Cleaning your vagina thoroughly with soap
There is not a single girl who feels that periods are fun. After all, it can get messy, and honestly to god, the smell is definitely not nice. For this reason, you may be tempted to clean your vagina thoroughly with scented soap.
But this is actually not a good practice to uphold at all. Cleaning your entire vagina with scented soap could actually dry out your vagina and cause further bad odour.
Most importantly, the harsh chemicals are hurting the sensitive skin of your vagina, which is already even more sensitive because you are menstruating.
As such, the best practice according to gynaecologists is to just mildly soap the outer skin around your vagina and to clean the inner skin with just warm water.
When it comes to cleaning the vagina, douching is never a good option as this practice only disturbs the natural flora of the vagina.
- Waiting until the last minute to handle pain
Not every woman experiences extreme pain during menstruation. However, it is true that some women can deal with menstrual cramps that are so extreme they may not even be able to walk.
When this happens, trying to reduce the pain at this level may be futile.
As such, if you know that you’re the type of person who will experience debilitating pain, it is better to get your ibuprofen early on rather than wait until the pain is unbearable for you to deal with alone.
Menstrual pains builds up gradually, and if you keep experiencing the same extreme pain every month, learn to tackle it before it overwhelms you.
How do you intervene? By taking painkiller as soon as the first signs of pain start creeping.
Per an article on the Healthy website, taking painkillers once every six hours on the first day of your period helps. Since this is usually the day the cramps get the worst, don’t wait until it’s extreme.
When you practice this habit, you will be happy with the fact that you’re no longer dealing with menstrual pain which can reduce your ability to do your tasks in a timely manner.
- Using vaginal spray to get rid of odour
Of course, we all know that the vagina doesn’t smell very nice when we are menstruating. I mean, come on, the vagina is shedding uterus lining and blood.
Don’t have weird, unattainable desires to still smell nice down there when your body is doing its own natural thing. With that said, try to avoid using gimmicky feminine products that are meant to ‘perfume’ your vagina.
Products of this nature are not good for the pH balance of your vagina at all. They may feed your fantasy of smelling like a flower down there but none of that is healthy for your body at all.
If you want to avoid an extremely bad smell during your period, just remember to change your tampons or pads regularly and wash your vagina in a correct fashion. Perfumed feminine products actually should never be used near the vagina.
- Not changing your pads or tampons often enough
One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to menstruation maintenance is not changing your tampons or pads often enough.
Feminine products can be expensive and we understand if you want to be economical (even if for environmental reasons), but this is not good practice for your hygiene and more importantly, your health.
On your first and second days, it is wise to check on your pad or tampon once every two, three, or four hours. When your flow is heavy, you need to check every two hours and if you see your feminine product always flowing with blood, you need to change.
Frequent changes of tampons help prevent unintended overflow and leakage. If you leave it in the vagina for too long, you may suffer from more than just overflowing pads.
Per a Healthy Women website publication, prolonged tampon usage results in a situation called toxic shock syndrome. This is a rare, but life-threatening complication caused by bacteria on superabsorbent tampons.
Meanwhile, on the last day of the period, you don’t bleed as much, but you still need to change your pad or tampon once every 6 to 7 hours for hygiene reasons. 8 hours should be tops. This is to prevent bacteria from staying near your vagina too long.
In a nutshell, we elaborated on five-period mistakes that most women make during their periods every month. We are confident that learning about these mistakes can help you avoid making these mistakes in the future and improve your menstrual health.
Why Do I Make More Mistakes On My Period?
Every month, women experience a natural and inevitable process known as menstruation. This physiological phenomenon is characterized by a range of physical and emotional changes that women go through, including mood swings, bloating, and fatigue. Among these changes, many women also report an increase in their tendency to make mistakes during their period. This can range from simple errors in judgment or memory lapses to more significant mistakes with long-term consequences. This phenomenon has been observed and studied for decades, and while there is no definitive answer, there are several reasons why women may make more mistakes during their period.
One of the main reasons for this increase in errors is the fluctuation of hormones during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall during this time, and this hormonal imbalance can affect cognitive function. Estrogen, in particular, plays a crucial role in various cognitive processes, including memory, attention, and decision-making. As the levels of estrogen drop, these cognitive functions can be impaired, leading to a higher rate of mistakes.
Furthermore, the hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can also affect the brain’s neurotransmitters, which are responsible for communication between brain cells. This can result in decreased concentration, making it more challenging to focus and pay attention to details, leading to errors in judgment. The brain’s reward system, which is responsible for motivation and goal-directed behavior, can also be affected, making it more challenging to complete tasks accurately and efficiently.
Another factor that may contribute to the increased likelihood of making mistakes during menstruation is the physical discomfort and pain that many women experience. Menstrual cramps, headaches, and fatigue can all impact a woman’s ability to concentrate and perform tasks accurately. These symptoms can be distracting and make it challenging to focus on the task at hand, leading to more mistakes.
Moreover, many women experience emotional changes during their period, including irritability, mood swings, and increased sensitivity. These changes can also have an impact on cognitive function, making it more challenging to regulate emotions, think rationally, and make sound decisions. As a result, women may be more prone to making mistakes due to their heightened emotional state during this time.
Another contributing factor to the increase in mistakes during menstruation is the societal stigma and shame surrounding periods. Many women are taught to hide or downplay their menstrual cycle, leading to increased stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that stress and anxiety can impair cognitive function, leading to decreased performance and an increase in mistakes. This added pressure and stress can significantly impact a woman’s ability to perform tasks accurately during her period.
It is also essential to note that the severity of these factors can vary from woman to woman. Some may experience more significant hormonal imbalances, while others may have more intense physical or emotional symptoms. Additionally, external factors such as workload and personal stress levels can also contribute to the likelihood of making mistakes during menstruation.
In conclusion, the menstrual cycle is a complex and dynamic process that affects women physically, emotionally, and cognitively. The fluctuations in hormones, physical discomfort, emotional changes, and societal stigma can all contribute to an increase in mistakes during menstruation. It is crucial to acknowledge and understand these factors to support and accommodate women during this time. By recognizing and addressing these issues, we can help minimize the impact of menstruation on women’s cognitive function and overall well-being.
