Women's Matter - Six things your period can tell you about your health

Look before you flush, not only your urine or poop, but also your period and find out the six things your monthly visitor can tell you about your health, from what's normal to what's not at any age.


1) Period pain
Dysmenorrhea, the medical term for menstural cramps, causes pain due to the shedding of the uterine lining during your period. It happens to 50% of women and is the result of excessive amounts of prostaglandin - a hormone involved in pain and inflammation.
Severe, disabling cramps felt in the lower abdomen, however can indicate a more serious health problem: Endometriosis. Women with the disorder have uterine tissue growing outside the uterus, typically in the pelvic area. As the tissue begins to shed away, the blood has nowhere to go. Between 7 to 10% of women suffer endometriosis.

2) Colour of your period
Knowing the colour of your period can reveal a lot about your hormonal health. Hormones are continuously changing during a four-week cycle, which can impact the colour and consistency of your menstrual cycle.
Women will typical experience three colour patterns during their period: frozen mashed-up blueberries, strawberry jam and cranberry juice, said Alisa vittic, a holistic health counselor and functional nutritionist, on the Dr Oz show.
- Frozen blueberry texture and colour are usually an indicator of high estrogen levels which can lead the lining of the uterus to thicken and when this hormone is in excess; it is typically seen in heavier cycles
- Strawberry jam or one with a pink appearance, its usually a sign that estrogen levels are too low, which can lead to vaginal dryness, low libido, hair loss and even fatigue. Women who have low estrogen levels, experience patchy periods that come here and there and are frequently late.
- Cranberry juice are "normal" and tend to start and end on time. However, women with these periods should always be on the lookout for premenstrual syndrome(PMS). Although many women think having PMS is normal, its not. PMS is one of the first signs. that your body may be on the path towards a hormonal imbalance.

3) Flow of your period
While it may seem that you're losing gallons of blood during your monthly cycle, the average period only releases less than a cup of blood, says the iron disorder institute. However it is not to say women can't experience heavy bleeding.
- a prolonged time of heavy bleeding during your period could cause anemia or could lead to: fertility-threatening fibroids, growths on the uterine wall; polyps, tumors in the cervix or uterus or endometriosis. This conditions are more prevalent in women after age 35.
- women who experience severe blood loss during their period have menorrhagia; a condition that causes enough blood loss and cramping that it becomes difficult to maintain usual activities.
- women who experience a lighter blood flow on their periods could either be going through hormonal changes, poor nutrition or stress. Light mensutrual period are often seen in women who are entering perimenopause or menopause or those who take hormonal birth control methods.

4) Frequency of your period
The frequency of your period is a good indicator of how your health is doing. Menstrual flow might occur every 21- 35 days and last 2-7 days, with menstrual cycles shortening and becoming more regular as you age.
If you experience irregular periods past your teens whether you spot between periods or have a perios that lasts more than 7 days, this may be due to extreme weight loss, stress, pregnancy or use of certain drugs to treat conditions such as uterine cancer.
In addition excessive drinking(of alcohol) can cause irregular periods.
Its normal for women to experience an irregular period from time to time as they are not dangerous in most cases but its best to consult a doctor to identify the cause of irregularity or abnormal flow.



5)Bleeding after your period
Bleeding after your period is normal for women who take birth control pills, which leads to small amounts of staining and cramps throughout various points in a woman's cycle. However women who do not take birth control pills and still see bleeding after their period should consult their doctor.
It could be a sign of cancer, precancer, vaginal infection, hormonal imbalance or a polyp.

6) Absence of your period
Secondary amenorrhea - due to some other cases other than pregnancy - occurs in about for percent of the general population and is classified as when a women who has normal menstrual cycles stops getting her periods for six or more months.
This can occur in women who take birth control pills or receive hornone shots. However women who are obese, exercise too much or for long periods of time, and have low body fat are more likely to experience this. Other health causes may include brain tumors, overactive thyroid gland or a reduced function of the ovaries.


Source: www.medicaldaily.com/your-menstrual-cycle-exposed-6-things-your-period-can-tell-you-about-your-health-278028