How to Ensure a Healthy Menstrual Cycle

Did you know that a woman is expected to have 450 menstrual cycles on average in her lifetime? Ideally, a cycle lasts for 28 days, so you can imagine that for a large part of your life, you'll have to tackle extreme emotions and the sudden rush of hormones.

Although this is a natural phenomenon, lack of knowledge and certain lifestyle habits can lead to various health related problems. In fact, according to a study conducted by Ibn Sina National College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, about 21.6% women in Saudi Arabia suffered from Oligo and 21.3% reported polymenorrhea. Another problem, dysmenorrhea, accounted for 60% to 90% of the cases of absenteeism from schools.

Bloating, mood swings, painful cramping, etc, are common during the menstrual cycle but people often mistake them as 'normal' which isn't the case.

Tips for a Healthy Menstrual Cycle

1. Decrease Sugar and Caffeine Consumption

Sugar, alcohol, tea and chocolate have one thing in common. All of them are inflammatory and can lead to many of the problems mentioned above during the periods. They increase the estrogen level in your body and turn you into the Hulk in just few minutes. So, try to reduce the amount of sugar and caffeine you consume during this time and observe the results for yourself.

2. Avoid Cold or Raw Food

Cold and raw foods require extra effort to digest and can even weaken the digestive system. The temperature can also constrict the flow of Qi and blood, which can lead to several menstrual problems. The uterus is highly vulnerable to cold weather and surfaces, so try to avoid swimming in cold water and dress properly during the winter. This will help with menstrual cramps and infertility.

3. Exercise

Irrespective of your medical situation, you should always exercise to stay fit and healthy. During your menstrual cycle, do not involve yourself in extensive workouts but do ensure some easy exercises, such as Yoga and stretching. They will help you achieve better blood flow and also ensure that you get enough rest to relax your muscles.

4. Manage Stress

Stress can disrupt the hormone signals, worsening the situation. Take out some time from work, go out with your friends or get involved in activities that you enjoy. It will have a positive impact on your mental and physical state.

5. Choose the Right Protection

If you suffer from painful cramps or endometriosis, regularly avoiding the use of tampons is recommended, since they may cause blood stagnation. Instead, opt for a sanitary pad made of a material that suits your skin type. Choosing the right sanitary product can help you stay clean and dry, and therefore remain healthy.

Reasons Other Than Pregnancy When You Miss Your Period

Did you know that long before urine testing for pregnancy was known to modern man, it was practiced in Ancient Egypt? According to an article in Egyptian Medicine, a woman in ancient Egypt was required to moisten barley and wheat with her urine every day. If the woman was pregnant they would both grow, while if she was not, they would remain the same. This was replicated in a laboratory and found to be accurate! Why did they not rely on the missing of period to determine pregnancy? This is not because they did not know the relation between menstrual cycle and pregnancy, but because they probably realized that there could be other causes for irregularities in the cycle, making it an unreliable marker of pregnancy.

4 Reasons Why you May Miss Your Period Other than Pregnancy

Weight Fluctuations: If you have recently gained or lost a significant amount of weight in a relatively short period of time, it may throw your menstrual cycle off balance. It is seen that if a woman's BMI dips below 18 or 19 or crosses the mark of obesity, a woman may miss her period. With weight gain a woman starts to produce extra testosterone which inhibits ovulation.

Stress: When the body is stressed, whether due to a physical reason like over-exercising or because of an emotional reason like the loss of a loved one, you may miss your period. The reason sited for this is an evolutionary one – when your brain and body are overworked, the message it receives is that there is a threat to its survival. It therefore prevents reproduction in a non-conducive environment.

PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a disorder in which a woman's hormones are unbalanced leading to the formation of benign cysts or tumors in their ovaries. It is linked with the overproduction androgen and is hereditary. This condition may disrupt a woman's menstrual cycle resulting in no periods at all or extremely painful periods. It is treated by gynecologists by prescribing hormones that help create a balance in the body.

Early Menopause: The mean age for menopause in Egypt is 46.7 years according to a study published in the Journal of International Menopause Society. However, in some rare cases, a woman may be peri-menopausal in her thirties leading to the early cessation of menstruation. Premature menopause is diagnosed by testing FSH levels which will be higher than normal for a woman approaching menopause.