It's a Mom's World Home

Menstruation

Do you remember your first period? You were probably around the age of 10 or 11. Maybe your period came as a total shock to you, or maybe you had been well-prepared to expect this first sign of impending womanhood.

First Time

Every woman remembers that very first period. It's just something a woman never forgets. But the menses is definitely something that loses its charm quickly. Once a girl gets her first period, it's likely she'll continue to bleed every month, barring pregnancy and unforeseen unusual circumstances, until she is around the age of 50 and goes into menopause.

Miraculous Process

For some women, menstruation is a bit of mess to deal with each month, no more and no less, while for other women, there are some unpleasant symptoms such as cramps and moodiness. No matter which category you fall into, it is important to remember that your period is symbolic of a miraculous process of fertility and renewal. There may be a bit of a learning curve about the best pads or tampons to use, and some women may need treatment to tame their symptoms, but it pays to keep the miracle in mind each month as we once again stock up on feminine hygiene products.

Tracking your monthly period can be of great assistance to your physician in helping you understand the most fertile periods of your menstrual cycle. Keeping track of your periods can also help your physician pinpoint possible gynecological health problems. We show you how to keep an accurate account of your menses.

Some of the commonest menstrual symptoms are cramps, heavy bleeding, water retention, and digestive problems such as constipation. Some women experience something more severe and this is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Others may have middle of the month pelvic pain around the time of ovulation and this is called mittelschmerz.

Some women have gynecological conditions that make menstrual periods more problematic. Such conditions include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. Some of these conditions make your periods heavy and painful while others cause them to stop altogether.

A small number of women become clinically depressed around the time of their periods. This is called premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD).