An earnest plea to all ladies out there – please stop thinking menstruation to be something bad, impure or a taboo. It is totally normal to get it, to talk about it and to discuss it. A lot of changes in the society has led women to talk more freely to other women and even their significant partners about it. Even today, a major portion of women hesitate talking about their periods. There are many movements and discussions happening around to end the period shaming. If you talk to other women about it, you can find out if similar things are happening to them. Whatever it is, normal, weird or gross – it might be happening to them too.

It is normal to be a little constipated before the onset of the cycle and get loose stools when the period starts. Periods bring in a desire to rest and it is totally okay. PMS (Pre-menstrual syndrome) is a common occurrence in menstruating females with symptoms like mood swings, nausea, bloating, body ache, tenderness in breasts etc.

There are times one might see a few clot-like bleeding during the first two days of their period. It is another “weird” but normal thing. However, if you consistently have large clots in your menstrual flow, you must get yourself checked by your physician or gynecologist.

Women may also discharge brownish blood during periods. It simply means that the body is releasing old blood out of the body. If the discharge is smelly or of a different color like green then one should consult to doctor.  If sometimes, these functions run the other way then it could be a reason for a hormonal change.

Now, let us talk about bloating during periods. If your body is bloating more than usual, it’s usually a combination of gut dysfunction leading to an exaggerated inflammatory response. Period bloating is when a woman feels her abdomen is heavy and swollen just before and at the start of her period. Bloating is also one of several premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms that can occur 1-2 weeks before a woman’s period.

Bloating before and during a period may result from changes in levels of the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. About a week before a woman’s period starts, levels of the hormone progesterone fall. Reduced levels of progesterone cause the uterus to shed its lining, which is what causes menstrual bleeding. As well as causing menstrual bleeding, research suggests that changes in progesterone and estrogen levels cause the body to retain more water and salt. The body’s cells become swollen with water, causing the feeling of bloating.

Menstrual Cramps is another symptom that comes every month with your periods hence it is safe to say that menstrual cramps are common and normal phenomenon. But if the cramps are intolerable to an extent that you cannot carry your regular activities and you keep bleeding more than normal, it could mean you’re suffering from endometriosis or that you have fibroids.

Painful Periods – Everything You Need to Know about Dysmenorrhea

Menstrual cramps are also known medically as “Dysmenorrhea”. As it is known to all, during the one month cycle, our uterus prepares itself for conception and makes itself provided of with enough of extra blood supply. Now when conception does not occur, there is release of certain hormones which cause the uterus to contract and reduce this extra blood supply. As a consequence of this, the new linings developed in the uterus deteriorate and need to be shed off. The uterus again undergoes contractions for the expulsion of this matter and as a result of these, the pain is felt. This is the basic causality of ‘Primary Dysmenorrhea’.

There is also a condition called ‘Secondary Dysmenorrhea’ which is associated with diseases of the female reproductive system like fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, adenomyosis, sexually transmitted infections or use of intra uterine devices for birth control.

If you don’t talk about this other women then how would someone figure out if what’s happening is normal or not. So feel free about it, talk about it and help the society and at least your inner circle eliminate what is called – the period shame.

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