So you believe you're an expert on menstruation? Think again. No matter how knowledgeable you are, something will always slip away, especially some of the odd menstrual facts and statistics.
We've compiled a few of our favorite — and unexpected — historical facts below that we believe everyone should be aware of.
8 Unknown Facts About Periods
A fascinating period truth is that cold weather can affect your period, extending and making it heavier than usual. During the winter months, a woman’s flow, period duration, and even discomfort level are longer than in the summer. Women who live in colder areas rather than warmer ones also follow this pattern.
Seasons can have an impact on your PMT as well; when mixed with female productive hormones, the shorter, darker days might have a negative effect on your mood. This is believed to be a result of a lack of sunlight, which aids in the production of vitamin D and dopamine, 2 substances that improve mood, happiness, focus, and general health.
It's not as wonderful, but it's still something you should be aware of. Many people believe that having sex while on your period will prevent you from becoming pregnant. This is incorrect, though.
It is not at all impossible to become pregnant when you are menstruating, but it is more unusual. Since sperm can survive in the body for up to 5 or 6 days, you may be able to conceive if you have a relatively short cycle, engage in sexual activity close to the end of your period, and ovulate shortly after it ends.
Girls didn't start their periods until they were well into their teens in the 1800s; the average age was around 17. Today, 12 is the usual starting age for menstruation, which is a full five years younger.
According to scientists, there are a few main causes for this. Specifically, better nutrition- since fat cells produce estrogen, we are eating better and more than our predecessors did a few hundred years ago. Your body produces more estrogen when you have more fat cells, which can cause the beginning of your female menstrual cycle.
Stress levels have risen, which is another element. Yes, high amounts of stress can actually cause the start of your menstruation.
The typical Indian woman will experience 450 cycles in her lifetime, beginning with her first cycle and ending with menopause. That is a lot of periods.
The average woman will experience menstruation for about 3,500 days, or roughly 10 years, of her life. This translates into the typical woman using about 11,000 tampons or pads throughout her life when it comes to menstrual supplies. Of course, everyone is unique, and a variety of factors, including cycle length, childbirth, nursing, and culture, can affect how many periods a woman has throughout her lifetime.
Although it may seem like a lot of blood, the average woman can lose anything from 1 tablespoon to a small cup of blood during a normal period. Your body actually only sheds about 3 tablespoons of blood during your period.
If it appears like you're losing more during your period than this, you should consult a doctor. You run a higher risk of developing Anaemia, which can make you feel lightheaded, exhausted, and have poor circulation.
Researchers have discovered that our reproductive hormones have an impact on the vocal cords, women's voices can shift slightly over their menstrual cycle. This indicates that women may sound different during their period.
The same female reproductive hormones that control your natural scent also affect your period, so you smell differently when you're on it. This is really delicate and consciously observable.
According to doctors, uterine contractions spurred on by orgasm during your period can release analgesic neurotransmitters like oxytocin and endorphins which will help to ease period cramps and pains.
The sleep hormone melatonin is affected by light exposure, and this in turn impacts the release of the female reproductive hormones that determine the start and end of your menstrual cycle. Women with unusually long or irregular cycles who slept next to a regular 100-watt light bulb for a few days during the last 2 weeks of their cycles had their cycles shortened by an average of 12 days, according to a study from the early 1990s that appeared in the journal Psychiatry. The secret is to keep the light on as you sleep during the final 2 weeks of your cycle.