7 Unknown Facts About Menstruation That You Did Not Know!

Thursday, July 7, 2016, 11:34

As women folk, we are only too familiar with the unbearable cramps, the discomfort and the premenstrual syndrome that have been a part of our lives since we hit puberty!

A menstrual period is a normal phenomenon that every woman goes through, each month, if she is healthy enough.

Normally, a woman starts her first menstruation cycle around the age of 12 and it continues on until she goes through her menopause stage, at around the ages of 45-50.

Menstruation is a monthly cycle when a woman's uterine lining sheds, resulting in vaginal bleeding. On an average, a menstrual cycle is about 28 days long.

The absence of a regular menstrual period can mean that a woman is not healthy enough.

When a woman misses her monthly period, it could either mean that she is pregnant or she may have certain hormonal disorders that can lead to an irregular menstrual cycle.

An irregular menstrual cycle can pose a number of health risks to a woman, including the possibility of infertility.

Now, most of us may already be aware of the above-mentioned facts on menstrual cycle.

However, here are a few lesser known facts about menstruation, have a look.

Fact #1

The inner-most lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, is shed every month, during the menstrual cycle, if the woman does not become pregnant.

Fact #2

The average length of a period is normally between 3 and 7 days, if it extends for more than 7 days, there may be a risk of iron deficiency.

Fact #3

Period blood is made of the shed of uterine lining cells, potassium, sodium and iron, along with cervical mucus.

Fact #4

If a woman's period blood is more brownish in colour than bright red, it may mean that her uterine wall has blood that has been accumulated for quite a while, but it is completely normal.

Fact #5

Menstrual cramps are caused by a group of lipids known as prostaglandins, which induce the contraction of the uterine muscles, resulting in a dull pain in the lower abdominal area.

Fact #6

Contrary to a popular belief, a woman can still get pregnant if she has unprotected sex during her period, as the sperm can survive in her body for up to 5 days and can fertilize with the eggs, after her period is over.