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Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining through the vagina, controlled by hormonal fluctuations. Symptoms include bleeding, mood swings, breast and muscle pain, and lower abdominal cramps. Over-the-counter pain relievers, heating pads, and exercise can help alleviate symptoms.
Menstruation occurs when the lining of the uterus leaks through the vagina, indicating the end of one menstrual cycle and the start of the next. Most women begin to menstruate when they reach sexual maturity, which usually occurs in their early teens. Women typically experience menstrual symptoms once every 28 to 31 days, with symptoms lasting about a week. Some of the more common signs of menstruation include bleeding in the vaginal area, mood swings, pain in the breasts and muscles, and lower abdominal cramps.
Menstrual signs are controlled by hormonal fluctuations in the body. In the middle of the menstrual cycle, a rise in two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, causes the walls of the uterus to become thick and sticky, in order to help implant a fertilized egg if a woman is pregnant. If no fertilization occurs, the hormones return to normal, causing the thick lining to shed from the body. When hormone levels drop, they usually cause the first signs of menstruation, known as pre-menstrual symptoms.
During the week leading up to menstruation, many signs can show a woman that she is about to have her period. Some women retain water, particularly in the breasts, causing swelling, weight gain, and pain in the area. Women can experience unusual mood swings; many report becoming more irritable, prone to depression, or hypersensitive in the days leading up to menstruation. Some women have an increased appetite or craving for certain foods, while others may experience more acne or have trouble sleeping. Not all women experience all of these menstrual signs every month, but many experience at least a few bothersome symptoms occasionally.
The most obvious and important sign of menstruation is bleeding from the vaginal area. While it may seem alarming at first, it is a natural and healthy process that indicates that the uterine lining is shedding and that no pregnancy has occurred in the last month. The bleeding is often very profuse for the first few days, then gradually subsides. Many women also experience mild or intense cramping in their lower abs, legs and feet just before menstruation and during the first few days of a period.
Since most period signs can be annoying and even distracting, many women wonder if there is anything they can do to ease the cramps, mood swings, or other signs and symptoms that accompany periods. Over-the-counter pain relievers are often helpful in relieving cramps, as are heating pads and hot water bottles. In some cases, a regular exercise regimen can help reduce both PMS symptoms and the cramping associated with period. If bleeding occurs for more than ten days, or if period-related symptoms disrupt a woman’s ability to work, go to school, or perform daily activities, it may be helpful to seek the advice of a gynecologist.
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