There Are 100+ Names for Menstruation

July 25, 2024By Nona Woman

Do you often hear or use other terms for menstruation such as 'period’ or 'that time of the month'? If so, you don't need to feel strange because it turns out that using other names for menstruation doesn't only happen in Indonesia. In various countries, many women also use unique terms to describe their menstruation.

Want to know what these terms are? Let's learn more in the following article!

Various Terms for Menstruation

Women all over the world have different terms to refer to menstruation. Based on the results of the latest research, it is known that there are around 5,000 terms worldwide to replace the word 'menstruation'. This figure is not approximate information, because it is the result of a survey by an international institution that wanted to know the behavior of people around the world regarding menstruation. One of the aims of this survey is to collect information about how people talk about menstruation in everyday life.

The International Women's Health Coalition, the survey organizer, managed to obtain data from 90,000 respondents spread across 190 countries. They try to find out what terms are used to refer to menstruation. The survey results showed that 78% of respondents never used the word 'menstruation' when discussing this topic. Instead, they more often use other terms that are more common in their country. For example, in France and the PRC, the use of substitute terms reaches 91%, while in Denmark it reaches 86%.

The French more often say "Les Anglais ont debarqué" which means "The British army has arrived". This is one example of how menstruation terms can vary greatly in different countries. PRC society, on the other hand, uses the term "little sister is visiting" to refer to menstruation. Meanwhile, Danish people have the term "Der Er Kommunister i Lysthuset" which means "There are communists in the house". In Germany, menstruation has another name "Erdbeer Woche", which means the term "Strawberry week".

The term to replace the word 'menstruation' used by people in various countries turns out to be related to the condition they are feeling, such as being depressed (British soldiers coming), troublesome (little sister visiting), and the color red (communism is synonymous with the color red). This shows how culture and everyday experiences influence the way people talk about menstruation. However, there are also other terms that are not related to these things.

For example, the term “Aunt Flo”. The word 'flo' is an abbreviation of flow, which is the flow that describes menstruation. Then, there is also the term "Monthly visitor" which describes a menstrual cycle that repeats itself almost every month. Additionally, the term “Have the painters in” describes the color of menstrual fluid. These terms show variations in people's views and expressions in describing menstruation.

Actually, there are many other terms in various languages besides the ones above, and they can definitely make you confused if you can't understand them. And there's nothing wrong with using another term for menstruation. But, just try to get used to using the word 'menstruation' yourself so that your friends who don't know don't get confused by the term you use. That way, communication can be clearer and not cause misunderstandings between your friends.

Read Also: Talking About Menstruation

Interesting Facts About Menstruation

So that you don't get trapped by myths that are not necessarily true, here are some important facts about menstruation that you need to know and remember well. Understanding this information can help you navigate your menstrual cycle with more comfort and confidence.

1. Age of Menstruation

The average woman experiences her first period or menstruation between the ages of 11 and 14 years. At this age, a woman's body begins to experience significant hormonal changes that trigger the start of the menstrual cycle. These changes are part of a natural process that indicates that a woman's body is starting to enter reproductive phase.

Next, menstruation will occur every month until menopause or around the age of 51 years. This menstrual cycle usually lasts 28 days, although variations between 21 and 35 days are still considered normal. Every month, a woman's body prepares for a possible pregnancy by releasing an egg and forming the uterine lining.

In this time period, most women will experience 400-450 menstruation during their lifetime. This amount varies depending on various factors such as health, lifestyle, and use of contraception. Regular menstruation is an important indicator of a woman's reproductive health, although some women may experience irregularities that require medical attention.

Watch the video about “MENSTRUATION IS NOT NORMAL, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?”

2. Menstrual Cycle

The normal menstrual cycle lasts between 21-35 days. This duration covers the time span from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation. This variation in cycle length is still considered normal as long as it is within this range.

The duration of bleeding during menstruation usually lasts between 2-7 days. During this period, the body experiences the process of shedding the unfertilized inner lining of the uterus, which then comes out as menstrual blood. Differences in bleeding duration between individuals are normal and are still considered normal.

Menstruation that comes regularly every month is an indicator that the menstrual cycle is running normally. This regularity shows that the body is undergoing a balanced hormonal process and functioning well. A regular cycle can also be a sign that the reproductive system is in healthy condition.

3. Pain During Menstruation

More than half of women experience lower abdominal pain or cramps in the first days of menstruation. This condition is often referred to as dysmenorrhea. This pain can vary from mild to severe and can interfere with daily activities. Many women feel uncomfortable and may even need to rest due to the intensity of the pain they experience.

Dysmenorrhea is caused by the release of chemicals called prostaglandins. These prostaglandins trigger uterine muscle contractions, which aim to help expel the excess lining of the uterine wall. This process is very important because it allows the body to clean and repair the lining of the uterine wall every month. Although this process cannot be avoided, several steps can be taken to reduce the pain experienced.

Prostaglandins not only trigger uterine muscle contractions but can also cause inflammation and increase sensitivity to pain. Therefore, it is important to understand that pain during menstruation is part of the body's natural processes.

Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can help reduce prostaglandin production and relieve pain. Apart from that, relaxation techniques and warm compresses can also help reduce the discomfort felt. This process cannot be avoided because the body needs it to remove the excess lining of the uterine wall.

4. Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Three out of four women can experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This PMS usually occurs around 1-2 weeks before the start of menstruation. This condition is very common and affects the majority of women worldwide.

Complaints experienced during PMS can vary greatly. Some women may experience headaches that interfere with daily activities. Apart from that, fatigue is also one of the frequently reported complaints, making women feel weak and without energy.

Flatulence is also a common symptom that is often experienced. This condition can cause discomfort and even pain in the stomach. In addition, mood swings such as emotional irritability or irritability also often occur, which can affect interpersonal relationships and productivity.

5. Amount of blood coming out

The total amount of menstrual blood that comes out every month on average is no more than one cup. In general, the volume of menstrual blood released ranges from 60 to 80 milliliters.

It should be noted that these numbers are averages and may vary from one individual to another. Some people may experience less menstrual blood volume, while others may experience slightly more.

However, this difference is still considered normal as long as it is not accompanied by disturbing or unusual symptoms. It is important to understand that variations in the amount of menstrual blood are normal and do not always indicate a health problem.

Read Also: Types of sanitary napkins

Use Organic Sanitary Pads from Nona Woman

Nona Woman comes with a smart solution for your menstruation. We offer three types of organic sanitary napkins that are ready to accompany you all day long, namely regular organic sanitary napkins for daily activities, overnight organic sanitary napkins for sound sleep without worry, and long organic sanitary napkins for extra protection.

Not only that, Nona Woman also provides various other organic feminine products that are no less important. Starting from organic feminine soap that is gentle on the skin, organic pantyliners for daily protection, to menstrual tracking applications that make it easier for you to manage your monthly cycle.

You can get all these products easily at Nona Shop. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the comfort and safety of organic women's health products designed specifically for you.

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References:

https://menstruasi.com/first-timer/istilah-istilah-unik-menstruasi/

https://www.klikdokter.com/gaya-hidup/perawatan-wanita/12-fakta-haid-yang-wajib-diketahui-wanita

There Are 100+ Names for Menstruation

Various Terms for Menstruation