Menstruation: Symptoms, Cycles, Treatments

November 08, 2022By Nona Woman

Menstruation occurs every month for women who have reached puberty. Menstruation is a natural cycle that occurs as part of the reproductive process when pregnancy does not occur. This is because the reproductive organs thicken the uterine wall, which contains blood vessels, each month in preparation for pregnancy. When a pregnancy does not occur, these blood vessels bleed and are referred to as menstruation.

Menstruation is a natural occurrence for humans, and it is important to understand it. Moreover, menstruation is frequently interpreted as a sign that something is wrong with our bodies. Thus, it is advisable to be aware of the following menstrual information.

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Menstrual Symptoms

Menstrual symptoms are usually divided into two, namely, premenstrual symptoms commonly known as PMS and symptoms during menstruation. Although every woman has different symptoms, the following are common symptoms:

1. Premenstrual Symptoms or PMS

PMS typically lasts 6 to 7 days, of which 4 days are prior to menstruation and the remaining 3 are during menstruation. Some symptoms include:

Mood swings
Acne
Pain in the breast area
Headaches
Flatulence
Changes in sex drive

2. Symptoms during menstruation

In addition to appearing during pre-menstruation, symptoms can also occur during menstruation due to the uterine muscles' increased ability to contract. These symptoms often last 1 to 3 days and fade with maturity. The following symptoms are:

Pain in the stomach
Headache
Pain in the hip, thigh, and back area
Nausea
Dizziness

Read How to Know Your Menstruation is Coming

Menstrual Cycle

Knowing when your period will arrive will help you be ready and cautious before it does. Additionally, you will not have to worry about “leaking" or forgetting your sanitary napkins (pads). Additionally, an unusual menstrual cycle could be a sign that something harmful is going on inside the body.

Every 21 to 35 days, a typical menstrual cycle with a menstrual period of 3 to 7 days takes place. During this menstrual phase or menstruation, less than 80 ml of blood are typically released. Abnormal cycle of the menses? Here are some potential contributing factors:

Taking certain drugs
Experiencing stress
Exercising too hard
Using contraception
Smoking
Being pregnant or breastfeeding
Disorders of the uterus

Treatments During Menstruation

Every stage of treatment is customized to the specific menstrual disorder being experienced. The treatment options generally fall into two categories, including:

1. Lifestyle

You can change your lifestyle to treat menstrual complaints such as lots of sleep, light exercise, eating healthy and nutritious foods, seed cycling, drinking lots of water, and others.

2. Herbs

The herbs in “jamu” actually have a lot of power to relieve menstrual disorders, such as turmeric which is a powerful anti-inflammatory for the body. These herbs can be added to your daily diet when cooking.

However, please see your doctor if you experience these conditions to get the appropriate course of action:

Irregular menstrual cycles
Excessive bleeding (too long and too much)
Menstrual symptoms feel heavier than usual
Bleeding that occurs outside of the menstrual cycle

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