1/4 The menstrual cycle. The period

For this new school year, we at Loulou have decided to review the basics. We believe that this is essential to better understand and know each other.

Nothing better for this than to decipher our period and its mysteries. Here is our first article in a series dedicated to the female and hormonal cycle. Over the next few weeks, we will address in turn, the follicular phase,ovulation or the luteal phase.

First stop: the with medium flows ou period. It is undoubtedly the phase of our cycle that we know the most because it is the only one that is clearly visible.

The rules appear regularly (well not always, as we will see). They annoy us, hurt us, bother us and sometimes reassure us. Why do they form? Why do periods come back repeatedly? Why don't we menstruate anymore when we're pregnant ? Why are they irregular ?

We will try to address all the questions you have in order to better understand this common phenomenon but quite unknown to many.

Thanks to Loulou, your periods will no longer hold any secrets for you!

The menstrual cycle and periods

Small reminder (you can also find a detailed file on the question here, Menstrual Cycle Guide) on the reasons that lead us each month to put on our teen period panties Spitz favorite.

The body of a woman experiences a cyclical process that extends -generally- over 28 days on average (21 to 35 days). This well-established phenomenon prepares the body for potential fertilization.

From the almost complete puberty to menopause, the woman therefore experiences many cycles (nearly 13 per year). Miscellaneous hormones secreted in the brain, in particular, bring with them a whole process in the ovaries, to horns then theuterus.

The period lasts a few days, 3 to 7 days on average. They manifest themselves by bleeding light then more lively before being light again at the end of the period. The rules are proof that theovum has not been fertilized and therefore you are not pregnant.

The uterus had nevertheless prepared itself well to welcome the embryo by making its wall, theendometrium, thicker. This uterine lining thickens throughout the cycle. As no nidation is observed, theendometrium falls apart because it is useless. The whole is expelled and corresponds to the vaginal bleeding and the rules.

Rules Q&A

✤ Why can periods be painful?

While some lucky ones know rules without a hitch, others will have the misfortune to know Painful periods are the worst. Usually, you can feel tension in your lower abdomen. It's your uterus contracting (uterine contractions) in order to evacuate the uterine lining.

While some pain is still tolerable, you should worry when it becomes unbearable and disabling. Pain that is too severe can also be a sign of something else (infection, illness, endometriosis).

Solutions exist to calm and ease the pain : play sports, slow down the pace, take care of your diet, take food supplements. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor, midwife or gynecologist. They will be able to prescribe a analgesic adequate that will help you.
In any case, it is not normal to suffer during your period.

✤ Why is my period heavy?

Le menstrual flow is light, medium, heavy or hemorrhagic. Some women experience a sustained flow, heavy or even hemorrhagic. The contraception, and in particular Copper IUD, can make the rheavier periods. It can also be genetics.

✤ Why is my period late this month?

So don't panic. It happens to all women to notice the delay. For several reasons, the menses can shift. Stress, jet lag, medical treatment, certain eating habits, high-level sport or even new contraception can disrupt your period.

Of course, you can make a pregnancy test to be fixed. Either way, irregular periods are never alarming if they remain episodic and your cycle finds its cruising speed again the following month.

✤ Why do I get acne when I have my period?

A beautiful button has sprung up in the night reminding that your period they also disembark. Nothing too surprising. It is typicallyhormonal acne. Hormone levels vary greatly throughout the cycle.
Just before your period, the Testosterone is higher than female hormones. This hormone is well known to increase the production of sebum and therefore lead to the development of acne.

✤ Why do I have bleeding between my periods?

Bleeding outside of menstruation is also called spottingThere are several reasons for spotting.

✤ Can you stop your period?

For a question of comfort but also for soothe pain or avoid a hemorrhagic flow disabling, it is possible to stop your period. Some hormonal contraceptive solutions allow you to significantly reduce or even stop having your periods.

✤ I don't have my period and I'm not pregnant, what does that mean?

If your pregnancy test is negative, we invite you to confirm the result with a blood test which leaves no doubt. The absence of rulesamenorrhea " where the late period may have various reasons.

The menstrual cycle you are going through may be anovulatory this means that there was no ovulation. It can also be a sign of pre-menopause. Other causes are possible (stress, anorexia, but also PCOS). If it happens again, check it out!

✤ What are the signs of menstruation?

According to the women, you may experience (or not): migraines, bloating, fatigue, tension in the breasts, poor transit, abdominal cramps, pain in the lower back. It is SPM ou premenstrual syndrome. 80% of women experience one or more symptoms.