What Your Menstrual Cycle Says About Your Health
The female reproductive system experiences regular cyclic changes known as the menstrual cycle, which serves as the body's periodic preparation for ovulation and possible pregnancy. Your menstrual cycle is more than just a month occurrence, it is the key to understanding your general health.
A balanced regular cycle means a healthy body, while a reversed internal daily cycle can be seen as a sign that something needs to be fixed. Knowing your menstrual cycle and how it develops, can give you a lot of information about your physical, hormonal, and even your psychological condition. It is important to take notes of your menstrual cycle health and work on it immediately. In this blog, we’ll explore how your menstrual cycle and mental health are co-related and provide insights into your menstrual cycle health.
Decoding the Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a hormonal cycle that prepares the female body for conceiving in case of the production of a ripe egg. A typical cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days and is divided into four phases:
Menstrual Phase: The womanly event when the lining of the uterus is sloughed off and comes out in the form of your period.
Follicular Phase: Growth of follicles and estrogen level rise.
Ovulation Phase: Full maturity of a blood niche, usually on day 14 which triggers the shedding of a mature egg.
Luteal Phase: The uterine phase after ovulation in a woman’s ovarian cycle is characterized by the hormone progesterone.
Thus, every stage provides some clue to your general health. For example, duration and heavy bleeding may be a result of hormonal dysfunctions, and heavy and frequent bleeding may also be a result of stress, and pregnancy, among other illnesses.
What your cycle tells about your health
Menstrual cycle health depends on the way you maintain your health. Let’s discuss more about the relation of your health with your menstrual cycle.
Cycle Regularity
Cycle regularity means that the hormones are in their normal levels and ovaries are working correctly. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) defines normal menstrual cycles as having a consistent frequency, regularity, duration, and amount of flow. Irregular cycles can be a result of unrecognized conditions such as PCOS, thyroid problems, or long-term stress. Research-based on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends seeking medical advice if the complaint persists for a few months, especially for irregular periods.
Flow Intensity
Menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea could be due to endometriosis or uterine fibroids Heavy menstrual bleeding known as menorrhagia could entail endometriosis or uterine fibroids. On the other hand, very light periods might be due to hormonal problems or thinning of the body mass. Thus, monitoring the rate and the frequency of your flow can show some problems with your health.
Premenstrual Symptoms
PMS is quite normal but constant mood swings, irritability or tiredness could be symptoms of PMDD for example. Furthermore, there are relationships between the menstrual cycle and mental status, while changes in hormones during the luteal phase can predispose to conditions such as anxiety and depression (Yonkers, et al., 2008).
Pain Level
Cramps are normal and modest; but, if the pain is severe or incapacitating (dysmenorrhea), these conditions could be endometriosis or a pelvic infection. Chronic pain should always be reported to a doctor.
Supporting a Healthy Menstrual Cycle
Diet and exercise provide a variety of health benefits while also enhancing your menstrual experience.
Diet for Healthy Menstrual Cycle
Hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle and eating habits are closely connected. There are specific types of foods that can maintain hormonal balance like whole grains, lean protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Spinach and red meat contain amounts of iron and replace the blood lost during menstruation, while magnesium in foods like nuts and dark chocolate may help relieve PMS symptoms (Abbaspour et al., 2014).
Menstrual Cycle Exercises
Exercises are good for eradicating PMS symptoms and enhancing moods and hormonal balance. Many women also suffer from menstrual cramps that can be eased by low-impact exercises such as yoga during the menstrual phase, while strength training can be best done in the follicular phase when energy levels are high. McNulty et al., (2020) noted the effect of cycle-specific exercise regimes in a study conducted for Sports Medicine.
Mental Health and Stress Management
Stress significantly affects the menstrual cycle. Hormonal changes brought by stress can prevent ovulation completely, or at least interfere with its regularity. Mindfulness practice, meditation, and deep breathing help decrease stress, and enhance the menstrual cycle, and mental health (Brotto, et al., 2019).
When to Visit the Doctor?
While fluctuations in the menstrual cycle are normal, certain symptoms should not be ignored, including:
The inability to menstruate for longer than three months is also referred to as amenorrhea.
Severe to intensive or long, exceedingly long periods.
Moderate Pain or PMS that affects daily functioning.
These worries are best discussed with a gynecologist or an endocrinologist to check for the root of the problem.
The Tracking of Your Cycle
Modern apps and wearable devices make it easy to track your periods. Record details like period duration, flow intensity, and all the related symptoms that may be encountered can be useful to help map a cyclical pattern and pass on important information to healthcare service providers.
Conclusion
Your menstrual cycle is an essential indicator of your health. If the menstrual pattern is well-watched and supplemented with a good diet, regular menstrual cycle exercises, and stress management, a woman's reproductive and overall health can be significantly enhanced. However, if something goes wrong or if any suspicious symptoms arise, it is critical to seek quick medical attention. Therefore, you should embrace cycling as one of the most effective strategies to preserve and improve your health.
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Abbaspour, N., Hurrell, R., & Kelishadi, R. (2014). Review on iron and its importance for human health. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 19(2), 164-174.
Brotto, L. A., & Basson, R. (2019). Mindfulness for sexual dysfunction in women. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 16(5), 683-692.
McNulty, K. L., Elliott-Sale, K. J., & Dolan, E. (2020). The effects of the menstrual cycle on exercise performance. Sports Medicine, 50(11), 1813-1828.
Yonkers, K. A., O'Brien, P. M., & Eriksson, E. (2008). Premenstrual syndrome. Lancet, 371(9619), 1200-1210.
National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500020/
