6 myths about the menstrual cycle: debunked and confirmed

The menstrual cycle is the main indicator of a woman's health. Its feature is the very cyclicity that regulates the biological clock of the female body. It should be constant and be within 21-33 days (ideally 28). However, despite the fact that, with greater or lesser options, women of flowering age have to feel these changes in their body every month, nevertheless, there are no less questions about the menstrual cycle, as well as myths surrounding it. We bring to your attention six common statements, some of which are true, others — are partially true, and the rest — are fundamentally wrong.

Heavy and painful periods can lead to disability

Myth #1. Abundant periods are individual characteristics of the body

That's not true. In gynecology, there is a whole section of diseases associated with menstrual irregularities. And each of the indicators of the normal menstrual cycle both in the direction of increasing and decreasing the abundance or duration of bleeding can become a sign of disease. This can only be determined by the attending physician after a thorough examination and examination.

Most often, such problems occur in women of mature age. If a woman had regular menstruation with moderate blood loss and a clear cycle, then a failure in one of the parameters should alert her.

As a rule, heavy bleeding indicates changes in the hormonal background in a woman and requires a mandatory visit to a doctor.

Myth #2: Painful periods are normal

As a rule, menstruation is painful during the formation of the menstrual cycle. Such a syndrome may decrease or disappear with marriage or after childbirth.

Only 4% of women have painful periods after the formation of the cycle and the birth of a child.

• If the pain on critical days is so strong that it leads to disability, then appropriate therapy should be carried out.
• If the pain is tolerable, antispasmodics or pain medication prescribed by the doctor may be taken.

Thongs can cause acute colpitis, and tampons can disrupt the menstrual cycle

Myth #3. Thongs are suitable for critical days clothes. From a hygienic point of view, they are not recommended for constant wear, especially on critical days. As a rule, such underwear contains synthetic fibers that contribute to the disruption of the normal microbiocenosis of the vagina and can cause acute colpitis, bartholinitis. It is better to give preference to underwear made from natural fibers, cotton is best.
Panties should fit snugly to the body, but not interfere with blood circulation.

Myth #4: Pads are better than tampons

Each hygiene product has its own benefits. Ideally, they are best combined. For heavy periods, it is good to use a tampon - this will allow you to feel comfortable throughout the working day. And when you return home, it is better to change the tampon for a pad.

Make sure the swab doesn't absorb as much blood as possible. This can disrupt the physiological course of critical days.

Myth #5.

In order not to spoil your vacation by the sea, you can push back the “critical days”

In the event of important events in life - during competitions, vacations, fashion shows - it is necessary to contact a gynecologist in advance to determine the basic level of hormones in the early follicular phase, which regulates the menstrual cycle. If the baseline pituitary hormone level does not match the reference level, the doctor may recommend not to delay the cycle, as this can cause a violation of the biological rhythm. As a rule, in women who have given birth, the basic level of hormones is within the normal range, and in such cases they can artificially postpone the menstrual cycle, but only under the supervision of a doctor. It is impossible to break the biological rhythm of the cycle on your own, otherwise it will be difficult to restore it in the future.

Myth #6: You should drink a glass of red wine during your period
• to replenish your blood cells.

No, you can't. Any alcoholic beverages contribute to the expansion of blood vessels, which leads to increased blood loss. For the duration of the menstrual cycle, the following should be excluded from the diet:

smoked meats, spicy sauces; sugar, tea, coffee;

• alcohol.
• Drinking regimen must be observed on such days. The amount of liquid drunk should be 1.5 liters per day, and in hot weather - up to 2 liters.
• Through proper nutrition, you can also reduce

premenstrual syndrome.

Vitamins A and B6 will help. There is a lot of magnesium in nuts, especially in almonds, and vitamins B and beta-carotene in cereals, sweet peppers, apricots, carrots.