By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
During menstruation, some women may experience significant menstrual pain, headaches, emotional and physical sensitivity and bloating.
However, menstruation is not always bad. Women that are healthier and have better skin owe it to good blood circulation and regular emission of bad blood, some experts say.
Also, menstruation is a barometer of a woman's health. It also shows that a woman has not become pregnant, however there are some cases of bleeding during early pregnancy, and some women have irregular cycles.
Being regular is important. It differs from person to person, but usually there are 21-34 days in a cycle. Severe stress or drastic change in environment can have an affect on the body and cause changes to the cycle. If your period is more than 35 days, you should visit your doctor. It may be a problem with your thyroid. Hyperthyroidism, the result of excess thyroid hormone production, causing an overactive metabolism _ makes the period shorter, while hypothyroid, the lack of activity of the thyroid gland or a deficiency of hormones, can lengthen the time between periods.
If you experience bleeding before your regular period, you should visit your doctor and get tested for cervical cancer, a myoma of the uterus, hormone malfunction, or extrauterine pregnancy. Doctors have said that extreme dieting can also cause unbalanced hormonal performance and result in irregular periods.
More than 30 ml of blood is lost during the period, with 10-80 ml considered normal. Some females may feel dizziness, and due to the loss of blood have a higher dietary requirement for iron.
If the color of the blood is too dark or consists of large amounts of tissue mixed with the blood, it could be an indication of a problem inside the uterus. According to experts of Oriental medicine, these symptoms are caused by blood being stuck inside due to a malfunction of the blood circulation system. The leftover blood can cause digestion problems as well as a fall in your body temperature.
Menstrual pain is very common among women. However, if it affects your daily routine or you feel a loss of sensation in your feet or in your behind, it could be a symptom of endometriosis _ where the tissue that lines the uterus is found growing outside the uterus or in other areas of the body. Normally, menstruation helps the endometrium to be shed each month. The misplaced endometrium usually cannot exit the body and may cause pain as well as inflammation.
Some doctors say short skirts or thin clothing during cold weather can make the body too cold and worsen the pain. If you experience a lot of pain, use a hot water bottle and gently rub your stomach. Also, massaging four-five centimeters above the anklebone can help stimulate blood circulation and ease the pain.
A special type of underwear is on the market by which infrared rays heat up the whole body to help ease the pain. Also, refrain from drinking coffee or tea. Caffeine can worsen the pain.
The menstruation period is bothersome for many women. However, taking notice of your period cycles can be a good barometer to help measure your health.