DESCRIPTION:
Menstruation commonly called periods is the monthly uterine bleeding which occurs through the vagina. It usually starts between 11 years to 14 years in a girl child. It usually continues monthly till the age of 50 years.
The natural stoppage of menstruation is called menopause, which indicates the natural end of the reproductive cycle of a woman.
In addition to bleeding from the vagina, there can be the following symptoms as well;
• Abdominal cramps
• Lower back cramps
• The heaviness of the breasts
• Pain or numbness of the breasts
• Migraine
• Increased appetite
• Mood swings
Menstrual Cycle
Menstruation is the monthly vaginal bleeding. It prepares the uterus to be pregnant. Menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissues from the uterus. 50-150 ml of blood is released during each period.
If the fertilization does not occur, the menstrua cycle continues till another 14-15 days. This is called the secretory phase. This eventually results in shedding of the uterine lining and tissues and vaginal bleeding which is the menstrual phase.
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
PHYSIOLOGY:
The menstrual cycle occurs every 28 days. In some women, it can occur every 21 days or every 40 days. The inner lining of the uterus called Endometrium goes through 3 phases during a typical menstrual cycle;
The menstrual phase
( days 1-7)
2. The proliferative phase
( days 6-16)
3. The secretory phase
( days 17-28)
The menstrual phase is characterized by vaginal bleeding. After the menstrual phase, the uterus starts regenerating the additional tissue lining on the inner side of the uterus which is in order to receive a fertilized egg( if fertilization occurs in this time span). This is called the proliferative phase. During this phase, the ovaries are also getting prepared to release a healthy ovum, for fertilization.
The mood swings can be related to the levels of hormones during a typical menstrual cycle and the mood swings are quite normal.
AYURVEDA ASPECT OF MENSTRUATION:
Ayurveda scholars describe menstruation as the monthly bleeding in women from 12 to 50 years of age. It also describes that the amount of blood flowing decreases with age and finally stops at 50 years of age.
Signs and Symptoms of menstruating women:
Ayurveda scholars call menstruation women as Rithumathi. She will exhibit the following symptoms:
Pleasant but tired face
Goosebumps in the breast and around the waist
Eyes and abdomen will be loose
Excessive lust
The description Rihumathi suits women in menstruating as well as proliferative phase. Because it is said that like the lotus flower does at sunset, the vagina closes after the rithukala and does not accept semen anymore. This statement emphasizes the importance of the menstrual cycle in the reproductive phase of a woman’s life.
Ayurveda condemns sexual intercourse during menstruation. The science also describes many customs and procedures to be followed during the period, but it is not of much relevance during the modern era.
MENSTRUATION AND TIPS FOR HEALTHY MENSTRUATION
Lifestyle during the menstrual phase:
Ayurveda emphasizes on a good rest during the menstrual phase. But studies have revealed women or girls can engage in a moderate range of physical activities even during the menstrual phase.
Yoga;
Yoga is strictly prohibited during the menstrual phase. Yoga consists of a systematic pattern of body activities that range from moderate to a higher level of exercises and it is better to avoid as it can seriously impact the reproductive system if done during the menstruating phase.
Diet:
Girls or women tend to have acne during the menstrual cycle—so avoiding oily food is better during the last few days and the first days of the menstrual cycle.
Consumption of sesame seeds or food prepared with sesame seeds and regulated use of sesame oil is excellent for the women who prepare for pregnancy.
Vatha dosha has a major role in the flow of menstrual blood and so any diet that helps to balance vatha is good. eg Mudga(Mung daal,) peya( rice soup),
• Consumption of lukewarm water
• Consumption of warm food
• Lemon juice
• Ghee
• Orange
• Pomegranate
• Plums
• Grapes
• Broccoli
• Eggs
It is better to avoid spicy food, alcohol and fried foods during menstruation.
ARTICLE REVIEW
Normalizing menstruation, empowering girls
sciencedirect.com
For most girls, management of menstrual pain is a key concern, yet little sympathy or attention is given to those facing this regular pain, let alone management of irregular or pathological periods. In the UK, nearly 80% of adolescent girls have experienced concerning menstrual symptoms (such as unusually heavy or irregular bleeding) but hadn’t consulted a health professional; 27% of those said they were too embarrassed to discuss the topic. The rooted silence surrounding periods is putting lives at risk. Menstruation is a normal and regular event in every healthy adolescent girl’s life. Yet drastic changes are needed to encourage positive social norms and ultimately enact behavioral change. Global Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, led by WASH United and supported by more than 400 organizations globally, aims to achieve that. This year, the focus is on empowerment.
The article sheds light on the worldwide impact of menarche( the first periods in a girl child) and the needs to educate the adolescents about the monthly bleeding which would occur t them and also to make them realize that it is not a directly physiological phenomenon but it is the indication of healthy woman body. The article concludes with applause to the increasing efforts worldwide to empower, educate and engage country leaders, communities, families, and adolescent girls and boys about menstruation, and to highlight the right of women and girls to hygienically manage their periods.
CDC GOV
Wikipedia
REFERENCES
ARTICLE REVIEW 2
Menstruation and its impact on women’s health
europepmc.org
Summary:
The transition from “healthy menstruation”, “impaired quality of life through menstruation” to “menstruation as a disease” is continuous and in practice must often be determined through a communication process between the patient and the doctor. The patient is an expert on her values, needs and health goals. The doctor provides his medical knowledge and skills, which should be used by the patient in order to arrive at an individual solution to the “menstrual problem”.
Abstract:
The impact of menstruation on women’s health manifests itself on different levels. A closer look in many traditions, however, reflects the fascination and the power which is associated with the “blood of women”, which means that throughout history menstruation is conceived in an ambivalent manner. This ambivalence is still present in the subjective experience of modern women, who experience the biological process of menstruation but finally attribute emotional and cognitive meaning to it. This means that women finally decide when menstruation becomes a “disease” for them