WHAT IS MENSTRUATION?

Menstruation is a release of blood and tissues that originate in the uterus and exit the body through the vagina. 

Initially menstruation tends to happen irregularly, but with time it stabilizes and recurs approximately every 28 days. The bleeding usually lasts for two to seven days.

While menstruation is a painless experience for some women, others experience some form of discomfort. 

Some symptoms are mild, such as slight cramping of the uterus; others are stronger, like severe uterine pain, abdominal pain, and bad headaches.

Some menstruating women experience emotional disturbances caused by higher hormonal activity—for instance, irritability, mood swings, and even depression.

Why do women have their period?

Women have their period because the body has to get rid of the material it accumulated in preparation for a potential pregnancy.

The body prepares by thickening the inner layer of the uterus. The extra material accumulated on the uterine walls will facilitate implantation and provide nourishment for the fertilized egg. 

If the egg is not fertilized, or if it doesn’t manage to attach to the uterine wall, there will be no pregnancy; all the material is no longer necessary and needs to be expelled from the body. 

This is what happens during a woman’s period.