Our Cycles and Periods | V1: Age and Periods

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AGE, MENSTRUATION & How It All Changes OUR CYCLES AND PERIODS : VOLUME 1

Foreword Our body goes through many changes as we grow up. Some changes are significant for us to function in a healthy manner.

They help us understand ourselves better and ensure that we take proper care of our body.

We experience this change twice in our lives - once when our menstruation begins and once when it ends. And sometimes in between our body takes a brief pause if we decide to have a baby.

This volume will explore the different stages of menstruation - right from puberty to pregnancy, and the transition to perimenopause and menopause.

Maybe when you read this, you are on your first period or have already had your periods! We’ve got you covered.

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Why am I bleeding?

My clothes don’t fit...

Why does my chest look bigger?

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What is that pain?

I have hair growing in weird places!

CHAPTER 1

Puberty And Menarche For most girls, the journey to puberty begins at the age of 9-11 years. Some girls, however, might see their bodies changing before the age of 9.

This is the phase when a part of the brain called the hypothalamus begins to release gonadotropin - the hormone that is responsible for creating luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones in the pituitary gland. These cause the ovaries to release oestrogen and progesterone.

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Under the effect of these hormones, the body will begin to undergo certain changes...

Breasts begin to appear

Onset of acne

More sweat which also smells different

Hair growth in different parts of the body, including the armpit and vulva

Increase in body mass

Due to the increase in oestrogen levels, you might also feel a little different about things. You might find yourself experiencing attraction towards another person. That is perfectly normal! It is just your mind’s ways of hinting at the changing nature of your body.

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Did You Know?

Sally Ride became the first female astronaut in America to go to space. Her fellow scientists wondered, “Will she get moody when she bleeds? Will her blood fly in space?!” And the most famously discussed query from her male colleagues was how many tampons she will need. They asked, “Is 100 the right number?” Sally Ride replied, “No. That is not the right number.”

It was 72 tampons too many! No matter how heavy her flow, Sally Ride certainly did not need 100 tampons during her space expedition!

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Our very first period or menarche The very first period is a lot like waking up from a dream.

Things aren’t exactly different from what they were last night... but there is something different!

Menarche is the first appearance of periods when you are 12 or 13. You might experience it 1 or 2 years after puberty. For some girls, it might arrive a little early and for some it might happen a little late.

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And with your first period, you might experience changes in your body that have never happened before...

Exhaustion and pain in your lower abdomen and thighs

Breast soreness, constipation or diarrhea

Bloating

Feeling emotional and having unique cravings

Note: Your periods can arrive anytime, even when you are not expecting it. Always be prepared and keep track of your cycle!

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Your menstruation goes through 4 phases:

1. Follicular Uterus thickens to prepare a fertilised egg Oestrogen and Progesterone levels stay low Uterus sheds its walls Follicle-Stimulating Hormone or FSH is created by pituitary gland Growth spurt of follicles, sex hormone levels drop Lasts for 2 weeks This phase is when you are happy! A hormone called Estradiol begins to rise and you might feel happier than you ever do.

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2. Ovulatory Higher levels of oestrogen result in surge of Lutenizing Hormone (LH) Follicale ruptures and releases an egg Lasts for 16 to 32 hours The window for fertilisation remains open only for 12 hours after the egg has left the ovary

During this phase, when the LH hormones are released, it might increase your productivity!

3. Luteal Follicale transform into a group of cells that form in the ovary Releases Progesteone, along with small amount of Oestrogen Walls of the uterus thicken If a fertilised egg implants on the wall, it will produce a hormone that stimulates cells to maintain pregnancy

In this phase, as Progesterone levels increase, you might feel a drop in the happy-pretty-mood and you might be a bit stressed about things.

4. Menstrual If the egg isn’t fertilised Oestrogen and Progestorone levels fall Lining of the uterus falls off and comes out as menstrual blood

This is the phase when you might or might not experience PMS syndromes such as cramps, and that's okay. It is the time to unwind and relax.

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Whatever you feel, don’t worry about it! It is really nothing to be scared of. To make sure that you are not alone and you have support, here’s what you can do...

• Talk to someone who has experienced periods. It can be an older sister, your mother, your teacher or a friend.

• We are here for you. You can reach out to us at @nuawoman on social media.

• If you want to know a real #NuaWoman’s experience, read this conversation!

1

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your daughter?

My name is Jyothi and I am a Montessori teacher by profession. My daughter, Rhea, is 15 years old and is a competitive swimmer.

She just completed her 10th grade exams and is now focused on preparing for the swimming state meet.

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2

When did you talk to your daughter about periods and what was her reaction?

She was just a little over 11 when she got her first period.

I didn't think it would happen so soon and do regret not having spoken to her earlier.

I explained the process and spoke to her about keeping good hygiene. She was upset initially but once my husband and I explained to her that all women have to go through this on a monthly basis, she calmed down.

3

4

How comfortable were you in having this conversation with your daughter?

Do you believe these conversations can help intensify your relationship with your daughter?

We were both very comfortable talking to her and her dad being part of the conversation really helped. We discussed a lot of things like cramps, stomach ache, mood swings, feeling lethargic.

Post our discussion she actually got back to her regular schedule.

Oh yes definitely! We did have many conversations after that and even now she looks to me for help and support at any point.

She was very reluctant to go to the pool for training sessions during her period, but her coach advised her on how to continue.

5 How did you learn about periods? Does reading about it help?

My mother was very open and transparently spoke to me about periods. She always encouraged me to carry on with my daily chores.

I most definitely believe that all of us will benefit by learning more about these topics.

#NuaExpert Dr. Vaishali Joshi says As we age, we become aware of what is normal. We acquire knowledge by talking to our elders and through our education. We know what flow is normal and how regular it should be. But when you feel there is a deviation, or if you experience irregular periods, consider visiting a gynaecologist.

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What is this morning sickness?

That smell is soooo good!

Wow! Look at my skin!

I need sleep!

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Where are my periods?

CHAPTER 2

Pregnancy & The Brief Pause The only time when our menstrual cycle takes a pause is during pregnancy.

When the mature egg is fertilized by the sperm, it means that your uterine wall will no longer shed. However, some women might notice spotting during the first trimester.

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What is spotting?

It can be a light form of blood and might appear as few drops on the underwear.

Spotting is often confused with light periods but the two are not related. In fact, spotting can occur due to several reasons.

It can be due to implantation bleeding or changes in the cervix.

After the baby is born, your periods might typically take 8-10 weeks to return. In a post-pregnancy period, some women experience heavier or irregular blood flow. #NuaExpert Dr. Vaishali Joshi says Healthy mother, healthy baby. It is important to have health check-ups done prior to planning a pregnancy. Also called preconception health check-ups, these can detect low Haemoglobin (anemia), Diabetes, Thyroid disorders, Thalassemia and vitamin deficiencies. They help to optimise the mother’s health prior to conception.

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Few things can be different during your post-pregnancy period...

Bleeding might intensify

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Fever and sudden headaches

Stronger menstrual cramps

Needing more than one pad at a time

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Is this a new phase?

Wow, no pads!

My bag’s lighter!

Guess who’s a multi-tasker and totally killing it?

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Is it hot or is it just me?

Cramps? Nah! I am relaxing because I feel like it.

CHAPTER 3

Perimenopause And Menopause There comes a point when • Periods don’t come that often • Your body looks fine but something inside has changed • Your body is shifting from a reproductive stage to a non-reproductive stage ... And this transitory state can last for nearly 8-10 years until your body arrives at menopause.

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During this period of change, the first phase the body goes through is Perimenopause or ‘Menopause Transition’.

As the ovaries gradually begin to produce less oestrogen, the body begins to experience symptoms of irregular periods.

Since perimenopause is a decade-long process, there might be times when oestrogen levels spike up suddenly and you find yourself back in the familiar cycle of 28-35 days.

As the final stages of perimenopause arrive, oestrogen levels fall lower but even at this point, it is possible to get pregnant. Perimenopause comes to a stop only when oestrogen levels fall so low that the body no longer releases eggs.

When this continues for a year, a doctor will probably suggest that the body has transitioned to menopause.

#NuaExpert Dr. Vaishali Joshi says ‘Prevention is better than cure’. The regularity of check-ups help professionals and patients to pick up problems early. It not only encourages preventive measures so that healthy lifestyles can be integrated into early adulthood, but also helps to monitor other factors at perimenopause like diabetes and blood pressure.

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Some women can experience an early onset of menopause, before the age of 50 if, • There’s family history of early menopause • You have had a hysterectomy* or oophorectomy** • You are in the habit of smoking regularly Your body might experience a few changes...

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Increased cholesterol levels

Loss of sex drive

Anxiety, depression, insomnia and fatigue

Frequent need to urinate, vaginal dryness

Hot flashes and dry skin

Once you adjust to this, you will find yourself in a whole new phase of life! If you think about it, at menopause you are limitless. *Hysterectomy: surgical removal of uterus **Oophorectomy: surgical procedure to remove one or both ovaries OUR CYCLES AND PERIODS : VOLUME 1 | 19

Our bodies behave like natural clocks It knows when it is time to bleed, time to rest, and when everything has to change for a new beginning.

To make sure that the clock works without any interruption, we have to take care of it! This includes regular check-ups, daily hygiene practices, and to be aware of its needs.

We hope that this guide gives you an insight into the types of changes our bodies undergo throughout our lives.

Share your thoughts with us at tools@nuawoman.com.

See you soon!

BIBLIOGRAPHY • • • •

InSync, Nua Blog Planned Parenthood National Health Service The Age of Menarche (PubMed)

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