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What Your Period Says About Your Health

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It’s that time of the month again. You’ve probably proclaimed that your period is the absolute worst at one point in your life. What your period says about your health can reveal more than you know.  Whilst the time of the month is often far more inconvenient than not, there is one bright side.

Your menstrual cycle can reveal more about your health than just pregnancy. Because of menstruation’s tight relationship to hormone health, your period can provide information that extends beyond the reproductive tract. The experts at Midwife 360 in South Florida have compiled some of the most important bits of information regarding ‘that time of the month’ and what it says about your health.

What A Normal Period Looks Like

A woman’s menstrual cycle occurs when her body removes its uterine lining each month. The uterine is preparing for the probable implantation of a fertilized egg in the womb, thus, resulting in pregnancy. However, because there is no fertilized egg, our bodies must shed the lining and prepare for the following month. 

Periods can vary greatly from woman to woman. Where some can experience a regular cycle, others are irregular. Periods typically last three to seven days, and the usual cycle is 28 to 32 days.

Women can experience the following symptoms during their period:

  • Cramps
  • Breast tenderness
  • Bloating
  • Migraines
  • Lethargy
  • Mood changes
  • Food cravings.

Monitoring your symptoms, as well as the length of your cycle and the textures and colors, can help indicate important changes or issues about your health. 

What Your Period Color Means

Menstrual blood color can vary from black to bright red, as well as brown or orange. These changes in color are very normal and ObGyn’s are rarely concerned with the changes. 

Bright red: frequently indicates that you are at the start of your period and is shedding blood quickly. Don’t be alarmed, this is usually the sign of a healthy, regular menstruation. 

Pinkish: when a period is just beginning the vaginal discharge can mix with the blood creating a pink tone. This is just a diluted version which can also mean your period is lighter.  In some cases, this can show signs of low estrogen. 

Diluted or watery: indication of severe anemia which is caused by a nutritional deficit.

Brown, dark brown/dark red: older blood found in the uterine lining that has oxidized. This often occurs at the end of a cycle. 

Large clots in a jam-colored red: when the uterus does not contract well and sheds blood quickly, blood remains in the uterus and clumps together. Thus, forming clots that can be big or small and deep in color. Have no fear, this is very normal. 

The only time most ObGyn’s raise concern is when spotting occurs between cycles. 

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Irregular Cycle

Again, as with other period-related issues, irregular periods may be completely normal. However, there are other variables that might be causing your inconsistent flow. For starters, stress might be a major factor here. 

When you’re anxious, your body creates extra cortisol, often known as the stress hormone. High levels of stress can disrupt the hormones that result in the production of an egg. This ultimately leads to your menstruation, so your period may be late or you may skip it entirely.

Another possibility is that you have polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS is a moderate (and treatable) hormone disease in which you develop excessive amounts of the male sex hormone androgen. Leading to increased hair growth and weight gain. Women with PCOS may not ovulate every month, therefore they may not have a period every month.

Furthermore, if you’ve had any type of medical treatment in your uterine cavity, such as abortion, scarring may make it more difficult for the blood to flow normally. 

Finally, if you engage in high-intensity workouts, you can experience an extremely light or nonexistent period. This is due to the fact that your body isn’t producing enough hormones. Talk to your doctor to determine the best course of action.

Heavy Flow? 

The problem with identifying your period as “heavy” or “light” differs depending on who you ask, making it difficult to measure. If your flow lasts more than seven days and you have to replace your tampon/pad every two hours, this is considered heavy bleeding.

However, it can also suggest other health issues that need to be addressed, such as 

  • Hypothyroidism
  • Adenomyosis
  • Uterine Fibroids
  • Von Willebrand Disease

Another thing to bear in mind is that some drugs can influence the sort of bleeding you’re experiencing. Non-hormonal copper IUDs can also make your period heavier. Certain birth control medications such as the Depo-Provera injection can alter the way you flow as well. 

If you are worried about the length and heaviness of your period, consult with your gynecologist.

Looking For A Better Way To Track Your Cycle? 

Unlike other devices, Tempdrop measures your temperature rather than hormones. For example, your sleeping temperature, or baseline body temperature(BBT). So, whether you have regular cycles, irregular periods, or awaiting fertility to return, Tempdrop can help you detect temperature variations that are key to maintaining ovulation. 

Tempdrop provides remarkable precision in BBT measurement. Science is leading the way for female reproductive technology.  Tempdrop, on the other hand, is the most convenient and affordable choice available.

Midwife 360 has partnered with Tempdrop to provide a better look at what your period says about your health. Midwife 360, located in Palm Beach, began in 2014 and is now a staple to women’s care in South Florida. Some of the services offered at Midwife 360 include; holistic gynecology as well as midwifery services such as routine women’s care, family planning, and pregnancy care and birthing.

We are passionate about this tracking system and want everyone to experience it for themselves. Be sure to use our coupon code to receive a 10% discount on your order. To apply the coupon, copy and paste the link below and falling love with Tempdrop!

http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/MIDWIFE360 

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Can the COVID-19 Vaccine Affect Your Period?

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It seems like in these past few months hundreds of thousands have rushed to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. In the United States alone, over 119 million people have been fully vaccinated with over 267 million who have received their first dose. Today, it is as easy as walking into your local Publix with no appointment to get your vaccination. With a vaccine that is so new, how can we possibly know all of the side effects?

Many women have been hesitant to jump on this bandwagon right away before hearing all the research and side effects. One question that has gone unanswered is if the COVID vaccine can affect your period. This is an important question that we need answered. On average, women have their period for 40 years of their life. These types of questions can not go unanswered. 

Has There Been Research on This Topic?

Some women who have already received their COVID vaccine have noticed changes in their periods. They can’t help but wonder if the vaccine is the cause. We can’t get ahead of ourselves and presume this is the reason, but asking questions is a great place to start. 

Women have also noticed some abnormal bleeding following their dose of the COVID vaccine. Due to the uterus lining being an immune responsive tissue, and putting something like the COVID vaccine in your body with these antibodies, can cause instability and fluctuations in your menstrual cycle. These, however, are not facts because unfortunately there has not been any studies done with concrete evidence on this claim.

Many other factors can cause a woman’s menstrual cycle to become heavier, like stress. This can especially be the case during this global pandemic. The only knowledge we do have from studies done is that 25% of women who had the COVID virus reported changes in their period pattern. This only lasted for one or two cycles and then returned back to normal.   

Will the COVID Vaccine Affect Ovulation?

Despite the potential of the vaccine affecting a woman’s menstrual cycle, how does it affect our ovulation? Unfortunately, again we are left in the dark with no solid research on this question. Although, normally when a woman experiences a change in their bleeding pattern this can reduce their chance of conception during the ovulation period. 

Without answers on whether the COVID vaccine causes fluctuations in period cycles, we can’t know for sure if ovulation is affected. 

Should Pregnant Women Get Vaccinated? 

Although there has not been many studies on the potential effects of the vaccine for pregnant women, there has been studies on how a pregnant woman who contracts the virus may be affected. Studies show that some women who had the COVID virus during pregnancy experienced severe maternal and neonatal complications. Besides the fact that there has not been enough studies on the side effects of the vaccine on pregnant women, many people are in favor of pregnant women getting vaccinated.    

Is it Safe to Get the Vaccine When on Fertility Medication like IVF?

While receiving fertility treatment, first consult with a doctor before making a decision on the COVID vaccine. Due to the research on the affects of pregnant women with the virus, it is encouraged for women undergoing these treatments to get vaccinated.

Again, there has not been enough research to determine if it is 100% safe, but it can help prevent side effects from the virus. 

Where Do We Stand?

There is always a possibility that such a new vaccine can have side effects on a woman’s menstrual cycle. Yet there is not enough research to confirm that getting the COVID vaccine is the cause of period fluctuations. It is recommended for pregnant women to get the vaccine. This being due to the studies done and results of pregnant women who contract the virus. It is ultimately your decision on whether or not to get the vaccine. If you still have unanswered questions consult with your doctor and do your research before making your decision.