Half of the world’s population deals with menstruation every month, yet we still don’t talk openly about it. As a result, we have a lot of myths and a lot of mystery surrounding menstruation.
There are, on average, 450 menstrual cycles during a lifetime and, with them, several opportunities to learn more. But menstruation still manages to surprise us, and not just popping up when we least expect it.
Here are 5 facts you probably didn’t know about your monthly visitor:
1) Can you get pregnant during menstruation
Although this is not the most fertile time of the month, it is possible to get pregnant during menstruation. That’s right, menstruation does not protect against pregnancy and there are some reasons why this happens. First, some people may bleed when their ovaries release an egg, a period called ovulation. This bleeding can be confused with menstruation. The peak of fertility happens during ovulation, so anyone who has sex during this period has a high chance of getting pregnant.
Second, it is possible to ovulate before your period ends or a few days after your period stops. As sperm live in the body for up to 6 days, having sex during menstruation can result in pregnancy.
2) Strong colic and very intense bleeding are not normal
Believe it or not, severe menstrual cramps are not normal. They usually mean that there is something wrong going on in the body, like a high level of estrogen, for example. Cramps can also indicate a high level of sugar, which causes an inflammatory process in response. You can also check to see if there’s something irritating the uterus, like a cyst or a fibroid, says Dr. Jennifer Burns of The Bienetre Center in Arizona, USA.
To get rid of strong colics and cramps, try to use the ovatune pain relief kit it instantly stops menstrual pain by stimulating the nerves to block pain signals.
Very heavy bleeding can also be a sign that something is not right, such as high estrogen levels. Estrogen is the hormone that causes the uterus to contract. It’s worth checking the levels with a doctor. There are natural ways to lower estrogen levels or make it more efficient.
3) Disposable tampons and pads are not the only option
Nowadays we have available the most diverse product options for the menstrual period.
The menstrual collector, for example, is a super soft silicone cup inserted into the vaginal canal to collect menstrual blood. There are also reusable cloth pads, also called ecological pads, they are similar to disposable ones, but washable. Nowadays they are easy to machine wash and produced with smart fabrics, waterproof and even touch dry option.
4) You can use menstrual cups and tampons and remain a virgin
Men and women cease to be virgins when the first sexual intercourse takes place, however, some societies, cultures or religions still relate female virginity to the presence of the hymen.
The hymen is nothing more than a thin skin present at the beginning of the vaginal canal. If you have one, it can easily be seen with a mirror. Any intravaginal product can break the hymen, but this will depend on the type of hymen you have, if you have one! Each person is unique, some have a very fragile hymen that is easily broken with day-to-day activities that include horseback riding, dancing or even cycling! Others have a thicker hymen that sometimes even sexual intercourse is not able to fully break. And yes, some are born without a hymen, which is perfectly normal.
In this way, the presence or not of the hymen does not mean being or not a virgin. Virginity can only be lost through sexual intercourse. So don’t worry, tampons and menstrual cups can’t take your virginity.
5) Men find women more attractive during ovulation and less attractive during menstruation.
It is a biological fact. Male testosterone levels are directly affected by a woman’s scent, which changes during the phases of the menstrual cycle. A study conducted by the Psychological Science Journal showed that men’s testosterone levels peaked when they smelled blouses worn by women during ovulation. At the same time, men showed low levels of testosterone production when they smelled blouses worn by women during menstruation. Another study, curious to say the least, showed that strippers earn twice as many tips when they are ovulating than when they are menstruating. This suggests a male biological drive to have sex with women when they are at their most fertile.
Fortunately, for the propagation of the species, this principle holds true for both sides. The female libido also reaches its peak during ovulation. And this phenomenon reaches greater intensity when the woman reaches the sexual peak, between 30 and 35 years old.
