Menstruation
Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina.
Vaginal fluids in menses mainly contribute water, common electrolytes, organ moieties, and at least 14 proteins, including glycoproteins.
The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible.
Although a normal and natural process,[21] some women experience premenstrual syndrome with symptoms that may include acne, tender breasts, and tiredness.
[22] More severe symptoms that affect daily living are classed as premenstrual dysphoric disorder and are experienced by 3 to 8% of women.
[29] These issues can significantly affect a woman's health and quality of life and timely interventions can improve the lives of these women.
[30] Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disruptive set of emotional and physical symptoms that regularly occur in the one to two weeks before the start of each menstrual period.
[36] The range of symptoms is wide, and most commonly are breast tenderness, bloating, headache, mood swings, depression, anxiety, anger, and irritability.
[38] Diagnosis requires a consistent pattern of emotional and physical symptoms occurring after ovulation and before menstruation to a degree that interferes with normal life.
[37] The cause of PMS is unknown, but the underlying mechanism is believed to involve changes in hormone levels during the course of the whole menstrual cycle.
[38] Reducing salt, alcohol, caffeine, and stress, along with increasing exercise is typically all that is recommended for the management of mild symptoms.
[35] Premenstrual symptoms generally do not cause substantial disruption, and qualify as PMS in approximately 20% of pre-menopausal women.
[33] Antidepressants of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) class may be used to treat the emotional symptoms of PMS.
[41] These symptoms can be severe enough to affect a person's performance at work, school, and in everyday activities in a small percentage of women.
[6] When severe pelvic pain and bleeding suddenly occur or worsen during a cycle, this could be due to ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous abortion.
[50] Unlike other mammals, women may show interest in sexual activity across all days of the menstrual cycle, regardless of fertility.
There are several ways that someone's menstrual cycle can differ from the norm: Extreme psychological stress can also result in periods stopping.
[medical citation needed] Women who had undergone female genital mutilation (particularly type III- infibulation) a practice common in parts of Africa, may experience menstrual problems, such as slow and painful menstruation, that is caused by the near-complete sealing off of the vagina.
[70][71] "Period poverty" is a global issue affecting women and girls who do not have access to safe, hygienic sanitary products.
[68] In the UK research has shown that for women allotment growers, access to sanitation for menstrual hygiene management is limited.
[75] Hormonal contraception affects the frequency, duration, severity, volume, and regularity of menstruation and menstrual symptoms.
The most common form of hormonal contraception is the combined birth control pill, which contains both estrogen and progestogen.
[84] On average, women who are fully breastfeeding whose infants suckle frequently experience a return of menstruation at fourteen and a half months postpartum.
The terms menstruation and menses are derived from the Latin mensis 'month', which in turn relates to the ancient Greek mene 'moon' and to the roots of the English words month and moon.
[88] Many religions have menstruation-related traditions, for example: Islam prohibits sexual contact with women during menstruation in the 2nd chapter of the Quran.
[89] Some scholars argue that menstruating women are in a state in which they are unable to maintain wudhu, and are therefore prohibited from touching the Arabic version of the Qur'an.
[97] Effective educational programs are essential to providing children and adolescents with clear and accurate information about menstruation.
[98] Low-income girls are less likely to receive proper sex education on puberty, leading to a decreased understanding of why menstruation occurs and the associated physiological changes that take place.
[102] Chhaupadi is a social practice that occurs in the western part of Nepal for Hindu women, which prohibits a woman from participating in everyday activities during menstruation.
"[105] Not all cultures villainize menstruation, the Beng people of West Africa consider menstrual blood as sacred and recognize its significance in reproduction.
