Hi girlies.. surely I can’t be the only one who has looked into their underwear at the time of the month and thought: ‘hmmm, is that even normal’? Regardless of whether or not you have had this thought before, it is important to look to understand what is and isn’t healthy.
Bit of a disclaimer: I am not a doctor and am just relaying what I have found during my little bit of research. I will admit that I have found Prevention‘s post about periods quite helpful in writing this post. If you have any concerns about your period, go to your Doctor (they are experts after all). Periods happen to around half of the world’s population during some point in their lives; so talking about your period to your doctor shouldn’t be something to worry about.
So, what is your monthly period trying to tell you?
As it turns out, there can be a few things that your period could be indicating to you about your health. The colour, frequency and consistency matters; so keep an eye out for this next time your on your P* (this is how I used to discretely record it in my diary).
In an attempt to stop you getting weirded out, I will be talking to you about this topic girl-to-girl. You can rest assured that no periods were photographed in the making of this blog post. So let’s commence..
1. Not Pregnant
How a women experiences her period is very individual to each woman. A woman’s feelings towards having a period may depend on her pregnancy goals, since a period is usually a sign of a pregnancy no show. For some this will be a time of gratitude that you are not preggars (note to self: celebrations are in order). For others it will be a time of disappointment that you have not managed to conceive this time around (don’t give up my mothers to be).
2. Thyroid Problem
If your periods are neither here or there (in other words irregular), really light or really heavy; you may have a thyroid problem. Your thyroid (located in your neck region) produces and releases thyroid hormone which regulates many functions of the body, including the menstrual cycle. If the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) this can lead to a heavier period. On the flip side, producing too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can lead to a light, irregular or non-existent period.
Hypothyroidism is usually treated with tablets, that give your body the extra thyroid hormone it needs. Hyperthyroidism is typically treated with medication, radio-iodine or surgery; depending on your symptoms. Changing your diet can help to alleviate your thyroid problems. Thyroid problems can affect your fertility and other parts of the body, so it is best to see your Doctor.
3. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (aka PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects a woman’s fertility and causes undesirable symptoms, such as: hirsutism (unwanted hair growth), acne, weight gain and other health issues. Women with PCOS typically find it hard to predict their periods, as they are often irregular or no where to be seen for months on end. This is often due to a lack of the progesterone hormone. These women also have much higher levels of testosterone (women have testosterone too, just a lot less then men) and too much insulin that affects the ovaries ability to release an egg each month.
This condition can understandably cause sufferers to experience low mood, but there is no need to suffer in silence; as your Dr will be able to help with getting a proper diagnosis and talk through treatment options with you.
4. Low Oestrogen
If your period is a little pinkish and you have a relatively light flow, this could be a sign that you have low oestrogen levels. Excessive exercise can also lower your oestrogen and cause you to experience a pink period. I know what your thinking.. finally an excuse not to exercise. You can still exercise ladies, just take it easy or increase your oestrogen intake from your diet. Foods high in oestrogen (in the form of phytoestrogen – a plant oestrogen); include beans, soya beans (e.g opt for soya milk), dried fruits, flaxseed, chickpeas, peas and more. Some professional athletes (especially marathon runners) have had their periods disappear altogether as they don’t produce enough oestrogen to ovulate (release an egg).
A pinkish flow can be the result of poor nutrition, PCOS (see above) or premenopause (the body preparing for menopause, typically starting 4-5 years before menopause). You might want to see your doctor to see what you can do to get your oestrogen to a healthy level.
5. Nutritional Deficiency
A watery kind of period could be an indication that you are not getting all of the vits and mins your body needs. A whiteish, diluted and light flow could mean that you are severely anaemic (lacking iron in the blood). If you notice your period getting lighter and lighter with each monthly cycle, it is time to talk to your Dr about getting tested for nutritional deficiencies.
Alternatively, an iron deficiency can also be caused by a heavy period, so if you have a very heavy flow and change your pad many times at night, it would be a good idea to speak to your Dr.
6. Low Progesterone, High Oestrogen
If your period looks a little bit like strawberry jam, this could be a sign that you have low progesterone levels and high oestrogen levels. It is okay to get the odd few small clots of blood in your period. The time to start worrying would be if you were consistently seeing clots in your period blood and if the clots were quite significant in size. Bigger clots can be a sign of a serious hormonal imbalance. Heavy, clot-filled period blood can also be caused by fibroids (often benign, but can be painful). In this case an ultrasound scan can be used to rule it out.
A change in diet, such as reducing foods high in oestrogen (such as soya, dairy) can help to balance out the hormones; but if you are worried about what you see in your undies, the best thing to do is to see your Doctor.
7. Infection
A period that looks like a toddler used grey and red paint to create a messy masterpiece in your underwear, this could be a sign that an infection is present. If you notice a foul smell, make sure to book an appointment with your Doctor, who will be able to take swaps to work out what is causing the infection.
Sometimes, women who miscarry see chunks of grey tissue in their undies. This will be alarming for women who think they may already be pregnant, so make sure in any case you get booked in to see your doctor as soon as possible to make sure you are looked after effectively.
P.S Apparently having lots of unprotected sex can alter your natural vaginal pH and this can make you more susceptible to vaginal infections (a great excuse to get your other half to wear condoms).
8. Normal..
A healthy period will vary slightly between women, but generally speaking a period that is consistently a bright cranberry red colour is a healthy one (note to self: time for a bit of VJJ appreciation).
So what about a brownish period? Brownish blood can just mean that your uterine lining (inside your uterus) is taking its time to shed. This translates to your period blood oxidising (reacting with oxygen) more and consequently turning a more rusty brown colour. This is also considered healthy, so there is nothing to worry about. Most women will see this brownish colour period at the beginning and end of their period (take it as your period’s signal of a hello and goodbye each month).
Final words
As you can see, as annoying as your period can be at times; it can actually be a great insight into your overall health. I’m sure you would agree your period deserves a little more respect. What a wonderful thing it is to be a woman.
If you have enjoyed reading this post please share it with your girlies, to help make periods a healthy topic, rather than one filled with dread. If you have some concerns about your period, make sure you talk to your doctor about it.
Did you know your period could give a good indication of your health? Do any of you track your periods and if so, what methods do you use? Period tracker apps (I have used Kindara, Femometer, My Calender) or old school method of recording notes on your diary or calendar? Let me know in the comments.
When women support each other, incredible things happen.
Original publish date: 3/7/18
