Women to Women OB GYN Care is proud to provide invaluable reproductive health services to the women of Hollywood, Florida. We see women from the onset of their periods to well beyond their last one. Our reproductive health can play a large part in our identities as women and it is important to have an educated understanding of it. We encourage you to make an appointment with one of our highly trained OB GYN doctors for a physical and to ask any questions you want answered. In our last blog we discussed the onset of menses, or a woman’s period. This week, we will cover what to expect with your periods and some common questions young women have.

What to Expect with Your Period

When your period begins, there are certain things you can expect. While there are generalizations to be made, the order in which they happen to you, and their intensity is completely unique to your body. How you experience the symptoms can change from month to month and will shift over your life too. Some women first notice a dull aching pain in their lower abdomen, while for others,

the first thing you might notice is some menstrual material (while not technically blood, it is often referred to as blood) in your underpants as it exits your vagina. This is where feminine hygiene products come into play. You have several choices when it comes to staying clean and saving your underwear.

ces or Diva Cups®, Tampons and Pads, Oh My!

In order to catch your menstrual flow material, you’ll want to use one of several products on the market.

• Pantyliners and pads, sometimes called sanitary napkins, are made of absorbent material and shaped to fit in your underpants. They are available in varying weights to match the level of your flow. They can also be worn with other types of feminine hygiene products in case you have misjudged the heaviness of your flow and don’t want to ruin your favorite underpants. When (not if) you get blood on your panties, you can rinse them in the sink and then use hydrogen peroxide to lessen the stain. It is not unusual for women to have a stash of B-team underpants to wear during their periods.

• Tampons are made of absorbent material, are and inch or two long and rounded for painless insertion into the vagina to catch menstrual “blood” before it exits your body. They are inserted with an applicator or with the use of your finger (wash your hands before and after). It is of vital importance to change tampons every few hours or you run the risk of developing the potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome, which is a bacterial infection of the Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria and can stem from prolonged use of a  superabsorbent tampon, therefor change your tampon frequently. Contrary to what some young women are told, a tampon can be used by a virgin. The hymen, a membrane found at the opening of the vagina is individual in size and not all women have one to start with. Additionally, normal activity can rupture the membrane long before the onset of menstruation.

• Menstrual Cups, such as the Diva Cup, are a revolution in feminine hygiene and lots of women who try them love them! This easy to insert silicone cup catches the menstrual material and is easy to remove, empty and clean. Most women need to empty their menstrual cups just twice a day and there is no danger of it leaking at night. How often you need to empty it will make itself known in the course of a few cycles and you’ll have a dependable feminine hygiene routine that doesn’t create waste or leak.

Other Symptoms to Expect During Your Period

Besides the expelling of the endometrium, the hormones that trigger your period, also cause other symptoms.

• Eighty percent of women report cramping and pain that can be located in the abdomen or lower back. One in three women end up missing some social engagement because of menstrual cramps. If your cramps regularly stop you from participating in normal activity, ask your OB GYN for advice or medical help. Very painful periods with intense cramps is known as dysmenorrhea and there are medical interventions that can help you.
• It is also not uncommon to have diarrhea during your period.
• Swings in mood, changes in sexual desire (increased or decreased), and food cravings are also common. Irritability is a common symptom of menstruation and being in pain only intensifies this.
• Headaches can also accompany your period. If they are very bad, ask your OB GYN for help.
• Taking over-the-counter medications to deal with the symptoms of menstruation is very normal and recommended to help you continue to function normally while your body does it’s thing. A heating pad can also be helpful to ease the pain when it is applied to your lower abdomen or lower back.

What is a Normal Level of Flow?

Every woman’s body is different, so there is really more of a range than a specific level to expect. Your period can last between 2 and 7 days. Some women have a very light flow and other women are constantly surprised at how heavy their flow is. As stated above, if your flow is exceedingly heavy and painful, it could be the sign of a medical problem such as uterine fibroids, or even cancer, so you should not take it as just part of being a woman, but seek help. If your periods are irregular, don’t be alarmed. As your body matures, they will very likely sort themselves out. If you are concerned, keep track of the days on which you have a flow and talk to your OB GYN. 
It is a good idea to have your first OB GYN appointment around the time of your first period for the opportunity to ask any questions, and so you have a doctor established if you have any problems.