Why do Women have Periods?: Do you recall the start date or duration of your most recent period? If not, you should consider starting to pay attention.
Monitoring your menstrual cycles can help you determine what’s typical for you, determine when ovulation occurs, and spot significant changes like missed periods or erratic menstrual bleeding. While irregular menstrual cycles or delayed periods at times are typically not severe, they occasionally can be a sign of health issues.
The evolution of periods: when did it all begin?
According to research, the body’s natural processes did not include menstruation (like breathing or excretion). Around 40 million years ago, it began to emerge in the anthropoid primate, the ancestor of monkeys, apes, and humans.
Fetuses appeared to have started to invade mothers’ bodies more aggressively at this time, which suggests that they needed more of the mother’s resources to survive. It becomes more apparent why the evolution of menstruation was necessary when one considers this interplay between a mother and her unborn child.
What is the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is a cycle of changes occurring every month in a woman’s body as she prepares for a potential pregnancy. Ovulation is the release of an egg from one ovary once per month. The uterus is getting ready for pregnancy simultaneously as hormonal changes.
The uterine lining sheds through the vagina if ovulation occurs, but the egg is not fertilised. This is the menstrual cycle.
So, why do women experience periods?
When you have a period as a woman, your body lets go of no longer needed tissue. Your body gets ready for pregnancy each month. Your uterus’ lining thickens in anticipation of housing a fertilised egg. A fertilised egg that is ready to implant itself in the lining of your uterus is released.
The thicker uterine lining begins to degrade if the egg is not fertilised because your body no longer requires it. Eventually, it is expelled from your vagina as vaginal bleeding and some mucus. Your period is now, and once it’s over, the period cycle repeats itself.
Ovulation: What is it?
The ovulation period is the release of an egg by the ovary so that sperm can fertilise it and create a child. The three days before and the day of ovulation is when a woman is most likely to become pregnant if she engages in sexual activity without using birth control (since the sperm are already in place and ready to fertilise the egg as soon as it is released).
While a woman’s egg only survives for 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, a man’s sperm can survive in a woman’s reproductive organs for 3 to 5 days.
The length of each woman’s menstruation cycle may vary, and the interval between ovulation and the beginning of the subsequent period may range from one to two weeks.
How long does a cycle of menses last?
An average menstrual cycle for women who are menstruating lasts 28 days. It begins on the first day of the previous period and ends on the first day of the subsequent one. But women’s cycles can vary in length, especially in the first year or two after a young woman’s first period.
During the first few years, a woman’s cycle may last as little as 21 days or as long as 45 days. Anything outside of this range, however, might need medical attention.
Can you stop your period?
A 2014 article in the International Journal of Women’s Health stated that while no method can guarantee that you won’t get periods, you can stop getting them by using a variety of birth control methods, including:
• Contraceptive pills. After a year of daily use, you will have a 70% chance of suppressing your cycle if you use birth control pills.
• IUD for women. A hormonal IUD (intrauterine device) has a 50 per cent chance of suppressing your cycle after one year.
• Shot of hormones. A hormone injection may impact your fertility for up to 22 months. You’ll have a chance of suppressing your cycle of 50 to 60 per cent after a year and 70 per cent after two years.
What results in irregular menstrual cycles?
Menstrual cycle irregularities can result from a variety of factors, such as:
• Breastfeeding or being pregnant. A missed period can be one of the signs of pregnancy symptoms at an early stage. Typically, breastfeeding postpones the onset of menstruation after pregnancy.
• Extreme weight loss, eating disorders, or overexertion. Severe weight loss increased physical activity, and eating disorders like nervosa can interfere with menstruation.
• Ovarian polycystic syndrome (PCOS). An ultrasound examination reveals small collections of fluid, known as follicles, in each ovary in women with this common endocrine system disorder.
They may also have irregular periods, one of the most common PMS symptoms. Ovarian failure before its time. The loss of normal ovarian function before age 40 is referred to as premature ovarian failure. Premature failure in women is referred to as primary ovarian insufficiency.
Takeaway
It’s normal to get your period. It is a step in your body’s pregnancy preparation. Every month you are not pregnant, your body eliminates tissue that is no longer required to support a fertilised egg. Consult your doctor or gynaecologist if you notice any irregularities, including changes in your menstrual regularity, frequency, duration, or volume.
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