Sexual Relationships 
Sexual Health 
No, really, it's time to talk period. I mean, come on, what do you really KNOW about yours? Yes, we know the standard 21-30 day cycle and if you don't explode in red messy goo by that 30th day, you may be pregnant. We get it. But what about when it comes to your health? You know, your period can tell you lots of things about your body and sexual organs that you may not have even considered. So what could they possibly be?
5. Your Ethnicity Impacts Your Flow
No, I'm not kidding. Actually, my mother was the first person to tell me this because I could not figure out for the life of me why my white friends had 4 day periods while my sister and I were chilling with our week long ones. I didn't believe her, so I looked it up myself...and she was right. According to a study conducted by the Oxford Journal, black women were not only more likely to have longer periods, but also heavier ones when compared to whites and Asians. Sucks for us black women, but it gets worse. Continue to number four to find out why.
4. Fibroid Tumors Can Make Your Period Suddenly Heavier
And guess who has the pleasure being more prone to fibroids? Yup, black women. Wow, we just can't win for losing! Any woman can get them, but unfortunately, that's a staple that mostly belongs to the melanin mamas. Don't worry, though. Most fibroids are benign and are not life threatening because they are just a mass of tissue and muscle. However, if you suddenly notice your period being heavier, thicker, and your cycle longer, you may want to get checked for fibroids.
A fibroid tumor may also be what could be preventing a woman from getting pregnant because they grow in your uterus. Most women only have one if they ever get them, but it's possible to have several at a time. Fibroids can be treated with hormone therapy or surgery. Here's the sad part: According to Womenshealth.gov, about 30% of women will have a fibroid tumor by the time they are in their 30's and even more in their 40's. You can start getting them in your early 20's. Yeah, not fun. No worries, though, as you can fight back! Cut down on red meats and, if you're obese, lose some weight. Unless you're me. If fibroids run in your family like it does in mine then you may end up getting one, anyway.
In either case, make sure you ask your gynecologist to check for this. Although they may be benign, some have resulted in women needing a hysterectomy, or their uterus being removed.
3. Color Me Period...Or...Not...Huh?
Did you know that a period can be more than one color? Well, you do now, so congratulations. Your period should be one of three colors: light pink, deep red, or dark purplish scarlet. Apparently, each color tells you something different.
If your period is a light pink color, sorry sweetie, you don't have enough estrogen in your body. While that's not a fun thing to hear, if your a woman who is having trouble getting 'in the mood' for your man (or lady) friend, this may be the reason why. Light pink is a sign of low estrogen levels which decreases your libido. It also causes vaginal dryness, which is NOT fun during sex, let me tell you. One time, when my ex and I were together, we...oh, you don't want to hear...that...um...
What if your period is a deep red? Well, good for you, your period is most likely to follow the standard 28 day cycle rule. Unfortunately, it means you're more prone to PMS (premenstrual syndrome). You can't have everything.
Now, if your period is that purplish red color, you have the fun and joy of having the longer periods. Why? Well, according to Alisa Vitti, a holistic health counselor, darker periods are the sign of a thicker uterine wall. In case you didn't know, your period isn't really blood. It's actually tissue. And it's the tissue of your uterine wall. I'm sure most girls knew that, but if you're a guy reading this and didn't, well, now you know. Anyway, common sense should tell you the more there is, the longer it takes to get rid of it, and periods are no different. If this is you, your period may start turning brown at the end. That's because it's old blood that didn't get expelled fast enough, so don't freak out.
Not sure what color yours is? That may be because you are using a tampon or a pad. Sometimes, it's really hard to tell the difference of the color and texture of your period. If you really want to know, try using a menstrual cup. What's that? It's in the picture above. It's gross at first, but you can get a clearer picture of what your period looks like than if you used a tampon or pad.
2. You're Not Getting Your Period. You're Pregnant!
Uh, no, not always. Women who miss a period don't necessarily have a bun in the oven. In fact, several woman still continue to get their period regularly while they're pregnant. Actually, the more common reason for most women is their weight. Obese women can miss a couple periods a year because of their size. You missing your period could be your uterus's way of asking you to shed the pounds.
Periods are tricky, though. Yeah, you may be obese, but what if you're not and you STILL miss periods? Then you may actually be too small. That's right. If you exercise too much or you're under weight, your period may go MIA. Periods can be finicky little things, can't they? First I'm too fat, then I'm too small... Picky, picky, picky...
You also may be on the pill. Certain birth controls, especially the shot, can actually make you miss a period. The answer as to why depends on the doctor you ask. Some say it's because birth control messes with your hormonal balance. Others say it's because it's just doing it's job in preventing you from getting pregnant.
What if it's been missing for months and months and months, yet every pregnancy test is coming back negative? If that's happening, you should have been seen a doctor. Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman who gets their period normally suddenly stops and doesn't see it again for at least six months. The cause is, again, our friend the birth control pill, but not always. Ask your doc.
1. Bloating, Cramping, and Mood Swings, Oh My!
Want know something that's interesting and upsetting at the same time? Remember earlier when I mentioned PMS? Yeah, well, sorry, but PMS actually isn't normal. It's common, yes, but not normal. That means you can stop telling your boy toy to stop blaming your crankiness on PMS...but, then again, you can't ask him to be understanding of your PMS, either...
PMS is mostly associated with mood swings and hormonal imbalance? Other symptoms are extreme cramping, bloating, and gas. Now, the cramping, bloating, and gas you would get without PMS, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable and debilitating. Cramping are small contractions from your uterus trying to shove out that old wall lining. But when you start getting shooting pains down your leg, in your back, and your uterus is eating you alive from the inside out, that's when your PMS is out of control. Combine that with severe bloating and gas so bad that you're farting yourself everywhere you go, then you need to look at your own diet. Again, you can fix this.
Only drink water. Cramps are worsened if you're dehydrated. That means no pop (soda for non-Midwestern people), no juice, no Kool-aid...just plain water. And drink at least 8 cups a day. Also, don't eat so soon before bed. My own personal rule is never eat after 8, but you have to look at your own sleep patterns to determine that. Your digestion slows down when you're sleeping because you aren't exerting a lot of energy. This should help decrease your bloating. While we're on the topic of diet, cut out the candies and chocolate. They taste good when you're in pain, but the sugar and high sodium content actually make your period worse. Natural foods like fruits and vegetables will slow down the gas and bloating as well as ease your cramp pains.
Periods aren't fun...well, not to me anyway. Hey, you may be weird and enjoy it. Good for you. Either way, they don't have to be miserable. In fact, they're pretty informative and tell you a lot about your own life style. Hopefully this answered some questions you may have had about your dear old Aunt Flo.
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