Everything About Periods

I've seen a lot of questions from guys on the subject of periods, and to prevent writing the same thing every time I see the question I'm just going to write this once and link to it each time. It should be clarified that by the title I'm talking about "everything I know about periods."

Everything About Periods

What is it?

A woman's period is the process in which every month (roughly) she sheds a spongy, viscous lining on her uterine wall and an egg if it has not been fertilized.

What are cramps?

Cramps help in the breaking down of the uterine lining. If a woman has a particularly thick lining, her uterus is tilted, or her cervix is small it can be particularly painful. The "pill" helps ease this pain by thinning the lining.

What about PMS?

PMS occurs because of a whole lot of hormonal changes during this time, interestingly though, it's actually mostly the drop in all hormones. Less progesterone etc

How long?

It usually occurs every 25-35 days and typically lasts 3-7 days, but can last longer for some women.

How much blood is lost?

Typically between 4-12 teaspoons of blood AND other materials.

Why does this happen?

This is actually an interesting and slightly more complex question. Periods, or external menstruation is very rare within the animal community with mostly only other primates demonstrating this phenomena. Researchers have come to an interesting conclusion that this occurs in species in which the mother is responsible for controlling whether or not she gets pregnant. Basically the fertilized egg can only attach IF she has this spongy zygote friendly lining. This ability is called "spontaneous decidualisation." Two hypotheses are that 1.) self defense in these species the fetus is quite aggressive and will burrow all the way into the blood stream if allowed and thus this process came about to defend the mother. 2.) In order to expel bad embryos.

Everything About Periods

I think it is important to add (although not really noted in the article I read) my observation that the species that demonstrate this phenomena all are ones in which have a heavy cost involved in child-rearing. Pregnancy and birth for these species are incredibly taxing and can frequently result in physical harm to the mother and/or the fetus. Additionally, after birth the mother has to expend a lot of resources on nurturing these young. Thus it is imperative that they ensure only the "best" embryos get implanted.

Cool/ Random stuff?

These are things that I'm also aware of, but don't as frequently notice as questions.

1.) Many women describe increased sexual desire during this time.

2.) Many women's breast appear to engorge during this time.

3.) A study has shown that many men find a woman's "moan" more attractive during this time.

PS I'm aware of the hilarity of a man writing about this, but whatever.

17 4

Most Helpful Girl

  • this is prolly the first time i have every seen a guy write about periods and not give a rude remark!

    Great take mate!

    PS you forgot to mention the moodswings lol

    • My section talking about, "PMS" meant to tackle that, although it was admittedly brief.

    • i wish the 2nd one would just... VANISH!

    • XD pretty sure all ladies would!

Most Helpful Guy

  • Typically between 4-12 teaspoons of blood AND other materials.

    s2.quickmeme.com/.../...38e970d72a5a9fb5a6c61c.jpg

    • your so rude

    • @Safa_Malfoy I disagree

    • do you now? please explain why i would just LOVE to know why

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What Girls & Guys Said

21 17
  • I found this to be informative, despite it being a reiteration of matters I already am aware of since I experience menstruation myself.

    A 'tilted' uterus may be a retroverted one.

    I cannot gauge whether the '4-12 teaspoons' crudely accommodates 30 milliliters to 40 milliliters, the average amount of blood secreted during menstruation.

    • The last problem is because you're not an American XD Glad you relatively liked it though!

    • I am not American, indeed. I am more accustomed to measurements in the Metric System than I am to the Imperial System.

  • Lol... im more worried that you took the time to do all this research... BUT at the same time... it was very informative... I learned a lot... Good Take. (the fuck is progesterone?)

    • One of the sex hormones like estrogen.

    • ah... need to look that up.

    • Yeah man, and most of this I didn't actually research. I wrote it and just did a once over on one of those "lady" sites to make sure I wasn't too far off. I've always been a bio fan and been kind of interested in it.

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  • I don't find it hilarious at all :) Great MyTake

  • Cramps are better explained by the fact that the uterus contracts while it's expelling the endometrium. Because all muscles are connected, this puts pressure on muscles in the abdomen, back and legs.

    Bloating can also happen, as can gas pains. All of it hurts.

    A teaspoon of compassion goes a long way.

    PS: Two words that may traumatize you: period poos.

    • Thanks for the input! Can you give a link? From my reading the three things I listed (a particularly thick lining, her uterus is tilted, or her cervix is small) were the largest factors. If I missed something I'd love to be corrected. Haha I don't find bodily functions gross. You want to hear something traumatizing... I had to wipe up a patient who had aggressively violent diarrhea, had only half his legs (so couldn't stand or get into the shower), and as such I had to wipe him up without his help.

    • A non-squeamish man. A true rarity.

      Per the Mayo Clinic, uterine contractions occur to help expel the endometrium.

      www.mayoclinic.org/.../syc-20374938

      There are a few mechanisms at work to get menstruation to happen. One of them is hormonal, but there’s a vascular change as well. The spiral arteries in the functional layer of the endometrium constrict, which in turn causes necrosis of endometrial tissue.

      www.embryology.ch/anglais/gnidation/role02.html

      Both the arterial constriction and uterine contractions cause pain.

    • Oh, well perhaps I just did a poor job of explaining it, but my point was that cramps are intended to help break down and expel the endometrium. I just called this a, "thick lining."

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  • its actually pretty impressive seeing a dude write a take about periods and not be all rude about it lol awesome take

    • Thanks!

  • Breasts increase in size slightly due to the milk glands swelling up.
    You can apply anti inflammatory gel to them if they get too uncomfortable.

  • Way to go ladsin ! You can teach sex Ed better than a southern school !

    • We actually didn't have sex ed XD We just had the abstinence talk one day after school in our bio classroom with our fathers (my step-father).

    • Damn ! That’s awful !

    • It was certainly... weird. I got full points for being gung ho, "Can anyone tell me the only true way to avoid STDs?" "ABSTINENCE!"

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  • I wish more guys were comfortable talking about and dealing with this natural part of being a woman.

    • Well, I still fear asking a girl if she's on her period

    • @scooogy Why ask? When is it important for you to know?

  • Oh, so that's what's going on. Thanks for the mansplanation.

    Sorry, I just wanted to use mansplanation in a sentence.

    • It's a mansplation about manstruation.

    • Haha

  • Number two is so true for me

  • Thanks for the take. I’ve had my period for over 2 years now. With 4 brothers it was an interesting experience, thanks to my mom I survived.

  • Also, as far as I remember almost all fights that I had in my past relationships were in the time during or right before my period.

    • My section talking about, "PMS" meant to tackle that, although it was admittedly brief.

    • I previously thought PMS is not real in a way that we don't act as badly as people say but it's during these moments that I realized how true it is. Plus we my depression and suicidal tendencies were severe, they were even worse in my PMS times. Basically, we have to go through shit for two weeks a month. 🐸 literally half of the month.

    • Two weeks is scary long.

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  • I rarely get cramps and I don't PMS. So if I'm being a bitch and I'm on my period I can't use the PMS excuse.

    • Lucky you, I guess you're the girls in the tampon ads swimming, cycling and going shopping.

  • i just had my period today i love coming in and seeing pple discusting
    nice take
    usually my hormonal changes start a day before and 4 table spoon i doubt it it feels a lot more

    • XD In order to test this they weighed pads that women were using.

  • Interesting. Period.

    • I agree, period.

  • the random info is true for me lol interesting article!!!

  • I think dogs have periods too. Also horses do sometimes, I've seen it.

    Also, I don't think breasts increase in size during menstruation as some women would like to believe

    • Horses and dogs go into estrous in which they reabsorb the endometrium, they can occasionally have discharge which makes a lot of us confuse it for menstruation.

    • Breasts can increase in size slightly, mine do.

  • The Bible wrote period blood is unclean. People still believe that.

    • Yeah, even in the 1900s it was actually theorized (among doctors) that it was a process of removing toxins.

    • in the 1900s... a leftover from the Victorian age.

  • Interesting. I'd only like to point out that the egg is expelled roughly a week before the menstruation begins.

  • Have you tried not having your period? That would be better for everybody.

    • You know what? I'm done with your nonsense, period.

    • Have you tried it?

    • Have I tried your nonsense?

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