Why Exactly Do Women Get Periods?
Here’s a biology question for you - do you know HOW menstruation works? Or, did that one science lesson in High School slip from your mind and now you incessantly wonder about the nitty-gritty of this magical monthly process?
Well, first of all, you’re not alone. Often, many of us miss out on the ways of the world and proceed to Google it.
But, before you do that, we’ve written an easy-to-understand science explanation that is all about the periodic process of periods!
Let Be Me’s Bio Class begin.
WHAT IS A PERIOD?
A period is when the blood is released from the uterus, out through the vagina. Most individuals get their period between the ages of 10 to 15.
Periods are a result of hormonal changes in one’s body.
And, menstruation occurs when ovaries release the hormones estrogen and progesterone. They cause the lining of the uterus to build up. This lining is prepped for a fertilized egg to attach itself to it and start developing. In the absence of the egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds.
It usually takes about a month for the lining to build and break. That’s exactly why people menstruate every thirty days or so.
WHO CAN GET A PERIOD?
A candid discussion about periods that extends beyond the female gender is highly important for the sake of factually-correct information and inclusivity.
For instance, some cisgender women (assigned female at birth) don’t have periods due to medical reasons such as menopause, stress, disease, or even a hysterectomy.
Then, there are people who menstruate but aren’t cisgender women. They could be trans men, intersex, genderqueer or nonbinary.
The bottom line is that swapping the word ‘women’ with the phrase “people who menstruate” is much more progressive and helps to make vital health information available to whoever needs it, regardless of their gender.
WHAT DO YOU USE DURING A PERIOD?
While this is a matter of personal preference and can change over time, more and more menstruators are preferring biodegradable sanitary pads with environmentally-sensitive period disposal packaging nowadays. And what better than Be Me to provide you with the most popular (and not to forget, Earth-friendly) type of sanitary pads? Click here to explore more.
