PMS

Period Pain – Causes and How to Ease Your Misery

Period pain – the medical term is dysmenorrhea – is one of the most common problems that menstruating women experience. It typically refers to menstrual cramps – the crampy, lower abdominal discomfort and pain that can come and go during your period. It can be sharp pain, or just an all-over achy sensation.

An estimated 9 out of 10 women will have period pain during their reproductive lifespan. For some, the pain is mild and bearable. For other women, they have severe period pain that can be very debilitating and interfere with school and work. Period pain is actually the leading cause of missed school days and work days for women in their teens and 20s.

Period pain is common during your teen years; it usually starts within 4 to 5 years of your first period. For many women, the pain decreases as they age, and by the time women hit their 30s, their period pain is usually mild and not so bothersome. Unfortunately, some women continue to have moderate to severe period pain until they hit menopause. [Read more…] about Period Pain – Causes and How to Ease Your Misery

What is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)?

by DP Nguyen Leave a Comment

PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome, and it’s classified as a “medical condition” that affects women in their reproductive years (during the years that you have a menstrual period). When a woman is PMSing, she’ll experience a wide variety of emotional and physical symptoms – including crazy mood swings, irritability, bloating, and food cravings.

An estimated 3 out of 4 women (who are menstruating) will experience some level of premenstrual syndrome. PMS tends to be peak when a woman is in her late 20s and early 30s.

The Birth Control Pill and Weight Gain

by Guest Writer 4 Comments

Since the introduction of the birth control pill nearly 50 years ago, its side effects have been scrutizined – such as the link between weight gain and birth control.

Oral contraceptive pills are one of the most popular reversible methods of birth control. You can find dozens of brand names and different formulas available. In the United States, birth control pills and condoms are the two most popular forms of contraception. An estimated 10.7 million American women use the birth control pill to prevent unwanted pregnancies. [Read more…] about The Birth Control Pill and Weight Gain

Long Menstrual Periods – Is Your Period Normal?

by DP Nguyen 7 Comments

If you have long periods – you’re bleeding for longer than one week – your period is not normal and this may be a sign that something is going on with you. You may have a reproductive problem, fibroids, cysts, or even something more serious. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you’re in your 40s and entering perimenopause, or if you’re a teenager who just started having periods, then having a long menstrual period may be normal.

If you have prolonged, heavy periods, you are said to have an irregular menstrual period.

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Ovulation with No Period – Can You Ovulate Without a Period?

by DP Nguyen 120 Comments

Ovulation and periods go together. In a healthy woman, they go hand-in-hand. However, in some cases, you can still ovulate without having a period. This occurs in women who have irregular periods.

Technically speaking, you can still experience monthly bleeding without ovulating, but this bleeding is a result of an anovulatory cycle (which means you didn’t ovulate that month) and it’s not considered an actual menstrual period.

Confused? Let me explain. To answer this question, you have to understand how ovulation and menstrual periods work together.

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Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?

by DP Nguyen 63 Comments

“Can you get pregnant on your period?” and “can you get pregnant right after your period?” are the two frequently asked questions in my blog’s comments.

The answer – yes, it is possible for you to get pregnant while having your period (and right after your menstrual period, too). But conception under these circumstances is highly unlikely for most women, because it involves two key reproductive elements. For one, you must be ovulating early. And two, you have unprotected sex while on your period.

Unprotected sex automatically puts you at risk for pregnancy. Although your chance of getting pregnant on your period is fairly low, it can happen under the right circumstances. Women with shorter menstrual cycles (for example: 21 day cycles) are often at higher risk of getting pregnant on their period. [Read more…] about Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?