Table of contents:
- What happens to the body during menstruation
- On days 1-5 of the menstrual cycle
- On days 6-13 of the menstrual cycle
- On days 14-15 of the menstrual cycle
- On days 16-28 of the menstrual cycle
When you enter the "red days", you may feel there are changes in the body and also changes in mood. Some of you may not realize it. But, generally there are the same changes in each of your menstruation. This is influenced by hormonal changes in the body due to menstruation. Then, what changes occur in the body during menstruation?
What happens to the body during menstruation
A regular menstrual cycle with regular menstrual symptoms means that the hormones in your body are working well. Meanwhile, irregular menstrual cycles indicate that there are hormones in the body that are problematic. This hormone is not only important for the reproductive system but also important for heart and bone health. This hormone is the hormone estrogen.
Not only the hormone estrogen, other hormones also play a role in the menstrual cycle, affect mood, and can cause changes or symptoms in the body. What happens during the menstrual cycle?
On days 1-5 of the menstrual cycle
The body during menstruation will experience changes. On the first day of menstruation, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest levels. You may feel cramps or pain around the stomach, ranging from mild to severe.
These cramps are caused by prostaglandin hormones which play a role in triggering contractions in the uterus so that the uterine lining is eroded and excreted through menstrual blood. This is because the egg that is released by the body is not fertilized by sperm (pregnancy does not occur).
In some women, high prostaglandins during menstruation can also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even flu-like illness. Meanwhile, decreased estrogen and progesterone can also cause you to become irritable and not feel like yourself.
Don't forget to always keep your vagina clean, especially on your “red days”. This is important to do to prevent vaginal infections. Simply clean the vagina with warm water. Or, you can also use feminine cleaning products that contain povidone-iodine (not soap), if needed, especially during menstruation.
On days 6-13 of the menstrual cycle
This is the last days of menstruation, the blood that comes out will disappear little by little. Estrogen levels begin to rise again because the ovaries have started releasing eggs again for the next menstrual cycle.
The increase in estrogen affects the increase in serotonin and dopamine in the brain and also increases blood flow to the brain. This will make you feel better mentally and physically. This may be because estrogen can help muscles absorb glucose better, so they can use energy better.
On days 14-15 of the menstrual cycle
This is a common time for ovulation (the body releases an egg). Currently, your estrogen hormone is in its peak and you are in high sex drive. Having sex around the time of ovulation can increase your chances of getting pregnant.
You may be able to estimate the timing of ovulation from a variety of signs, such as a slight increase in basal body temperature at the time of ovulation and changes in mucus in the cervix. Approaching the time of ovulation, the cervical mucus will look thicker, more transparent, and elastic, like egg white.
Around the time of ovulation, you should be careful when exercising. This is because a study has found that women's knee joints tend to be looser at this point, making them more prone to injury.
On days 16-28 of the menstrual cycle
This time can be said to be premenstrual. Usually, you may start experiencing unpleasant symptoms, such as:
- Your skin is oilier, so you can get spotty easily
- Feel tired quickly
- Breasts feel tight
- Headaches or migraines
- Easy to get angry
- Experiencing changes mood
- Back pain
- Bloated
- Increased appetite or food cravings. If not held, this may lead to weight gain. As reported by Everyday Health, research shows women tend to want to eat foods high in fat and carbohydrates during this phase, where this will contribute to excess calories to the body.
The premenstrual symptoms become more visible as menstruation approaches. This is common because the hormones estrogen and progesterone begin to decrease if the egg is not fertilized. Furthermore, menstruation will occur (counted as the 1st day of menstruation).
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