If you know us at Be Prepared. Period., you know we are always trying to make menstrual education more fun. To go along with the Know Your Flow article we shared last week, we also created this fun infographic as a quick reference.
Period talk and period education is something we continually promote. If you’d like to join us as we encourage ladies, of all ages, to learn more about their menstrual health, we invite you to share this graphic on your site – just copy the code below. READ MORE… »
By Robyn Srigley, BA, PTS, CNP, NNCP
Periods are confusing. One day you are barely flowin’ and the next you’re changing your tampon every few hours. And don’t even get me started on the cramps and cravings! What gives? Well, depending on the colour and level of flow we superwomen are experiencing, there could be any number of things going on. Decode the mystery below.
(check out the full infographic, here)
Light Flow
This could be one of two things. Either you’re near the beginning or the end of your regular period, or you’re not having a true period at all and are just spotting. So how do you tell the difference? READ MORE… »
By Stacy Lyon
Something Smells pHishy…
We hear it on TV commercials, we see it in ads and we read it on labels: “pH balanced”, but what exactly does that mean?
pH, or potential for hydrogen, is a measurement scale of acidity and alkalinity. Readings from 0–7 are considered acidic, pH from 7.0–14 is considered basic, or alkaline with 7.0 considered neutral.
Now what does that have to do with feminine health you ask? It’s important for every woman to not only understand the pH scale and how it affects their whole entire body but specially the fact that your vagina is considered an acidic environment. This low pH provides protection from invasions from bad bacteria and infections.
By Robyn Srigley, BA, PTS, CNP, NNCP
Aunt Flo can be such a kill joy. Bleeding for a week every month can be a real nuisance! As strong, independent women, being bogged down by cramps, mood swings, headaches and fatigue can put a real damper on the wonderful things we do in our lives every day. But what happens when we don’t get our periods on a regular basis?
This happens to women through all walks of life, for many different reasons. It’s so important to not only recognize that irregular periods aren’t normal, but that they could be an indication of something more serious. See if you’re on track with Aunt Flo below.
By Leslie Vandever
If you get the blues, feel moody, and suffer physical discomfort immediately before and during the first few days of your menstrual period, you’re not alone.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), up to three out of four women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms each month during their fertile years. Researchers believe changes in brain hormone levels, along with social, cultural, biological, and psychological factors might be the culprits, but so far, the exact cause is still a mystery.
Physical symptoms of PMS may include:
• bloating and gas
• abdominal cramps
• backache
• tender breasts
• diarrhea or constipation
• headache
• food cravings
• insomnia or oversleeping
Mental symptoms may include:
• difficulty concentrating
• forgetfulness
• sluggishness
• sadness
• tension and anxiety
• hostility
• mood swings
• changes in libido
• fear and guilt
• poor self-image
By Gabrielle Lichterman
Dread your period week because of menstrual-related aches and fatigue? Hey, it’s not all bad! The onset of your period signals significant hormone changes that can make you happier and healthier. 
Here are 4 reasons you can look forward to your flow:
1. Your period means the end of annoying PMS!
There’s no better antidote to annoying premenstrual syndrome—and the moodiness, irritability, sleeplessness and other discomforts that come along with it—than getting your period. That’s because the start of menstruation signals that estrogen is rising, reversing the cause of your premenstrual woes: plunging estrogen. Even better? This hormone continues to rise all throughout your menstrual week, improving your mood, outlook and energy as it climbs! (Hint: Eating foods high in iron—such as beans, fortified cereal, spinach and tofu—or taking a daily multivitamin that contains iron can help boost your mood and energy even faster by replacing iron lost during menstruation.)
2. During your period week, the bathroom scale numbers go down!
By Jennifer Aldoretta
If you’re interested in learning how to track your cycle, then there are plenty of resources out there that can help. My book, The Cycle, teaches the basics of cycle tracking and is available for download here. Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility is also an excellent guide. There are also many fertility awareness educators that teach classes online for a small fee.
Remember sex ed classes? Well, it turns out they completely skipped a ton of stuff about the menstrual cycle! For example, did you know that it’s only possible to get pregnant for a small portion of your cycle? And that an ovulated egg has a lifespan of just 24 hours? Or that your cycling hormones produce changes in your body that can be easily observed? It’s all true!
While that’s all very interesting, you may still be wondering why in the world you’d ever want to track your cycle. The truth is, I used to wonder the very same thing. But now that I know just how awesome cycle tracking is, I’m here to share with you my top 5 reasons (in no particular order) why you should consider giving it a try.
By Dr. Michelle Lim
Do you find yourself eating a pint of Yogurtland with a hot pack over your belly, popping Midol, and watching re-runs of The Kardashians once a month?
For some of us, this scene is just part of the routine every couple of weeks. Like clockwork, we are confined to stay in due to cramps, bloating, headaches, and fatigue. We’ve come to accept pain as part of the normal protocol during our periods. Some women even plan around their cycles, claiming they can’t do things on a particular week because it’s “that time of the month.” But, c’mon, ladies…Periods shouldn’t be THAT debilitating! After all, menstruating isn’t an illness, yet we’re conditioned to believe that our periods are associated with these symptoms. Women have become immune to what’s really going on inside their bodies and it’s time to change that. What women need to know is that a healthy cycle starts with a healthy body. And when we have a highly functioning nervous system, periods should be nothing more than a slight discomfort.
According to the NWHIC (National Women’s Health Information Center), about 30-40% of women suffer some impairment of daily activity before their menstrual cycle begins, while 75% of menstruating women experience some kind of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Symptoms can include bloating, headaches, fatigue, breast tenderness, constipation, nausea, irritability, mood swings and cramps. These symptoms can occur before, during, or even after a cycle. Conventional methods of treatment include prescription birth control and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also known as NSAIDs) in attempt to ease menstrual discomfort. These medicines provide temporary relief, but long-term use of them can have some dire consequences. Prolonged use of NSAIDs can result in gastrointestinal problems such as bleeding, ulcerations or perforation of the stomach and intestines, which can be fatal. Not to mention the risk of serious side effects oral contraceptives present that may lead to blood clots, heart attack and immune system suppression, just to name a few. READ MORE… »
By Marcela De Vivo
When I first read Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume, I was still in my pre-teens—so the whole bra-wearing, period-having, growing up angst was something that I related to and wanted to know more about (except the angst part). I honestly believed that you could “increase your bust” with an odd rhyme and even odder exercise—and the fact that the girls were so desperate to get their period made me want mine too.
Boy, did they misrepresent the experience. When I finally got my period, it wasn’t a misty-eyed entrance into womanhood with moderate spotting and a proud mother. No, mine was a hormonal nightmare complete with acne flare-ups, inexplicable rages and tears, and cramping that I wouldn’t wish even on the mean girls who tormented me at school.
I didn’t quite get that they were all PMS symptoms for a while, since I wasn’t regular yet and hadn’t figured out when my period was coming. As I got older, I started making the connection between the awful symptoms and the impending monthly menses.
Once I understood the association, I started trying any number of remedies to relieve my PMS—for my sake and the sake of those around me. What I found was that yoga and meditation did a lot to help alleviate those issues.
By Softcup
Using a Menstrual Cup for the First Time
In a feminine hygiene market dominated by tampons and pads, trying a menstrual cup may seem intimidating at first. Menstrual cups have been around as long as tampons but are less familiar to some women. Whether you’re dealing with unpredictable periods, experience a heavy flow or want to enjoy an active lifestyle, using a menstrual cup may help you better manage your period. It’s important to know your options when it comes to feminine protection.
How to Use a Menstrual Cup
There are two kinds of menstrual cups: the first is a soft, flexible cup that is worn internally, in the natural space under the cervix and behind the pubic bone where it conforms to your body. When inserted properly, it can’t be felt. You can wear it for about 12 hours at a time, after which it is disposed and a new one is inserted. It is also the only feminine hygiene product that can be worn during intercourse.
Other menstrual cups are bell-shaped and inserted internally to form a suction seal once inside the vagina. These are emptied, cleaned and re-inserted. The same one is used for each menstrual cycle.
Both types of menstrual cups are designed to collect your menstrual flow rather than absorb it. Just like the first time you used a tampon, it may take a few times inserting a menstrual cup to get it right. READ MORE… »