Expert Gynecologist Debunks Common Myths and Answers FAQs About Women’s Menstrual Health
Expert Gynecologist Debunks Common Myths and Answers FAQs About Women’s Menstrual Health
What you can and can’t do during your period, what’s normal and what’s not, how things should be and how they shouldn’t… Women have been asking each other (or Google) these questions for as long as they and Google have existed. It might seem like the basics of female physiology and related hygiene and behavioral practices should be passed down through generations, almost through our genes. In any case, it shouldn’t be up to a doctor to explain these things to patients. So, we won’t be discussing tampons, pads, sex, and sports with obstetrician-gynecologist Dmitry Trofimchik. We’ll be talking about other things.
Surprising Misconceptions About Menstruation
Dmitry Trofimchik, a gynecologist, shares his insights on the surprising misconceptions and ignorance surrounding menstruation.
What Surprises Doctors
According to Trofimchik, he isn’t surprised by his patients’ beliefs about menstruation. However, he notes that women often ignore issues they shouldn’t. For instance, bleeding can last for half a month or even a full month, and although it’s clearly a reason to seek medical help, many women don’t. When asked why they didn’t consult a doctor earlier, the common response is, “I thought it would pass, that it would end on its own.” This lack of reaction to obvious pathology is a serious problem that concerns many of his colleagues.
Trofimchik emphasizes that there is a norm for menstruation: it should last between two to seven days. If it lasts longer than seven days or less than two, it’s time to see a doctor. Additionally, if the heaviness of the flow exceeds certain limits, which can be observed by the number of pads used, it’s a cause for concern. While blood clots are normal in menstrual blood, there shouldn’t be too many of them, and there should be no additional discharge. If there are brown or chocolate-colored discharges, it could be a sign of endometriosis, and a doctor should be informed. Anything that seems “not right” should be alarming.
Another surprising behavior is the use of pregnancy tests before the expected period. Women should start looking for pregnancy at least two days after the expected start date of their period. However, testing for pregnancy when there is no delay is a common phenomenon.
What Women Struggle to Understand
Women often confuse the difference between the menstrual cycle and menstruation itself. They think that the menstrual cycle is the same as menstruation. However, the menstrual cycle begins on the first day of menstruation and ends the day before the next menstruation. Menstruation is only part of the menstrual cycle, specifically the days when bleeding occurs.
Another common confusion is when a doctor asks about the date of the last menstruation, and women respond with the end date. Most women answer this way, but the doctor needs to know the first day, the beginning of the menstruation. For a gynecologist, the first day of menstruation is crucial, not the last. The last day is also important, but only if the menstruation lasted more than seven days.
Common Misconceptions
Many women believe that a gynecological examination is not possible during menstruation. However, this is not true. For a gynecologist, it doesn’t matter whether a woman is menstruating or not. If an examination or ultrasound is required, it will be done. Menstruation is not an obstacle to any examination.
Tampons or Pads?
During the night and on days when menstruation is heavy or when it’s not possible to change a pad every three hours, it’s better to use tampons. However, pads are generally preferable.
Menstrual Cups: An Interesting Alternative
One of the most interesting topics is the use of menstrual cups. There is very little information about them, and they are not widely used. Menstrual cups are an intimate hygiene product inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluid. They can be disposable (made of polyethylene) or reusable (made of latex, medical silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer). Some cups need to be changed every year, while others can last from 5 to 10 years.
Sex and Sports During Menstruation
Regarding sex during menstruation, there is no consensus among gynecologists. Some believe it’s safe, while others think it can lead to endometriosis. Since this is not proven, it’s up to each individual to decide. The same goes for urealasmosis: is it a disease or not, should it be treated or not? Some treat it, others don’t. The world has a dual attitude towards this problem.
As for sports, everything should be within reasonable limits. It’s unlikely that someone would play basketball or run a marathon on the most critical days.
Delaying Menstruation
Menstruation can be delayed, or “turned off.” For example, if a vacation or a trip to the sea is planned, and menstruation would be very inconvenient. There is a completely safe option for the female body to delay it. However, this “option” is only possible for women who take oral contraceptives, and it requires consulting a doctor, as certain knowledge is needed. If this option is not suitable, special tampons can be used.
Freedom Tampons
Freedom tampons are made from an innovative foam material based on polyurethane foam. The soft material is completely safe for the skin and mucous membranes, ensuring ease of insertion and allowing the tampon to adapt to the anatomical features of a woman’s body. Due to this, tampons not only provide maximum protection but are also completely unnoticeable inside! The task of Freedom tampons is to allow a woman to forget that she is having her “critical days” and enjoy life, freedom, and comfort regardless of the day of her cycle. Freedom tampons allow women to make love, play sports, swim in the pool, and lead an active lifestyle every day!
Menstrual Calendar Apps
Regarding menstrual calendar apps on Google Play, Trofimchik approves of them. It would be great if every woman used such a calendar because it’s a helper not only for the woman but also for the doctor. It can predict the date of menstruation based on your own menstrual history, and it includes a mood and symptom journal, a body weight graph, a history of sexual contacts, and the ability to calculate the probability of pregnancy. All of this provides detailed information about your menstrual health.
