There is this phase of each month where each woman goes through extreme mood swings, irritation, etc — yes that’s right, it’s when you have your periods!
Women often feel weak during their periods. So naturally, there are a lot of things that they don’t feel like doing. Whenever you’re on period, there are some specific things that you shouldn’t do or avoid indulging yourself in those activities. It doesn’t matter whether you feel like doing them or not. No matter if you are having your first period, or have been facing them for years; you should be well acquainted with the do’s and don’ts during your menstrual cycle.
Even though all women are different, there are some changes, almost all of them feel during the periods. There are extreme mood swings. A lot of them also feel breast tenderness. Women vary with strength. While some women can cope during periods, others find it difficult to carry out their usual activities. To feel good during your periods, you shouldn’t do or avoid doing the things listed below;
1. Consumption of Salty foods
Apart from the fact that salty foods can cause cramp, it can also lead to water retention. Even if you love salty foods, you should avoid them during your period. Since the majority of processed foods have salt, it is also advisable to avoid taking them. The reason is that salt contains a lot of Sodium.
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It is normal for your body to store a lot of sodium before your period. Your body would also store fluids. So the more you take salty meals, the more water will be retained in your system. If you can’t cope without salt, you should take your meal with a second food. You can eat it with ginger, bees, or asparagus.
2. Do not Engage in Unprotected sex
Even though unprotected sex is not advisable for some people, it becomes worse when it is during periods. Blood is one of the means by which viruses can be transferred from one person to another. So HIV or other unprotected sex might be transferred faster if one person is infected.
During the period, the female cervix becomes dilated. That is, it opens. So it becomes easy for bugs to enter the cervix through the vagina. During menstruation, unprotected sex can still result in pregnancy. That happens only to women that do have irregular periods.
3. Getting your breast Examined
The female breasts are highly sensitive to changes in the hormone. If your breasts are examined during your period, you might become irritated and uncomfortable. The reason is that estrogen and progesterone continue to fluctuate during periods. Even though it is not a bad idea to examine your breast, you can do it once or twice a month. Ensure that you don’t do it when you are menstruating.
4. Wear a pad for too long
When you use your pad for too long, it becomes unhygienic and dangerous to your health. Diseases like rashes can even result from the prolonged use of a pad. Pads should be changed in 6 hours. In cases where there is heavy flow, you should change them more often. There are various kinds of pads.
To determine the right pad for you, you can meet medical personnel. Some pads have wings while the others don’t. There are even cotton pads and a lot more. Two pads can also be used in some cases. If you’re someone that used to have a heavy flow, you can consider using two pads.
5. Overdrink Coffee
Morning coffee is good for your health. A lot of people even take it to feel warm and good during winter. However, you shouldn’t take it during your period. The reason is that coffee contains ingredients that lead to discomfort resulting from bloating. The blood vessels can even become constricted during that period. Since the uterus will tighten, it will result in more pain. If you are so used to taking coffee, you can still manage a cup. Just reduce how you take coffee during that time.
6. Douching
You should avoid the usage of douches during your menstrual period. Even if possible, you should stop using it completely. Douching is not good for your health. As it tampers with microorganisms in the vagina, it results in several infections. As douching causes irritation in some people, it also results in abnormal discharges. To avoid all those things, you can simply douche with only water.
Douching is a common practice to keep the vagina clean. Even though it helps keep it clean during the period, the long term effects are worse. During your period, the vagina cleans itself. Therefore you shouldn’t worry about doing it yourself.
7. Waxing
You can wax during your period. It will just pain you more. Since hormones increase during periods, some parts of the body become more sensitive. The same thing applies to the bikini area. So waxing will become more difficult for you.
To wax better and reduce your pain, you should pay attention to how you are feeling. Sensitivity fluctuates during periods. There are times when you feel more sensitive than the other. If you’re going to wax when your sensitivity is high, you should take a Tylenol. You can take it a few minutes before the waxing process starts.
8. Refusal to engage in Exercise
A good exercise routine can help you feel better during menstruation. Exercises won’t only help you physically; it will also improve you mentally. Since it is easy to predict when your period is going to be, you can plan a good exercise routine. If you carry out aerobic exercises during that time, you will feel fewer symptoms. Endorphins can help improve your mood. Good and regular exercise leads to the production of more endorphins. So your body system would be fully ready for your period.
9. Overconsumption of Diary
Even though diaries are important for a balanced diet, it can be dangerous for your health during periods. So you should reduce how you consume milk and cheese when you’re on period. You should also avoid consuming any food that contains cream. The reason is that arachidonic acid is present in such meals.
Overconsumption of milk can also lead to the buildup of acne in women. During your period, you should completely avoid taking a diary, if possible. There are better options like toned milk and buttermilk. Those can be safely taken during periods.
Conclusion
There are a lot of myths that people discuss on menstruation. As a young woman, it is normal to be scared. Just make sure that you observe everything listed above. Even though those things won’t completely eradicate your pain, they will help you reduce it well. So, make sure you do not do any of the 9 things listed above.
