If you're a boy/man looking for information about menstruation to understand females better, in order to help them, you are in the right place.

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1. What is menstruation? And why does it happen?

 

Simply put, menstruation is a normal process that all females go through as part of their
reproductive cycle. During this time, there is a discharge of blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus, through the vagina.

Every month, an egg is released from an ovary. If the egg is not fertilized in time, i.e., It doesn't
fuse with a sperm; there is a change in the hormonal balance, which makes the egg dissolve. In
this case, since there is no embryo to nurture, at about two weeks after the egg was
released(ovulation), the lining of the uterus sheds and comes out through the vagina as blood –
this is menstruation.

If you want a more elaborate explanation, head on over to our Menstruation section for women.

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2. For how long does it last? How often does it happen?

Females first get their period during puberty, which is around usually 12-15 years old.
A period can last anywhere between 3 – 5 days, during which the flow of period blood varies.
A menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of 1 period to the first day of the next period. A
cycle can last between 21 to 35 days, while menstruation itself only lasts between the first 3 to 5
days of the cycle. This implies that menstruation happens every 21-35 days, depending on the
length of the cycle.

On average, women menstruate 500 times in their life. Women stop having periods once they reach the age of menopause, which is 41-60. At this point the ovaries do not have any more eggs to release.

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3. What are the products that women use? Is there any specific product to use at a particular
time?

There are a lot of products made available to women for their periods. These include: sanitary
pads (regular disposable pads, biodegradable pads, and reusable cloth pads), tampons, panty
liners, Menstrual cups, and Period Panties.

There is no specific product to use during a particular time. It all depends on the personal
preference of the individual and the heaviness of the flow. However, we definitely recommend

making the shift from regular products (tampons and regular pads) to more sustainable
products.

To check out the products and get into the details, head on over to our section for sustainable
products.

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4. What is the difference between PMSing and a period?

A period is the actual time when a woman bleeds.

PMS is Premenstrual Syndrome, which happens before the actual period. About 1-2 weeks
before a period, the change in hormonal balance makes a woman experience a combination of
symptoms. These include bloating, headaches, and being more sensitive and emotional.
Disclaimer, never joke about PMS.

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5. Can women have sexual intercourse while on their period?

Yes, they can. But the more important question is whether women WANT to.
Firstly, having sex during a period has proven to ease cramps and other PMS symptoms and
even help the blood come out faster.

But it depends on whether you and your girlfriend are comfortable with having period sex.
Feeling bloated, heavy, and sluggish tends to make women feel less 'sexy' during their period.
The last thing they want to do is have sex. But some women tend to get more aroused during because of the change in hormonal levels.

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6. Can you get pregnant if you have sex on your period?

Yes! Don't take the chance; just use protection.

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7. How bloody is it?

It depends from woman to woman and the day of her cycle. On average, a woman
loses between 30 ml-80 ml on her period. While on paper, this may seem like nothing, it is a lot of
pad changes and bleeding through 'protection' on the heaviest day.

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8. How do you know that your period is coming?

A lot of women can tell when their period is coming. They may experience mood swings,
cramping, bloating, body aches, spotting, etc.

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9. How painful is it, really?

For some women, the pain is excruciating to the extent that it is difficult to get out of bed. The
pain is unbearable. To add to the regular cramps, there are head and backaches, nausea,
bloating, sore breast and more. However, there are some lucky women that don't experience so
much pain or sometimes no pain at all.

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10. Are you constantly aware of the tampon when you use it?

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For a first-timer, it's normal to feel conscious and panic about forgetting they're in there.
However, for women that have been using them for years, they're hardly noticeable. The only
reason someone would notice it because of the discomfort caused if it has been inserted
incorrectly.

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11. Are periods that expensive?

Let's do the math.

A pack of 20 sanitary pads, the cheapest sanitary product, costs around Rs 150 – this means Rs
7.50 per pad.

Now, say a woman changes her pad every 6 hours, she uses four pads a day. For a period that lasts
Four days, a woman uses 16 pads. On average, women have periods 500 times. That means that
in a lifetime, a woman would use 8000 pads more or less. Multiply this by 7.50, and you get Rs
60000.

So, we have to spend Rs 60000 without a choice on just sanitary products. Add to this the
medication on doctor's appoints and the figure just keeps on going on.

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12. How can guys help?

Don't overthink it! There are multiple efficient, yet straightforward things men can do to make women
feel better during their periods. But keep in mind, these are actually what good boyfriends
should do, irrespective of the time of the month.

Help out with chores.
Yes, that's right, pick up her load of the household work. Show her that you respect and
understand the discomfort she is going through right now.

Buy her Tampons, Pads, or whatever product she chooses to use.
If she ever runs out of products, volunteer to buy the products yourself, don't shy away! She will
appreciate that you aren't awkward about periods.

Don't pretend to know what's best.
Even if you have done your homework, do not brag. Do not advise her and tell her what to do.
Being a know-it-all while she is on her period does not help.

Touch her only when she wants
Keep Calm & Control. Women have no control over their hormones and mood swings. She might
want to 'get physical,' or she may go crazy if you sit too close.

Buy her chocolates
Yes! It's true; chocolates are the best way to pamper her.

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Get her a hot water bag
Prepare a hot water bag before she even asks for it and be supportive. They are a lifesaver and
help with abdominal pains.

Watch a movie with her
Choose a Netflix movie, or even go to the theater – distract her from her discomfort.

Give her a massage.
Trust us when we say a woman's entire body aches during her period. Offer to give her a good
massage to relieve her from the discomfort.

Lend an ear
With a woman's emotions all over the place, she becomes vulnerable and impatient. Don't
scream at her, argue with her, or fight. Just listen to her and save your problems for another day.

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