afab health
created by uterus owners, for uterus owners
menstruation and periods
menstruation occurs monthly in an afab's body. it typically starts from the ages of 11-14 and continues on to menopause and usually lasts a week.
| what happens during a menstrual cycle? |
|---|
| during your menstrual cycle, a lining is formed in the uterus to make a bed for a fertilized egg. the lining (the endometrium) is made up of cells and is fed by blood vessels. it begins to build up estrogen for the first two weeks of your cycle. then you ovulate and pass an egg which may or may not be fertilized, and the follicles that released the egg makes a hormone called progesterone that prepares your body for pregnancy. then about 14 days later, if you aren't pregnant, you will shed the lining. |
| what are typical symptoms? |
|---|
| • acne break out |
| • sore breasts |
| • bloated or gassy |
| • cramps |
| • headache |
| • mood swings |
| • constipation or diarrhea |
| • tired but can't sleep |
| • cravings |
| • irritability |
| what does my blood tell me? |
|---|
| period blood can tell you a lot about where you are in the stage of your menstrual cycle. black or brown blood means your period blood is oxidizing, which most commonly happens at the beginning or end of your period. dark red blood means the blood has been sitting in your uterus for a while, but hasn’t had time to oxidize. bright red blood means the blood is flowing quickly. pink blood means your period blood has mixed with cervical fluid. this can be a sign of low oestrogen levels, or an STI. orange period blood, much like pink period blood is a combination of cervical fluid and period blood, while not totally abnormal this can also be a sign of infection. |
menstrual disorders
menstrual disorders are problems that affect a normal menstrual cycle. if you suspect you have one of these menstrual disorders, contact a primary care physician for more information.
| endometriosis |
|---|
| endometriosis is a disorder where the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows on the outside of the uterus, causing a painful response during periods as this tissue will also bleed with a period. |
| olycystic ovary syndrome |
|---|
| pcos, or polycystic ovary syndrome is a disorder where the ovaries are enlarged, with smaller cysts growing around the outer edges. this can cause an overproduction of testosterone and insulin which may cause an increase of facial hair, acne, obesity and infertility. |
| pms |
|---|
| pms or premenstrual syndrome is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that many afabs get after ovulation and before the start of their menstrual period. researchers think that pms happens in the days after ovulation because estrogen and progesterone levels begin falling dramatically if you are not pregnant. |
| pmdd |
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| pmdd or premenstrual dysphoric disorder refers to a group of emotional and physical symptoms that starts a week or two before your period. it is similar to pms, but its symptoms, especially the emotional ones, are more severe. |
| abnormal bleeding |
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| abnormal bleeding or metrorrhagia is bleeding from the uterus that occurs in between periods, may occur every few weeks and the flow may be heavier than usual. this is a common problem, especially for teenagers and women nearing menopause. |
| amenorrhea |
|---|
| ammenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. the absence of periods can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. examples include menopause, pregnancy, use of birth control, medication side effects, delayed puberty and stress. |
find more information at: menstrual disorders - mount sinai heath library
