₦airaland Forum

1) What is menstruation?

Menstruation - having periods - is part of the female reproductive cycle that starts when girls become sexually mature at the time of puberty.

During a menstrual period, a woman bleeds from her uterus (womb) via the vagina. This lasts anything from three to seven days. Each period commences approximately every 28 days if the woman does not become pregnant during a given cycle.


2) Why do women menstruate?

Menstruation is a very complicated process involving many different hormones, the woman's sex organs and the brain.

A woman's internal sex organs consist of two ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, the uterus (womb) and the vagina. The ovaries contain the eggs with which the woman is born and, during each period, a single egg will usually ripen and mature due to the action of hormones circulating in the bloodstream.

When the egg is mature it bursts from the ovary and drifts through the Fallopian tube down into the uterus. The lining of the uterus - the endometrium - has been thickened by the action of hormones and made ready to receive the fertilised egg.

If the egg is fertilized and the woman becomes pregnant, it will fasten itself onto the endometrium. If the egg is not fertilized, however, resultant hormonal changes cause the endometrium to slip away and menstruation begins.

Menstrual discharge is composed of the endometrium itself, together with a little fresh blood caused by the breaking of very fine blood vessels within the endometrium as it detaches itself from the inside of the uterus.

The amount of blood lost due to the normal monthly period is usually less than 80ml.


3) When does menstruation begin?

These days, girls begin to menstruate when they are about 10 to 14 years-old. The average age is approximately 12. Women will continue to menstruate until the age of 45 to 55, when menopause begins. A woman will have approximately 500 periods in her lifetime.



4) Can you feel ovulation?

Ovulation usually takes place roughly 14 days after the first day of the start of a period; however, the exact timing can vary greatly from woman to woman. Some women know when they are ovulating because they can feel a slight pain in their lower abdomen. Other women may bleed slightly in the middle of their cycle.

Vaginal discharge also changes at ovulation. It increases in amount and becomes more watery due to hormonal changes. This is one of the ways that women who wish to practice natural family planning (NFP) using the mucus test can find out whether it is safe to have sex or not.

Women who do not experience such symptoms during ovulation can find out when they are ovulating by taking their temperature. This will rise by 0.5 degrees Celsius when ovulation occurs. To measure temperature effectively, it must be taken at the same time every morning before getting out of bed.

Temperature readings taken from different parts of the body such as the mouth, under the arm, in the ear or in the rectum will all give a slightly different measurement. For this reason, it is important to choose one location and stick to it. When checking for temperature, rises can occur for a variety of reasons and, therefore, should not be used as the only method of detecting ovulation.




5) What influences menstruation?

As described above, menstruation is a very complex process involving many different hormones, the sexual organs and the nervous system.

First and foremost, hormones influence menstruation. If they are not in balance, the cycle will similarly be affected. If a woman's periods are very irregular, she can ask her doctor to measure the hormones in her blood to find out if her hormones are out of balance. This will give a rough indication as to whether there is a serious hormonal problem. However, since what is 'normal' varies greatly with regard to women's hormones, blood tests are not a particularly good measure of what can be considered much more subtle imbalances in a woman's cycle.

Weight also influences hormonal balance and menstruation. If a woman is underweight, her hormones will stop working properly and her periods might stop altogether. Recent research has also shown that obesity can throw hormones out of balance and make it harder for women to conceive. Stress also affects the hormones. Many women find that if they are worried about something, it can influence menstruation. In some cases, a woman's period might actually stop if she is very worried about whether she is pregnant.

Regular exercise and keeping fit and healthy can help regulate the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, exercising too much and overstressing the body can have a negative effect on the hormones to the extent that menstruation may cease.





6) What are the symptoms of painful periods?

The degree of discomfort experienced during menstruation varies from woman to woman. Some are never bothered by their periods, while others can be badly affected by unpleasant symptoms. These may include:


a) pains in the abdomen


b) pain in the vagina


c) feeling nauseous and generally unwell


d) diarrhoea


e) sweating


f) fatigue.






7) What can women do to relieve their symptoms?

There are several things that will help relieve discomfort:


while menstruating, refrain from drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, cola or cocoa.


avoid stress. Relaxation and massage can work wonders.


exercise and staying fit can help prevent painful periods.


keep your abdomen warm.


finally, use pain-relieving medicines if necessary.


Remember that it is always best to consult your doctor about your specific concerns.





What causes painful periods?

There is no single proven theory, but there are several possible reasons:


contractions of the uterus similar to those felt in childbirth due to the hormone prostaglandin.


the pain can be caused by the cervix dilating when the blood and the tissue are passed out of the womb.


the pain can be due to earlier infections or inflammations of the uterus, or benign tumours in the uterus.


in some cases, painful periods are hereditary. If a woman has painful periods, her daughters may later be affected in the same way.





9) Why do some women's periods stop altogether

Periods can stop for a number of reasons. The most common are:


pregnancy.


premature menopause (this can affect women in their early twenties).


weight loss.


weight gain.


some forms of medication including the contraceptive pill or injections.


drug abuse.


stress.


hormonal imbalances such as an underactive thyroid gland or the overproduction of a hormone called prolactin.


a condition called polycystic ovaries (see below) is a very common cause of irregular or absent periods.


The treatment suggested will depend upon the diagnosis. If you are uncertain as to why your periods have stopped, seek advice from your doctor. Investigation usually involves a blood test to measure the levels of various hormones in your body.

Irregular, infrequent periods

Periods are often light or infrequent both when a young woman starts having periods, and also when a woman is nearing menopause. This is normal because they are not producing an egg every month.

Many women experience one or two irregular periods every six months. This is not usually caused by any serious condition; however, many women do seek an explanation and reassurance from their GP or gynaecologist.

The most common cause of infrequent periods is a condition called polycystic ovaries. This is a common condition affecting as many as 10 per cent of women, in which a large number of very small (less than 1cm) cysts on the ovaries appear in association with a hormone imbalance.

This condition results in irregular ovulation and thus periods are usually infrequent. The diagnosis of polycystic ovaries is made on the basis of one or more blood tests to measure hormones; a pelvic ultrasound scan of the ovaries is often taken as an additional test.

Treatment is only necessary if there is concern about the irregularity of periods or if a woman is having difficulty becoming pregnant.

MORE ON MY NEXT POST THANKS AND GOD BLESS ALL WOMEN EXPECIALLY MY SWEET MOM

@poster let me just give you a few charaters of a real man.

1) A real man is strong:::

A real man doesn't cry, doesn't moan, doesn't complain, doesn't get sick, and doesn't need to go to the doctor every time he sneezes. A real man makes decisions and lives with the consequences. A real man accepts responsibility for his actions and his words. A real man is firm. If life is a b*tch, a real man will slap her and move on.

A real man is macho; a real man is tough; a real man doesn't show emotions. A real man is the backbone of his family and doesn't have time to be weak. If spiders scare you, you'll never be a real man

2).A real man is focused:::

A real man knows the difference between what's important and what isn't. A real man doesn't waste time on stupidities that don't bring him any profit. Sure, there are things you can do as a hobby -- I like to shoot ducks -- but it must have a purpose. The purpose of my hobby is to improve my aim, and I don't have to tell you whether or not that's a useful thing in my line of work.

A real man focuses on power, money and family. He doesn't focus on sex. Sex comes as a result of having power, money and a wife (and if she doesn't satisfy you, there are plenty of other women who will, especially when you are powerful and rich).


3)A real man knows the importance of family:::

A real man will keep his family strong and pass on his ancestors' history and traditions. A real man knows that his children are God's gift and should be treated as such, even if he disciplines them from time to time.

A real man must also remember his other Family, his organization. In my world, both my family and my Family hold the same importance; I protect them both with all my might. If you have a Family, don't forget where your loyalties lie and who has your back when you need it.


4) A real man doesn't gossip::::

A real man keeps his mouth shut. He shelters information and rations his words. A real man does not reveal more than he has to and doesn't engage in girlie talk about others. A real man doesn't discuss things he doesn't know about or people he has never met.

5)A real man strives to be a role model:::

A real man respects himself and others at all times, unless, of course, he has been disrespected. A real man sets an example for his disciples and especially his family. I never bring my work home, so my family only know me as there broda and son and not as a waste management executive. You should do the same; a real man sets the tone for his family and children and keeps them from discovering that he has weaknesses.


I guess this should be enough for you l almost loose all l got here, Never mind l got more for you just get hold of me if you can to know more and also for real ladies

@poster you realy want to know who real man is? then wait for my upcoming thread about a real man and a real woman bye.

[quote author=ishakua.ji link=topic=75397.msg1439996#msg1439996 date=1188311930]@ sylvao2000 yng man i can't believe this. that u can raise a topic
worth of public debate. nothin do u kip your head up[/quote]l dont have your have your time ok

@ishakua.ji, How do you mean please express yourself here, or you dont get my questions do you?

lovemajek:
Romance, then love, marriage is not necessary.

You are perfect but for me Marriage goes along please ok.

Love, Marriage, and Romance which comes first?

It is somewhat of a chicken and egg situation.

Can two people learn to love each other?

What about romance? Can it endure?

@yimiton, Thanks dear you make point, any nairalander who take you up will be arrested trust me

There is a theory on life which runs something like the following:

Always pay for sex - it's cheaper in the long run!

True or just a cheap shot? You decide.

I understand personality is really important than apperence, but if it wasnt in the equation what would girls find sizzling hot in a guy.
please state everything from physical fitness apperence to clothing

thanks

@jkpretty, thanks l do appreciate but ( God's love ) goes without saying though,
can you pls sign in on your yahoo messager.

The Good Marriage: How and Why Love Lasts?? please l need to know before l go into it.

Happiness is a heart bursting with love.

Happiness can not be inherited, purchased, rented, imported, or bargained for. It must be home-grown, True or False?

@Icon4s, How do you mean my friend is a virgin and he is 24 now what do think??

Na you sabi waiting concern us for nairaland, or you want use style tell us say you dey leave for that so call America, waiting dey there self. Na who dey call you aje-butter, l think the person has eye problem confirm that

@dellaz you dey smoke weed l see your pics please change it ooh no guy will see that l talk to you lol

Ladies I guess this was suppose to be strictly for guys?? most ladies on nairaland are over riding there ass, why cant ladies here for once respect there so call ass, why cant you just read and let go must you comment or you forgot what strictly for meant?.

Attention:::::: ladies be carefull here OK hummmmmmmmmmmmm and dont get most guys mad

I am going to report this thread to OBJ how on earth can someone put our immediate past president pictures on the Net both when he was young and when he was old.

both just alike the only different is now that he is old

@poster single but not looking for thanks

what a thread

As for me l am 5.7 and will never go out with 5.8 above, 5.6 below is ok for me lol l need someone l can take care of in what so ever way. l love same height though.

l am so happy l found this thread,

Dear Lord all l have to say is thank you for everything you have done in my life and for meeting my needs according to your riches in Glory in Christ Jesus. ( AMEN ).

l love You Lord and l will for ever do love You.

thanks girl noted

@sellyboy;;;;;;;; what a poor family!!!!!!!! who to blame? Nigerians? the Government, noo your FATHER take all the blame l am sorry there is nothing l can do about that.

One more advice please do something reasonable with your poor life, hard l understand ( like father like son ).hahahahahahahhahaahahaha.

I really need a reseach on the word 'sellyboy' will get back to you soon.

Byeeeeeeee

God bless you all. l would have love to give the poster a good advice but now l am in my born again class in my church and it will take three weeks lecture promise to come back soon as am done

God bless you all again.

@sellyboy, Hey what do you take me for? l guess your insult is enough.

Well l still have some words for you, but before l do just that one question please,
Did your parents have any children that lived?

You piece of human excrement, a slowpoke, retard, and jerk wad.

Had your father used a condom.I would not have had the pain of bearing you on the Planet. Your kind of insects are found in Sinner's graves

Note:  
Heritage is certainly not evil - I'm proud enough of my ethnic
identities, and enjoy those of others, but I agree with Carruthers that
heritage  is not history, and we must be vigilant to maintain the
distinction and to show it to others. With this l am 100% sure your father is to blame

Think about that if you can be wise for a second

BYEEEEEEEEEEEE