What you should really know
Sex education is important. And so is knowing what menstruation is. Guys, we are looking at you.
Here's a handy guide!
You probably know that women get their periods every month but it is more than shedding a little blood for 3-5 days. Here are some things you ought to know:
Periods are not that simple!
If there is one thing every woman wants a man to know, it is this. Menstruation is more than shedding a little blood every month. In case you did not know already, every month, a woman sheds her uterine lining, known as the endometrium. When a woman is on her cycle, the lining prepares itself to nest a fertilized egg. However, if that doesn't happen (or she is not pregnant), the lining or the tissue is no longer needed. So, the body gets rid of this extra tissue in the form of periods, which happens for 3-5 days.
Cramps are the worst!
Men, there is one thing women want you to know and it is backd by science as well. Cramps are real and they are painful for some women. When women are on their periods, a hormone called prostaglandin is released which helps the uterus expand and shed the lining. This causes cramping and painful throbbing like sensation around the abdominal area and the thighs. It can also cause bloating too.
However, studies have proved that having sex can actually make the dreaded cramps go away.
Girls can get pregnant on their period
Shocked, aren't you? Well, guys, the odds of a woman getting pregnant depends on her ovulation cycle rather than the periods themselves. Not all women bleed for the same duration. Some have a shorter cycle, some have longer ones and ovulation follows shortly after. So, if you still have sex on the last day of the periods, the sperm may be sticking around till the egg releases, which, ultimately could get a girl pregnant.
This also spells trouble for girls who have irregular cycles. Hence, having casual, unprotected sex is a big NO-NO at any given time.
They can be pregnant while having periods!
Getting your periods is thought of as the clearest signal that you are not pregnant. However, that is not always the case. A woman can actually be pregnant and still shed a little blood. However, that is not the actual period itself but spotting, a kind of a period, which can happen due to the egg getting fertilized or as a result of a hormonal change, or even a miscarriage.
PMS exists (and it hurts)
Men, PMS (Pre-menstrual syndrome) is very real and women are not moody and irritated for no reason. PMS starts a week (or even 10 days) before the actual period. As reproductive hormones, estrogen, and progesterone fluctuate, they can cause terrible mood swings, aches, cravings, anxiety and even cramps in women. In fact, for some women, a severe form of PMS, called PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) can drive them to bad sleep, and lead to symptoms of depression too.
Women fantasize when they ovulate
A study conducted on Canadian women found out that women are more likely to explore their sexual fantasies, feel turned on when they are ovulating as compared to any other timeframe. This is because when the brain sends signals to release the egg, important hormones like LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) increase which help women get aroused much more easily.
Periods might make women horny!
Many women get horny during this phase and feel the urge to get intimate. Thus, a lot of women actually feel hornier during their periods because the hormones are flowing all across, increasing their arousal levels and making their pelvic organs feel more at ease.
Although, having sex on their periods is a touchy topic for many as it makes them feel uncomfortable and self-conscious.