Who else has experienced that class at school when the boys went to another class to give their female classmates space to discuss menstruation in private? However, this way of teaching often makes men feel uncomfortable talking openly about menstruation, and many also lack basic knowledge about what happens in a woman's body during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause. That's why we've put together seven important facts that every partner, friend, brother, father, and colleague should know so that menstruation isn't just a big unknown for them.
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The menstrual cycle from the basics
The menstrual cycle is not just about that one week of bleeding each month. It is a natural process of hormonal changes that have one goal in each cycle – to prepare the body for the possibility of pregnancy.
Under the influence of hormones, the ovaries allow follicles, small sacs containing eggs, to mature, one of which can be fertilized by a sperm at the right moment. At the same time, the lining of the uterus thickens, in which a fertilized egg could attach. If fertilization does not occur, the formed uterine lining is separated and leaves the body through the vagina along with the blood. The whole process then starts over.
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We don't always know for sure when menstruation will come.
The menstrual cycle does not last exactly one calendar month or 28 days, as is often said. The length of the cycle can vary not only from woman to woman, but also from month to month. However, a healthy cycle usually ranges from 21 to 35 days.
It is not always possible to predict with certainty when menstruation will begin. Even a woman who has a good overview of her cycle, uses an app or takes notes, can sometimes be surprised by the arrival of menstruation . Usually, various signals appear a few days to a week in advance, such as mood swings, breast tenderness or pain, worse skin, fatigue or difficulty sleeping, but not all women experience these symptoms. Every body reacts differently, which is why the course and timing of menstruation are very individual.
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Timing can increase the chances of pregnancy
It is not possible to get pregnant from every unprotected sexual intercourse. The union of sperm and a mature egg can only occur during a short fertile period, which lasts only a few days in each cycle. The highest probability of pregnancy occurs at the time of ovulation , i.e. the moment when a mature egg is released from the ovary. It only lasts about 12 to 24 hours, but the chance of conception is not limited to this moment. Sperm can survive in the woman's body for several days after unprotected sexual intercourse and "wait" for the egg to be released.
Therefore, the so-called fertile period is calculated as approximately five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation itself, and one day after it - this is when the probability of pregnancy is highest.
Can I get pregnant from...? Myths, facts and what every woman should know about her cycle
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The female and male bodies work differently
Although the main task of the reproductive system is reproduction, its influence extends much further. It affects not only the genitals and hormones, but also our energy, mood, sleep, immunity, digestion and how we react to stress or pain. Hormonal processes that occur in the body every day affect not only women's but also men's health. Yet the female body has remained almost unexplored in the field of medicine for a long time.
As recently as 1993, it was not mandatory to include women in clinical trials. For decades, scientists considered the male body to be the “norm” and the female body to be a more complex deviation that could “distort” the results of research. The result is that we still know less about women’s health and body functioning than we should, and that many drugs and treatments were developed primarily with the male body in mind. ( 1 ) But women's bodies work differently in many ways. Biological and hormonal differences affect not only how women experience various diseases, but also how their bodies respond to painkillers, for example. ( 2 )
Painkillers are not as effective for women. Read why
Hormonal differences between the male and female bodies affect us almost every day. In men, testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day – it is highest in the morning and gradually decreases – but these changes are relatively mild and occur over a short period of time. In women, on the other hand, the levels of the main hormones, estrogen and progesterone, change over the course of about a month, and even more significantly. These changes then affect the entire body, from energy and mood to immunity or performance. Therefore, it is completely natural that on certain days of the cycle a woman has more energy, a better mood and a greater desire for exercise or intimacy, while at other times (especially before menstruation) she is more tired, sensitive or prone to illness and injury.
The mood swings don't end there…
Menstruation and the period leading up to it are often associated with not only mood swings or lower abdominal pain, but also a number of other physical and psychological symptoms. This is not just a short-term discomfort that can be easily “slept over” or ignored – menstruation really affects the daily lives of many women.
A recent Femvie study found that up to 80% of women experience some degree of menstrual discomfort. The most common symptoms include fatigue, mood swings, lower abdominal cramps, breast tenderness, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can often have a direct impact on daily life, including work productivity.
Menstrual pain can be so severe in some women that it interferes with normal functioning. One typical example is endometriosis , a condition that causes chronic pelvic pain and affects about one in ten women worldwide. Endometriosis is therefore very common and probably affects women in your area, but it often goes undiagnosed. And yet it ranks among the top twenty most painful conditions of all. ( 3 , 4 )
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Tampons, pads and everything around
Now a little from a practical point of view. Nowadays, there are many different types of menstrual products available on the market – from pads and tampons , through menstrual panties and cups, to the menstrual sponge. Every woman is different. Some prefer pads, for example, for the night or because of heavy menstruation, others prefer tampons because they hardly notice them and they can do sports or swim with them. Many women combine several products according to their needs.
Some women also use small panty liners all month long , whether as a safeguard against leakage due to an irregular cycle, during the first or last days of menstruation, or simply for a daily feeling of cleanliness and comfort.
Femvie final tip : if you and your partner don't live in the same household, make sure she always has a supply of the menstrual supplies she uses at your place - pads, tampons or other aids. As you already know, your period sometimes arrives completely unexpectedly. And running to the nearest store for pads at the last minute is not the most pleasant experience. 
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It's not always about hormones
Hormonal fluctuations during the cycle can also affect mood women. However, not every negative or stronger emotion is automatically related to hormonal changes, and you shouldn't assume it is. If your partner, friend, daughter, or colleague is angry or sad, don't blame her feelings on her upcoming period and don't ignore them. Whatever she's going through deserves respect, whether she's on her period or not.
What else can you read on Femspace?
- Menstruation as an indicator of health: An interview with Adéla about the cycle, diet and support at school and work
- 8 myths and stereotypes about menstruation
- Do hormones and the cycle affect how we experience pain?
- 5-minute massage for menstrual pain relief
- What do menstrual products contain and why does it matter what you put in your body?
- Pad Rash: What Causes It and How to Avoid It
- Implantation bleeding or menstruation?
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