Questions About Your Period You’re Too Afraid to Ask

Somehow the world decided that periods would be a taboo. As a result, it doesn’t get talked about enough, which means that oft wondered questions don’t get answered.

There’s no need to be ashamed of your period. It’s part of a woman’s reproductive system, the very same one that conceived us all – even the Queen of England, God bless her.

Period, period, period, period. 

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we’ve collected some frequently asked questions about periods. We hope this article answers some of your burning questions and encourages the female community to discuss important health matters, even when they’re bloody (annoying)!

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It’s okay if you weren’t paying attention in biology classes, because I was sleeping through most of math.

The uterus which houses ovaries is the oven where bun babies are baked. Its inner lining nourishes a growing baby. Once in about every 28 days, the ovaries release an egg (a.k.a. ovum) into the uterus, a process called ovulation. If it gets fertilised by sperm during intercourse, pregnancy occurs.

Yes. It’s uncommon, but possible. Sperm can survive 3 – 5 days in the uterus, and sometimes, ovulation doesn’t follow your phone’s period app and decides to release an egg before, during, or soon after your period.

When that happens, the egg and the sperm have a romantic meeting in your uterus, and first comes love, then a baby in the carriage.

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TL;DR: If you’re not looking to get pregnant, always practise safe sex, even when you’re on your period.

For some people, irregular periods are normal. However, if you have a sudden change in your period patterns, it could be due to a number of reasons:

• Rookie period – it’s normal for your period to be irregular for the first few years. After that, your hormones should balance out more and fix your period into a more regular schedule.
• Pre-menopause
• Under- or overweight
• Eating disorder
• Stress
• Travel – affects your body’s internal clock
• Breast-feeding
• Pregnancy or pregnancy complications
• More serious health issues

If you suspect that you might be pregnant, see a doctor immediately. Listen to your body, if you have other symptoms or just feel plain weird, then see a doctor as well.

You might notice the occasional discharge on your panties – that’s the clear, yellowish, or milky white fluid. Discharge is the by-product of the vagina’s housekeeping activities, its way of releasing dead cells and bacteria.

Discharge usually happens before ovulation and before and after your period. Take note of its colour and smell, as anything other than the usual colours along with strong odours could be indicative of an infection or other health concerns. Check with your doctor if that happens.

If you’re looking to accommodate a beach vacation or a major event like a swimming competition or an all-white OOTD, speak to a gynaecologist about the best way to shift your period date. One method is via birth control pills which can force your period into a cycle.

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Although it’s possible to shift your period, try to avoid resorting to this and let nature take its course. Shifting your period with birth control pills can give you side effects like acne, bloating, weight change, mood swings, and more.

Bleeding through your vagina during non-period times is called spotting. Possible causes of spotting, like irregular periods are mostly hormonal.

• Ovulation
• Post period – leftover uterus lining is released after your period
• Starting, stopping, or changing birth control pills
• Pregnancy or pregnancy complications
• Pre-menopause
• Infection
• Stress
• Side effects of a morning-after pill
• Vaginal trauma

If you suspect a pregnancy, trauma, or infection; or if you have other symptoms like pain, fatigue, dizziness, and fever, see your doctor immediately.

Yes! Wear a tampon. Just make sure to change to a fresh one before diving in, and after getting out. This decreases your risk of infections.

Yes, exercise has proven to relieve PMS symptoms like cramps. Plus, sweating decreases bloat while endorphins (your body’s happy hormones) distract you from the cramps and discomfort.

Having said that, be quite careful with your workouts as your body experiences poorer motor control during your period, increasing your risk of injury. If you feel tired or just not up for it, take a rest day or two, or go for a relaxing stroll instead of hitting the weights!