Bloody HellA Crash Course on Periods for Anyone Who Needs It ...uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, cervix, vagina, and vulva. What’s a menstrual cycle? A menstrual cycle begins when the ovaries release an egg (ovulation). The uterus then starts building up a... By Pallavi Prasad
fertilityHow to Get Pregnant (Besides the Obvious) ...outs of your body. No, not in the fun way — you’ll get to that later — but in the way of becoming very familiar with your menstrual cycle. You... By The Swaddle Team
Blood MoneyPeriod Tracker Flo Has Been Sharing Users’ Health Data with Facebook, Reports WSJ ...cycles: “I literally cannot even enter my actual cycle length. My cycle length is shorter than 22 days right now. The Glow app seems considerate enough of people who have... By Liesl Goecker
Staying AbreastWhy Do Boobs Hurt Randomly? ...Women’s Hospital, Australia. This pain goes away with the onset of the menstrual cycle, when the levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease. Aside from the menstrual cycle, other hormonal events... By Rajvi Desai
The Tide Is HighHeavy Menstrual Bleeding Can Be a Symptom of Undiagnosed Hemophilia About 30% of women, worldwide, report heavy menstrual periods. Of these, 15% have an underlying bleeding disorder. However, most of these women go undiagnosed, which leaves them with a problem... By Anubhuti Matta
None Of Your Bloody BusinessFrom Riches to Rags: The Evolution of Menstrual Taboos in India ...menstrual blood was even served up as an offering to goddesses, according to historian Narendra Nath Bhattacharya, as quoted by scholar Janet Chawla in “Mythic Origins of Menstrual Taboo in... By Rajvi Desai
Spot ItFrom an STI to Cancer, a Handy List of the Reasons Women Might Bleed Between Cycles Many believe women bleeding out of their vaginas is a once-a-month thing. But bleeding between menstrual cycles, defined as spotting, is a common occurence that could have myriad explanations, from... By Anubhuti Matta
Like ClockworkAll You Need To Know About Birth Control Pills ...the body. Akin to monophasic pills, the last week of each cycle comprises inactive pills, resulting in periods. Extended-cycle pills: These pills reduce the number of menstrual periods from ~13... By Devrupa Rakshit
Stealth BomberUndiagnosed Sexually Transmitted Infections Can Make PMS Worse ...phase of the menstrual cycle a woman is experiencing. “The whole function of the menstrual cycle is to produce cyclical patterns of immunity, so actually we would be better to... By Liesl Goecker
Not Up For DebateSpain Becomes First European Country to Approve Paid Menstrual Leave ...stay at home for as many days as needed. Moreover, the policy guarantees the availability of menstrual products across different public institutions, such as schools and health centers. Menstrual paid... By Saumya Kalia
Through Thick And ThinPeriods Don’t Sync Up, No Matter How Much Time People Spend With Each Other ...chance than rigorous scientific study. In an interview with The Atlantic, Strassmann explained that for an average menstrual cycle of 28 days, with menstruation lasting for an average of five... By Rajvi Desai
Pain Not Worth ItHow Meftal Redefined the Cultural Relationship Between Pain and Femininity ...reduces bleeding. With the cultural associations of menstrual bleeding as a cleansing process, many users experience panic when they first notice this. “They have this concept that menstrual blood is... By Rohitha Naraharisetty
Digital DefenseA Period‑Tracking App That’s Effective for Irregular Cycles ...short, unusually long, or even irregular menstrual cycles. The app says it can track cycles anywhere from 20 to 40 days, with up to 10 days of possible variation in... By Liesl Goecker
Blood OathIs It Okay to Use Birth Control to Skip a Period (or Several)? ...timed intervals so they mimic a menstrual cycle, according to the Mayo Clinic. In order to suppress menstruation, women simply skip the placebo pills that induce bleeding, and start the next... By Rajvi Desai
To Skip or Not to SkipIs Delaying, Suppressing Periods Worth the Risk? ...doesn’t confirm health. The presence of the menstrual cycle is to maintain the uterus in readiness for pregnancy. Bleeding does not serve another purpose.” Suppressing periods doesn’t impact one’s fertility,... By Devrupa Rakshit
healthPCOS: What It Is, What You Need To Know ...PCOS primarily involves regulating the menstrual cycle through oral contraceptive pills, says Dr Swaroop. Oral contraceptives contain progestin and estrogen, synthetic versions of the hormones necessary to mature and release... By Kamala Thiagarajan
fertilityMyths, Stigma Exaggerate Effects of Endometriosis on Fertility ...during the menstrual cycle and is expelled during menstruation if no pregnancy occurs. In women with endometriosis, endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, too, potentially spreading over the Fallopian tubes,... By Angelina Shah
Bring It OnAll The Arguments You Need: to Advocate for Equal Pay in Sport ...effort as valuable as men’s effort. Equal pay for female athletes also helps fix a self-perpetuating cycle of inequality within the industry. So, for the next time you hear someone... By Liesl Goecker