How Much Do You REALLY Know About Your Period?

True. Seven days is the average, but it’s important to note that some women might only experience five days of bleeding, some nine days. It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong, but the real question is, has this always been the case? Any changes in the pattern of your periods should be logged on Oohvie and reported to your HealthLynked Provider, just in case.

True. Of course, it doesn’t seem like that while it’s happening, does it? To track this for yourself, just note how many liners, pads, cups, or tampons you use and how absorbent they are. This is good info to log in Oohvie. That way, if something changes later in life, you’ll have a baseline of what’s normal for you to share with your doctor.

True. Though there are all sorts of factors that can influence the total number of periods in your life—when you started, children, stress, lifestyle, etc.—you’ll have your period about 450 times, equating to 3,500 days or ten years.

True. Cold=dark, dark=less sun, less sun=less vitamin D, an essential factor for boosting your mood and regulating your period.

False. Sure, you’ll probably experience some bloating, cramps, mood swings, tiredness, all the usual things you’d expect, but you should not experience pain so bad that you can’t move or have to take days off work. Log these symptoms and see your doctor for help.

False. This is a big, fat myth that’s prevailed since the days of swords and sandals. You can absolutely get pregnant on your period, it’s just less likely. Sperm can survive inside your body for up to six days. All it takes is for you to ovulate right after your period finishes. Boom, baby on board. Always practice safe sex, no matter where you are in your cycle.

True. Researchers have found that the changes in your hormones affect your voice in a small way. It can make it lower, deeper, and even “less attractive.” Whatever that means.

True. Consider orgasms on your period a form of self-care. It releases endorphins and oxytocin that act as a natural pain suppressant. Orgasms also lower stress and increase your mood!

True. Back in the day, even within our mother’s and grandmother’s lifetimes, women got their periods well into their teens. The average age was about seventeen. Nowadays, it’s more common for girls to start around age twelve. Why? Our nutrition has greatly improved, but so has our usage of growth hormones in our food.

True. The myth that man created the first calendar is just that, a myth. Period tracking has been around far longer than agriculture. Humans were hunters and gatherers long before we ever plowed our first fields. Bone fragments from that era were discovered, each with thirty notches in them, seven going in opposite directions to mark her days bleeding. This prehistoric woman was tracking her period, and from what we can tell, doing a fine job of it.