Dec 05, 2024 Dr Sonal Gupta
Understanding Menstrual Health: Tips from a Gynecologist offers expert advice on managing periods, maintaining hormonal balance, and addressing common concerns for a healthier menstrual cycle.
Menstrual health basically forms part of a woman's life, yet is one of the least discussed in most societies. Dr. Sonal Gupta says that being well-informed about your menstrual cycle and its intricacies will help in taking better care of the body. Here is expert advice from her on how to keep good menstrual health.
1. Understand Your Menstrual Cycle
The length of a normal menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days, though it may vary from woman to woman. Monitoring your cycle helps you recognize patterns, predict your periods, and identify anomalies, such as missed cycles, unusually heavy bleeding, or prolonged periods. Digital apps or even a simple calendar can make tracking easier.
2. Know the Signs of a Healthy Period
While mild cramps, mood swings, and some degree of fatigue are normal, excessively heavy bleeding, severe pain, or irregular cycles can be symptoms of underlying health issues. Symptoms like these should not be ignored. Early consultation with a gynecologist can avoid complications and bring relief with appropriate treatment.
3. Adopt a Balanced Diet
Other ways to handle menstrual health include nutrition. Iron-rich foods, such as spinach and beans, will help fill up the hemoglobin deficit, especially in heavy flow women. Adding calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids helps with cramps and bloating. Limiting caffeine, salt, and processed foods will help minimize discomfort during your period.
4. Exercise Regularly
While doing exercises on your period might seem to be counterintuitive, light forms of activity like yoga, walking, or stretching actually ease cramps and help blood circulate better. Regular workouts throughout the month also contribute to better hormonal balance and reduced premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
5. Address Your Mental Health
Mood swings, irritability, and other fluctuations in emotions may erupt during the menstrual cycle-just because of fluctuations caused by changes in hormonal levels of the body. Make needed adjustments to your mood capabilities through meditation, writing whatever comes to mind in your dear diary, or just keep time out to relax-it works wonders.
6. Challenge Menstrual Myths
Different societies also have myths and misconceptions that make the situation quite stigmatizing and shame-based. For example, people do believe that some forms of foods or activities should not be carried out by menstruating individuals; there is no scientific basis behind this. Open conversations and education raise awareness that taboos need to be broken in order to hold a healthy mindset about it.
7. Seek Professional Help When Needed
Certain conditions, like polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid issues, are some of the problems that can seriously disturb your menstrual health. If you are having irregular cycles, for no explained reason gained weight, or have grown hair on unnecessary parts of the body, consider visiting a gynecologist. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment begin, the higher quality of life one would experience.
Take Charge of Your Health
Dr. Sonal Gupta urges women to treat their menstrual health as a priority and not an afterthought. A little foresight will go a long way: monitor your cycle, keep fit, and when in doubt, seek medical advice.
If you have any queries or doubts about menstrual health or if any symptom is bothering you, then don't hesitate to consult Dr. Sonal Gupta. Let us get your menstrual health in order, keeping in mind the well-being of your body as a whole.