Period tips you need to know
Do you remember how old you were when you got your first period? For me, I was 12, and do you want to know how my experience went?
I was at my aunt’s house. I had been somewhat educated on periods, but not enough to make me feel confident about my period or my body when I got it. My aunt handed me a few pads and explained to me how to use them. That was the end of the conversation. When I went home, my mom told me that if I had any questions I could let her know. No conversation about how my body was changing, menstrual care, or period health.
Being a pelvic physiotherapist now, when I go back and think about it, there was a lot missing in those discussions. I wish there had been more education, more talk about periods, more info about what’s normal and what’s not. That would have made me feel way more confident and more comfortable having conversations about periods.
So, many years down the road, here are some pelvic health tips for your period that I am super glad to share and think all menstruators should know.
Our periods are way more than a sign that we are not pregnant, more than an inconvenience, and more than something we have to just deal with.
Here’s what all menstruators should know about our periods.
What is not normal for periods?
If you go longer than three months (90 days) between periods.
Bleeding for more than seven days
Changing menstrual products every one to two hours
Here are a few things for all menstruators to remember:
Tampons should not hurt: Inserting a tampon for the first time can be an uncomfortable experience. The outer layer of muscles at your vaginal opening needs to relax in order to insert something into it, but if you’re experiencing pain or feel like you’re “hitting a wall” when trying, then it’s possible that your pelvic floor muscles are not relaxing.
Aerobics and resisted exercise play a major role in reducing the discomfort and pain of period cramps.
Pelvic Floor Therapy helps with period pain: A trained pelvic health physiotherapist, like our team at Harmony Physiotherapy, can help reduce discomfort during your period by teaching you pain management strategies that work for you. Pelvic physiotherapy can also help with heaviness or weakness in the pelvic area, and a number of other symptoms of pelvic dysfunction as well.
You can book a 1:1 free consultation with us and discuss your symptoms. At Harmony Physiotherapy we are Experts in Pelvic Physiotherapy. We are here to get you on the path to a full and healthy recovery!