Around half of the female population are of reproductive age, meaning they experience a menstruation cycle. However, there is a heavy stigma surrounding the topic of the menstruation cycle. Read on to discover some quick facts about periods in women and girls!
- A woman menstruates for about 7 years in total during her lifetime.
- Poor menstrual hygiene has been linked to urinary and reproductive tract infections.
- It is essential to educate girls on how to properly take care of themselves during menstruation as well as increase the accessibility of care products.
- The starting age for periods has changed over time.
- Previously in history, the average age for a female’s first menstruation cycle was around 16 years old. Now, it is common for girls to start their menstruation cycle around 12 years old and even enter puberty as young as 8.
- Cold weather can affect your period.
- During the winter, both the flow and pain level of a female’s menstruation cycle have been seen to increase.
- How you sound and smell can be affected by menstruation.
- During your period, female reproductive hormones can minimally change the sound of your voice. These hormones can even change how you smell when ovulating versus menstruation, although the difference may not be noticeable.
- Sleeping with a night light on can help to regulate your menstruation cycle.
- Exposure to light can help release the hormone melatonin, which in turn affects the secretion of the female hormones responsible for signaling the beginning and end of the reproductive cycle.
- Women have been found to spend more money while on their period than during other parts of their reproductive cycle.
Sources:
“7 Amazing Facts about Periods That Everyone Needs to Know.” Helping Women Period, 9 Apr. 2019, http://www.helpingwomenperiod.org/7-amazing-facts-about-periods-that-everyone-needs-to-know/.
“9 Things You May Not Know about Your Period.” Women’s Healthcare Associates, 30 Nov. 2021, http://www.whaonline.net/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-your-period/.
“Fast Facts: Nine Things You Didn’t Know about Menstruation.” UNICEF, http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/fast-facts-nine-things-you-didnt-know-about-menstruation. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
“The Menstrual Cycle.” SHINE SA, 1 Mar. 2024, shinesa.org.au/health-information/puberty/the-menstrual-cycle/.
Period Facts — Surprising Facts about Periods, http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/a12091987/period-facts/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Thornton, Written by Emma. “A.Vogel.” A.Vogel Herbal Remedies, 24 Jan. 2019, http://www.avogel.co.uk/health/periods/15-interesting-facts-about-your-period/.
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