Don’t worry if your
cycle is not 28 days.
This is only the
average.IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT
‘THAT TIME OF THE MONTH’.
MENSTRUAL RESEARCHER
SALLY KING TACKLES HOW
TO DEAL WITH YOUR PERIOD
NEED TO
K NOW...WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MYTH
ABOUT PERIODS?
That the menstrual cycle repeats itself
regularly every 28 days. This is the
average length, but there’s a huge
healthy range, from 21 to 40 days, and
the length typically varies by two to four
days each time. It’s a problem because
people whose periods don’t fit into a
28-day pattern can feel like there’s
something wrong.
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE GET SUCH
HEAVY PERIODS?
Average menstrual blood loss is about
30ml to 45ml, or two to three
tablespoons per period, but again there’s
a range. Technically, anything over 80ml
is considered heavy. It’s thought there is
a genetic component. Annoyingly,
anaemia can also trigger heavier
periods, creating a vicious cycle!
IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO TRACK
PERIODS WITH AN APP?
I think everybody should track their
cycle for a while to see what’s normal for
them. If you have symptoms, it can help
your GP to determine if they are related
to your cycle or not, and spot signs of
other problems. It’s worth saying that
cycle tracking alone is not an effective
form of contraception!
WHAT THINGS DOES MY MENSTRUAL CYCLE AFFECT
THAT I MIGHT NOT REALISE?
Many chronic health conditions can be triggered or worsened at
certain points in the cycle, including migraine, epilepsy, allergies
and food intolerances. Asthmatics may find they are wheezier at
certain times in their cycle. These connections are well
established in clinical research, but they haven’t yet passed into
clinical advice for patients.WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH PERIOD PAIN?
Anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen, really help. Not many
people realise this, but the time to start taking ibuprofen is two
to four days before you expect to start your period. If you do
this, it not only reduces cramping, it also reduces the amount
of blood you lose. This can make a big difference for people
with painful, heavy periods. Magnesium supplements can
help, as can more traditional approaches like exercise and hot
water bottles.IS IT OKAY TO TAKE PILL PACKETS BACK TO BACK
TO AVOID A PERIOD?
Yes. It may not always prevent bleeding, but it will reduce it.
There’s this idea that if you don’t have a regular bleed that you’re
somehow accumulating toxins or hormones. This isn’t true.
The lining of the womb just doesn’t build up as much in the
first place.IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE PILL?
If you’re on the pill and doing well, there’s no reason to have a
health break. Some people worry that the pill can damage
future fertility, but this isn’t true. It can take time to get
pregnant after coming off the pill but most people regain their
natural cycle after three to four months.There’s no need to
take a break from
the pill if you’re
happy with it and
doing well.Ibuprofen not only
helps with pain of
cramps, it can also
reduce blood flow.SALLY KING
Sally is a researcher
at King’s College
London, and founder
of Menstrual
Matters, an
evidence-based
information hub.
Interviewed by
Dr Helen Pilcher.1
2
3
A SCIENTIST’S
GUIDE TO LIFE
HOW TO
COPE WITH
YOUR PERIOD
ILLUSTRATION: SOFIE LEE