1/4 The menstrual cycle. Menstruation

With the new school year, we at Loulou decided to get back to basics. We believe it’s essential for better self-understanding and awareness.

There’s nothing better than decoding our menstrual cycle and its mysteries. Here’s our first article in a series dedicated to the female and hormonal cycle. In the coming weeks, we’ll cover, one by one, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase.

First stop: menstruation or your period. It’s without a doubt the phase of our cycle we know best, since it’s the only one that’s really visible.

Our period comes regularly (well, not always, as we’ll see). It annoys us, hurts us, bothers us, and sometimes even reassures us. Why does it happen? Why does it keep coming back? Why do we stop having periods when we’re pregnant? Why are periods sometimes irregular?

We'll try to cover all the questions you may have so you can better understand this common but still unfamiliar phenomenon for many.

Thanks to Loulou, periods will no longer be a mystery to you!

The Menstrual Cycle and Periods

A quick reminder (you can also find a detailed article on the topic here, Guide to the Menstrual Cycle) about why we slip on our favorite Loulou period panties every month.

A woman’s body goes through a cyclical process that usually lasts about 28 days on average (21 to 35 days). This well-oiled process prepares the body for potential fertilization.

From puberty to menopause, women go through many cycles (about 13 a year). Various hormones produced in the brain trigger a whole process in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and then the uterus.

Periods last a few days, averaging 3 to 7 days. They start with light bleeding, get heavier, then become lighter again toward the end. Your period is proof that the egg wasn’t fertilized, so you’re not pregnant.

The uterus had actually prepared to welcome an embryo by making its lining, the endometrium, thicker. This uterine lining thickens throughout the cycle. Since there’s no implantation, the endometrium breaks down because it’s not needed. All of this is expelled as vaginal bleeding—your period.

Questions & answers about periods

✤ Why can periods be painful?

While some are lucky enough to have trouble-free periods, others aren’t so fortunate and experience painful periods. You may usually feel tension in your lower abdomen. That’s your uterus contracting (uterine contractions) to shed the uterine lining.

Some pain is tolerable, but it’s important to be concerned if it becomes unbearable or disabling. Severe pain can also be a sign of something else (infection, illness, endometriosis).

There are solutions to help calm and relieve the pain: exercising, slowing down, eating well, taking dietary supplements. Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor, midwife, or gynecologist. They can prescribe the right painkiller to help you. In any case, it’s not normal to suffer during your period.

✤ Why is my period so heavy?

Menstrual flow can be light, medium, heavy, or even hemorrhagic. Some women experience a heavy or even hemorrhagic flow. Contraception, especially the copper IUD, can make your periods heavier. Genetics can also play a role.

✤ Why are my periods late this month?

So first, don’t panic. It happens to every woman to notice a delay. There are many reasons why your period might be late: stress, jet lag, medication, certain eating habits, high-level sports, or starting a new birth control method can all affect your cycle.

Of course, you can take a pregnancy test to be sure. In general, irregular periods aren’t a cause for concern if they’re occasional and your cycle gets back on track the next month.

✤ Why do I get acne when I have my period?

A big pimple popped up overnight—a reminder that your period is on its way. Nothing surprising there. That’s classic hormonal acne. Hormone levels fluctuate a lot throughout your cycle. Just before your period, testosterone is higher than female hormones. This hormone is known to boost sebum production, which can lead to acne.

✤ Why am I spotting between periods?

Bleeding outside your period is also called spotting. There are several reasons why spotting can happen.

✤ Can you stop your period?

For comfort—and also to relieve pain or avoid a debilitating hemorrhagic flow—it’s possible to stop your period. Some hormonal contraceptive options can greatly reduce or even eliminate your period.

✤ I don’t have my period and I’m not pregnant—what does that mean?

If your pregnancy test is negative, we recommend confirming the result with a blood test, which is definitive. Missed periods (“amenorrhea”) or a late period can have various causes.

The menstrual cycle you’re experiencing may be anovulatory, meaning you didn’t ovulate. It could also be a sign of perimenopause. Other causes are possible (stress, anorexia, or PCOS). If this keeps happening, see your doctor!

✤ What are the early signs that your period is coming?

Depending on the woman, you may experience (or not): migraines, bloating, fatigue, breast tenderness, digestive issues, abdominal cramps, or lower back pain. These are signs of PMS or premenstrual syndrome. 80% of women experience one or more symptoms.