Even when
everything is working like clockwork, your period is a pretty weird and
wonderful time of the month. While you might presume vaginal itching,
blood clots and pooing more than normal (yes, really) are cause for concern, even some of the seemingly strangest symptoms are all just part and parcel of your period.
We spoke to London-based gynaecologist Dr Anita Mitra, aka Instagram's no-nonsense Gynae Geek, to get the lowdown on what's normal down below and what warrants a trip to the doctor.
1. You itch more
Not only is vaginal itching normal, but it's actually very common.
"It happens due to a fluctuation in the 'vaginal microbiome', bacteria
that resides healthily in your vagina," says Dr Anita. "The change in
hormones and presence of blood result in a slight change in the
bacterial population and yeasts (which cause thrush), both of which can
cause itching."
Some
find that tampons make itching worse, but this varies from person to
person. "While there are a lot of scare stories about tampons containing
awful chemicals that can cause irritation or worse – and that organic tampons are better – there's no firm evidence to back this up."
"One of the most important things you absolutely should not do is douche
or use feminine hygiene washes, because this can make the itching
worse," she adds. "They wash away the good bacteria, meaning yeasts and
bacteria that you don't want are able to grow even more, so it becomes a
vicious circle." FYI, some odour is normal – blood itself has a
distinct smell – but douching will make period blood smell worse.
2. Your vagina's pH level changes
"The vagina's low pH helps protect you from growth of the type of bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis, bacterial STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea and also viral infections including HIV and HPV (the virus that causes cervical cancer)," says Dr Anita.
Around the time of your period, your vagina's pH level actually increases slightly. You've no doubt heard that you're more likely to contract a yeast infection
while on your period because of this, but the jury's still well and
truly out. "For some people it's in the middle of the cycle because of
higher levels of oestrogen, which yeasts love," says Dr Anita. "But I
see plenty of women who tend to get yeast infections around the time of
their period, too. This may be because of the change in the bacterial
population enables it to thrive, take over and cause that awful itchy
discharge that most of us know – and none of us love."
3. The cervix softens slightly
This is your body's way of making sure that the blood flows out of your body
during your period. "It happens as a response to release of
prostaglandins, which are small chemical messengers involved in the
inflammatory response. Fun fact: these were first discovered in semen
and called prostaglandins because they were thought to originate from
the prostate gland."
4. You have contractions (even though you're not about to give birth)
In response to hormones known as prostaglandins, your womb makes small, rhythmic contractions.
"This is to ensure the lining is shed and makes its way down and out
through the cervix and into the vagina," Dr Anita adds. "It's also the
reason for period pain,
which you may experience in your lower abdomen, but also in your back,
buttocks and thighs due to the connection of the nerves that supply the
pelvic area."
5. … Which make you poo more
Those prostaglandins we mentioned earlier also cause your bowels to contract, and that in turn causes you to need the toilet more.
"It's not uncommon to go for a lot more number twos, or even have
slightly looser stools than normal," Dr Anita says. "The drop in
progesterone also contributes, as higher levels of progesterone are
suggested to slow down gut motility." So if you're pooing more than
normal, don't sweat it.
6. It produces anticoagulants
"The blood lost during your period comes away from the wall of the womb and will clot inside,
so your body has to make anticoagulants – chemicals which break down
clots – in order to re-liquify the blood so it can flow out."
Clotting may look pretty sinister, but it's usually nothing to worry about.
"If the amount of blood present exceeds the speed at which your body
can make these anticoagulants you may experience clots, which can escape
through your softened cervix. They tend to be small, usually no more
than the size of a 50 pence coin. However larger clots, and lots of
them, is a sign that there's quite heavy bleeding going on, so it's
worth visiting your GP to check it's not causing anaemia and whether
there's an underlying reason."
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