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Why you should care about menstrual health

September 1, 2022

Your menstrual cycle is more than just your period. It’s about more than red fluid vs. blue fluid, menstrual leave, or which period product to use. It’s an inner clock that governs your whole life. And we’re not just talking about fertility, either.

Menstrual health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in relation to the menstrual cycle.Achieving menstrual health implies that women, girls, and all other people who experience a menstrual cycle, throughout their life-course, are able to:
  • access accurate, timely, age-appropriate information about the menstrual cycle, menstruation, and changes experienced throughout the life-course, as well as related self-care and hygiene practices.
  • care for their bodies during menstruation such that their preferences, hygiene, comfort, privacy, and safety are supported. This includes accessing and using effective and affordable menstrual materials and having supportive facilities and services, including water, sanitation and hygiene services, for washing the body and hands, changing menstrual materials, and cleaning and/or disposing of used materials.
  • access timely diagnosis, treatment and care for menstrual cycle-related discomforts and disorders, including access to appropriate health services and resources, pain relief, and strategies for self-care.
  • experience a positive and respectful environment in relation to the menstrual cycle, free from stigma and psychological distress, including the resources and support they need to confidently care for their bodies and make informed decisions about self-care throughout their menstrual cycle.
  • decide whether and how to participate in all spheres of life, including civil, cultural, economic, social, and political, during all phases of the menstrual cycle, free from menstrual-related exclusion, restriction, discrimination, coercion, and/or violence.

The menstrual cycle has been shown to affect your energy levels, brain power, sleep quality, physical capabilities, how well you build muscle or lose weight, nutritional needs, and libido.

If you are a uterus bearer…

  • the menstrual health signals your body sends you are some of your most important overall health indicators.

  • your natural hormone cycle affects your day-to-day life immensely.

  • just knowing more makes you powerful.

And if you do not have a uterus…

  • you'll learn how the other ~ 50% of the world's population live.

  • you'll be able to support the uterus bearers in your life much better.

  • you might even become an ally to ending period shame.

Want to learn more about your menstrual cycle and how you can integrate it into your busy every-day life? Check out the masterclass Living With Your Cycle.

  • Beat your negative menstrual cycle symptoms

  • Add some mindfulness to your busy life - without additional stress

  • Become healthier, happier, & more confident - by living with your cycle instead of against it

Access the masterclass

Sources & Credits

Photo by Godisable Jacob from Pexels

J. Hennegan, I. T. Winkler, et al. Menstrual health: a definition for policy, practice and research. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021 Dec;29(1):1911618. doi: 10.1080/26410397.2021.1911618. PMID: 33910492; PMCID: PMC8098749. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8098749/

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