Learn About Your Period Health

woman surrounded by icons for markers of period healthwoman surrounded by icons for markers of period health

What is period health?

Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page - what exactly is a period?

A period, also known as menstruation, is the normal monthly bleeding from a woman’s vagina.1 A period occurs when the inner layer of the uterus sheds; if there is no pregnancy, this typically happens every month or so in female bodies.2

Not every period is the same.1 Below are things you should pay attention to when monitoring your period health.3

anatomical diagram of the uterusanatomical diagram of the uterusanatomical diagram of the uterus
markers of period health iconsmarkers of period health
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The quality of your period can tell you a lot about your health. Periods that are heavy and painful, are long, or don’t come every month could be a sign of a health problem.3

glossary for the global menstrual movement

Let’s talk about periods

How we speak about our period matters. Choosing the right words can help to fight period stigma and change behavior. This glossary, created by PERIOD. and Madamí, with support from Myovant Sciences and Pfizer, can help you find the right words to describe your period.

See the full glossary from PERIOD.

ACCESS THE GLOSSARY

Take charge of
your health

There’s a lot of misunderstanding about what is a “normal” period. Period stigma, or taboo, from society can make it difficult to talk about your period and understand if you might need help.4 It is important to be able recognize signs of a problem and talk openly about your period without feeling embarrassed.

Below are common things that women might think about their  menstrual health.

woman with arms crossedwoman with arms crossedwoman with arms crossed

  • My heavy, painful periods are normal.

  • I don't need to talk about my menstrual health.

  • I have to handle my period on my own.

References

1. You got your first period. Now what? PERIOD. Accessed March 2024. https://period.org/uploads/Digital-Color-First-Period-FAQs.pdf. 2. Global glossary for the global menstrual movement. PERIOD. Accessed March 2024. https://period.org/uploads/Global-Glossary-for-the-Menstrual- Movement-v1.3.pdf. 3. Period problems. Office on Women's Health. Accessed March 2024. https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/period-problems. 4. State of the cycle. Female Forward Together. Accessed August 2022. https://femaleforwardtogether.com/state-of-the-cycle/. 5. Menstrual definition. Merriam-Webster. Accessed March 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menstrual. 6. Ghant MS, Sengoba KS, Vogelzang R, Lawson AK, Marsh EE. An altered perception of normal: understanding causes for treatment delay in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. J Women’s Health (Larchmt). 2016;25(8):846-852. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5531. 7. Uterine definition. Merriam-Webster. Accessed March 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uterine.