PERIOD FLOW: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Menstruation, more commonly known as a period, is the normal bleeding from the vagina that happens (typically) for the female of the species every month. The body prepares for a potential pregnancy. But when that doesn’t happen, the uterus gets real mad and throws a huge tantrum by shedding its inner linings, resulting in bleeding through the vagina. It makes you suffer from cramps, mood swings, and food cravings for a whole of 5-7 days.

You might experience a period that is completely different from your mother’s, best friend's, or coworkers’. Everybody is different, so it only makes sense for them to work differently. Women generally experience different levels of period pain, period cycle, period length as well as period flow.

“I bled through my pads and clothes. How was I supposed to know this was not normal when nobody told me? My mother made me put two pads on top of each other to manage the flow. This went on for several years before I decided that it was too much and went to the doctor by myself,” said Khyati Sharma (name changed) from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you or your loved ones, let us take you through what is considered “normal period flow” and what isn’t.  

WHAT IS PERIOD FLOW ?

The period flow is the amount of blood that you lose during a period or on particular days during a period. Different people have different types of period flow, ranging typically from light to normal to heavy period flows.

Your period is a very important indicator of your health and wellness. So, it becomes just as important to know what is typical and normal for you. Ideally, you should track your period to know when it is on its way (no springing surprises on you!), how long it is going to last, and lastly, how light or heavy it is going to be. 

TYPES OF PERIOD FLOW

There are different period flow types for different people depending on their age, health, medical conditions, lifestyle, etc. 

• LIGHT FLOW – You have a light period if you experience less blood flow during periods than what is considered to be normal. A light period is when you lose less than 20 ml of blood during a period. It is advisable to visit your doctor at least once for less period flow and have things checked out just to be sure it is all okay.

Your period flow is less due to the following reasons:

• Exercising too much
• Changes in your levels of estrogen and progesterone
• Eating disorders like anorexia
• Contraceptives, including birth control pills, intrauterine devices, etc.
• Thyroid disease
• Women approaching menopause
• Adolescent girls beginning their periods

• NORMAL PERIOD – If you are experiencing a period where you lose anywhere between 20- 80 ml or 6 tablespoons of blood, it is a normal period, and congratulations! You are hereby declared to be God’s favourite child without a doubt. No causes for concern here. 

• HEAVY PERIOD – A period where you lose more than 80 ml of blood is a heavy period. You could have heavy bleeding for a lot of different reasons, including PCOS, PCOD, perimenopause, use of Intrauterine Devices (IUD), medication side effects, hormonal imbalance, or a serious underlying health condition. Here is what to do if your period flow is really heavy: GO PAY YOUR DOCTOR A VISIT. Get things checked out, so you know exactly why it’s happening and if there is anything wrong.

Heavy blood flow during periods can be really hard for women to manage. The constant worry of staining yourself eats away at you. Not with RIO heavy-duty pads. RIO pads are made for women who have not had it easy in life. They are super-absorbent, made with the softest material, and don’t bunch up anywhere at all to give you comfort you can get addicted to. Better your period with RIO because you deserve it!

TRACKING PERIODS

Tracking your menstrual cycle can help you stay in sync with your period flow days and avoid any nasty surprises! If writing in a journal seems boring and too much work, you could install apps on your devices that are of help. Tracking your period helps in :

• Understanding your unique period patterns
• Period flow
• Increasing awareness about your overall health and wellness
• Pregnancy
• Watching out for alarming symptoms of any medical condition

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PERIOD FLOW IS REALLY HEAVY?

Heavy bleeding during periods, one that hampers your lifestyle is never normal. More than half the population that menstruates bleeds a heavy flow.

Heavy menstrual bleeding can become life-threatening if you lose so much blood that you start showing signs of anemia, a condition that occurs when you have too little iron left in your body to survive. If you find blood clots that are abnormally large, seek medical help immediately.

Treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding can include:

• Iron supplements
• Birth control pills to lighten your flow
• Hormone therapy to balance your levels of estrogen and progesterone
• Antifibrinolytic medications can help in preventing the breaking down of blood clots
• Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce bleeding

Discuss possible side effects and what works best for you with your medical professional before taking any of these medications.

You saw your mother and grandmother struggle with cloth pads and due to a lack of period education. Learning from example, you might have internalized that a period is supposed to be uncomfortable and inconvenient. This should never have been the case. We ensure you have access to period products that are right for you. RIO sanitary pads are made for women who are ready to embrace a better period. Stop managing sweating, rashes, staining, and itching. All RIO pads are 100% sulphur, paraben, and chemical fragrance-free. 

Choose You, Choose RIO.