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The Mysteries of Menses

What Your Mother Never Told You About Your Period

By Teri Brown

Are there any special supplements women should take during menses? According to the experts, yes and no.

Calcium and iron are both excellent supplements to take during a period. Dr. Thacker says there is some loss of electrolytes, minerals and fluid during your period, but the problem is that, in general, most women do not ingest enough calcium.

"The average, non-lactating, non-pregnant woman should strive to ingest 1200 milligrams of calcium per day – in divided doses. Most women only ingest 600 milligrams, so they need to take an additional 600-milligram supplement," says Dr. Thacker. "Remember, one doesn't absorb much more than 400 milligrams at one time, so one must divide the doses throughout the day."

You can also supplement your nutritional intake with foods high in iron and folic acid such as spinach, leafy vegetables, legumes, fortified cereals, beans, lentils and eggs.

One of the most important aspects a woman should understand about her period is how to tell if something is wrong and needs medical attention.

Dr. Steven J. Wininger, an OB/GYN from the Arizona Wellness Center for Women in Phoenix, Ariz., says that any time a woman is having abnormal or dysfunctional bleeding she should be evaluated by a physician.

"Heavy periods that compromise one's daily life have many options for treatment," says Dr. Wininger. "These include hormonal and minimally invasive therapies such as uterine ablation. Uterine ablation is a procedure where the inside lining of the uterus is cauterized during an outpatient procedure, resulting in a dramatic reduction or complete elimination of periods."

Menstrual dysfunction can also include amenorrhea, or loss of one's period. Primary amenorrhea means not having a period by about age 16, and secondary amenorrhea is the absence of periods in women who've previously menstruated. Although amenorrhea is more common in girls and women who are athletic, it should not be taken lightly, as it can be caused by an undiagnosed medical condition, such as a genetic disorder, thyroid malfunction or benign pituitary tumors.

The following information may be helpful to your gynecologist concerning questions you may have about your menses:

• Keep a menstrual diary tracking your flow. Note how long your period lasts, how many feminine products you use in a day and frequency.
• Do you experience pain? When and where does the pain occur? Is it sharp? Aching? Throbbing?
• Are your periods affecting the quality of your life? How?

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• Talk about it!