12 period mistakes you’re making every month

Every month, if you’re a woman of reproductive age, you likely have your period for about two to seven days. Although by now you’ve become used to many aspects of it, there are mistakes you’re probably making that could make your period worse. Yes, some of your lifestyle habits during your time of the month could affect your monthly flow.

To help identify some of these common period mistakes, we spoke with two gynaecologists who share with us the dos and don’ts during your period.

Periods smell like, well, periods, and some people think you need to mask the odour with powder, soap, or any wipe you can find. But using these fragrant products can actually irritate your vagina. “When it comes to vaginal cleansing, leave it alone,” says gynaecologist Clair Paik. The best way to keep your vaginal flora healthy and happy is to cleanse the internal parts with water only. Dr Paik recommends avoiding any fragrant soaps, wipes, and shower gels, especially douching. As for outer parts, use an all-natural ingredient soap that doesn’t have the words “fragrance” or “perfume” on the label to help you feel fresh.

Whether you’re on your period or not, it’s always best to wipe front to back. “This is so you don’t track bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra and predispose yourself to a urinary tract infection,” says obstetrician/gynaecologist Dr Shree Chanchani.

The next time you feel a slight pang in your lower abdomen or pelvic area, visit your medicine cabinet. Dr Paik suggests taking ibuprofen every six hours to keep the pain mild enough so you’re not keeling over from excruciating cramps. “Pain is easier to prevent when it’s mild rather than chasing it down when it’s bad,” says Dr Paik. “If you know you’re going to have pain, don’t wait until the pain is so bad that you’re in the foetal position.”

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Steer clear of any products that falsely advertise things like a “pH-balanced vagina” or “long-lasting vaginal moisturiser” because they can easily throw off your vagina’s natural acidity and kill off good bacteria. “I see women who use some of these products and get a yeast infection because it throws their natural pH balance out of whack,” says Dr Paik. “Gimmicky products have been associated with yeast infections and may put women at risk for bacterial vaginosis after their period ends.” Keep it simple: All you need is a product that soaks up the blood, so stick to unscented pads and tampons, a menstrual cup or period underwear.

Women who are menstruating can lose as little as five to 12 teaspoons of blood each cycle, depending on how heavy their flow is.  As you lose iron-rich blood, your iron supply also diminishes; iron helps carry oxygen throughout your body, which gives your body the energy it needs to go. In response to this monthly iron depletion, your body nearly triples its iron absorbency each day, which means you’re using up more iron and need to increase your iron intake to make sure your body has enough to properly function. This makes an iron-rich diet essential during your time of the month. Eat iron-rich foods like oysters, red meat, or dried apricots.

Exercise may be the last thing on your mind when you’re curled up in bed feeling puffy and tired, but research suggests that exercise could be the answer to your menstruation problems. Researchers in Iran split 40 young women who weren’t regular exercisers into two groups. One group exercised for 60 minutes three times a week for eight weeks while the other group stayed true to their sedentary behaviours. After four weeks, exercisers reported a nearly 30 percent drop in both the physical and psychological symptoms associated with PMS and also saw a slight mood boost and decrease in bloating. “I always encourage exercise in women,” says Dr Paik. “Any activity where you can sweat it all out. It can make you feel better.”

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It’s okay to have sex during your period, but if you’re not in a monogamous relationship or on the pill, you should still wear a condom to protect yourself against pregnancy, STDs, and even pelvic inflammatory disease. “Pelvic inflammatory disease is not necessarily a huge risk but some people can have ascension [a rise] of bacteria into their reproductive tract,” says Dr Paik. During your period, your cervix is slightly open at the bottom of your uterus, which can make your clean uterus vulnerable to bacteria; when you have sex, bacteria from your vagina can sometimes move up into the cleaner areas of the uterus and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Condoms not only keep sex safe, but they also help keep your reproductive tract healthy.

Many women who experience heavy periods or extra painful cramps will head to the pharmacy for over-the-counter medications instead of making an appointment with their doctor. “One of the biggest mistakes I see is patients will not seek medical help and try to deal with these symptoms on their own,” says Dr Chanchani. “Seek medical help if they are bothering you. You want to make sure there’s no underlying issue going on.”

Snacks high in salt, like potato chips, can exacerbate your bloating problems. The more salt you eat, the more water you retain. “Minimise salty foods during your period, so it’s not an extra thing that’s contributing to your bloating,” says Dr Chanchani. “Bloating is common and typically goes away after your period.”