See also "Mensuration", a term sometimes used to describe Measurement. Measurement is the process of estimating the magnitude of some attribute of an object such as its length or weight relative to some standard ( unit of measurement) such as
Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining (endometrium). The endometrium is the inner membrane of the Mammalian Uterus. It occurs on a regular basis in reproductive age females of certain mammal species. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Overt menstruation (where there is bleeding from the vagina) is found primarily in humans and close evolutionary relatives such as chimpanzees. The vagina (from Latin, literally " Sheath " or " Scabbard " is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the Uterus Chimpanzee (often shortened to chimp) is the common name for the two extant Species of Apes in the Genus Pan. [1] The females of other species of placental mammal have estrous cycles, in which the endometrium is reabsorbed by the animal (covert menstruation) at the end of its reproductive cycle. See also Evolution of mammals Eutheria ("true beast" are a group of Mammals consisting of Placental mammals plus all extinct Mammals Oestrus is also the biological genus name of the gadfly. The estrous cycle (also oestrous cycle; derived from Latin
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Overview
Eumenorrhea denotes normal, regular menstruation that lasts for a few days (usually 3 to 5 days, but anywhere from 2 to 7 days is considered normal). [2] The average blood loss during menstruation is 35 millilitres with 10-80 mL considered normal;[3] many females also notice shedding of the endometrium lining that appears as tissue mixed with the blood. To help compare different Orders of magnitude this page lists Volumes between 10-5 cubic metres and 10-4 cubic metres (10 cubic centimetres and 100 cubic The endometrium is the inner membrane of the Mammalian Uterus. An enzyme called plasmin — contained in the endometrium — tends to inhibit the blood from clotting. Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins Plasmin is an important Enzyme ( present in Blood that degrades many Blood plasma proteins most notable Fibrin clots The degradation Coagulation is a complex process by which Blood forms Clots It is an important part of Hemostasis (the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel whereby Because of this blood loss, women have higher dietary requirements for iron to prevent iron deficiency. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 For a more specific and detailed discussion of Anemia caused by iron deficiency see the Wikipedia article Iron deficiency anemia. Many women experience uterine cramps, also referred to as dysmenorrhea, during this time. Dysmenorrhea (or dysmenorrhoea) is a medical condition characterized by severe Uterine Pain during Menstruation. A vast industry has grown to provide drugs to aid in these cramps, as well as sanitary products to help manage menses.
As part of the menstrual cycle
Menstruation is the most visible phase of the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiologic changes that occurs in reproductive-age Females Overt menstruation (where there is blood flow from the Menstrual cycles are counted from the first day of menstrual bleeding, because the onset of menstruation corresponds closely with the hormonal cycle.
During pregnancy and for some time after childbirth, menstruation doesn't normally take place — this state is known as amenorrhoea, i. Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female Childbirth (also called labour, birth, partus or parturition) is the culmination of a Human Pregnancy or Amenorrhoea ( BE) amenorrhea ( AmE) or amenorrhœa, is the absence of a Menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age e. absence of the menstrual cycle.
Evolution
All placental mammals have a uterine lining that builds up when the animal is fertile, but is dismantled (menstruated) when the animal is infertile. See also Evolution of mammals Eutheria ("true beast" are a group of Mammals consisting of Placental mammals plus all extinct Mammals Some anthropologists have questioned the energy cost of rebuilding the endometrium every fertility cycle. However, anthropologist Beverly Strassmann has posited that the energy savings of not having to continuously maintain the uterine lining more than offsets energy cost of having to rebuild the lining in the next fertility cycle, even in species such as humans where much of the lining is lost through bleeding (overt menstruation) rather than reabsorbed (covert menstruation). [1][4]
Many have questioned the evolution of overt menstruation in humans and related species, speculating on what advantage there could be to losing blood associated with dismantling the endometrium rather than absorbing it, as most mammals do. The ancient writer Hippocrates considered that menstruation was intended to cleanse the body of "evil humours", and modern evolutionary biologist Margie Profet contends that the primary function of menstruation is to remove sperm-borne pathogens from the uterus. Hippocrates of Cos II or Hippokrates of Kos ( ca. 460 BC – ca Margie Profet holds bachelors degrees from both Harvard and the University of California Berkeley, she was a Visiting Scientist at the University of Washington In support of this hypothesis, she has pointed to the relatively high levels of macrophages in menstrual blood. Macrophages ( Greek: "big eaters" from makros "large" + phagein "eat" ( Mø) are cells within the tissues that [5][4]
Beginning in 1971, some research suggested that menstrual cycles of co-habiting human females became synchronized. A few anthropologists hypothesized that in hunter-gatherer societies, males would go on hunting journeys whilst the females of the tribe were menstruating, speculating that the females would not have been as receptive to sexual relations while menstruating. [6][7] However, there is currently significant dispute as to whether menstrual synchrony exists. The McClintock effect, also known as menstrual synchrony or the dormitory effect, is a theory that proposes that the Menstrual cycles of women who live [8]
Humans do, in fact, reabsorb about two-thirds of the endometrium each cycle. Strassmann asserts that overt menstruation occurs not because it is beneficial in itself. Rather, the fetal development of these species requires a more developed endometrium, one which is too thick to completely reabsorb. Strassman correlates species that have overt menstruation to those that have a large uterus relative to the adult female body size. [1]
Culture and menstruation
Common usage refers to menstruation and menses as a period. The relationship between culture and menstruation is expressed in many ways Aside from its biological purpose, this bleeding serves as a sign that a woman has not become pregnant. Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female (However, this cannot be taken as certainty, as sometimes there is some bleeding in early pregnancy, and some women have irregular cycles. ) During the reproductive years, failure to menstruate may provide the first indication to a woman that she may have become pregnant. A woman might say that her "period is late" when an expected menstruation has not started and she might have become pregnant.
Many religions have menstruation-related traditions. These may be bans on certain actions during menstruation (such as intercourse in orthodox Judaism and Islam), or rituals to be performed at the end of each menses (such as the mikvah in Judaism and the ghusl in Islam). Mikvah (or mikveh) ( plural mikva'ot or mikves) is a ritual bath designed for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism. Ghusl (غسل is an Arabic term referring to the full ablution (ritual washing required in Islam for various rituals and prayers Some traditional societies sequester females in residences ("menstrual huts") that are reserved for that exclusive purpose until the end of their menstrual period.
Since the late 1960s, some women have chosen to prevent menstruation with long-acting hormonal birth control. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Hormonal contraception refers to Birth control methods that act on the hormonal system Injections such as depo-provera became available in the 1960s, progestogen implants such as Norplant in the 1980s and extended cycle combined oral contraceptive pills in the early 2000s. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate ( DMPA) is a Progestin -only hormonal contraceptive Birth control drug which is injected every 3 months The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Norplant is a form of Birth control developed by the Population Council that was first approved in 1983 in Finland, where it was manufactured The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Extended cycle combined oral contraceptive pills are COCPs packaged to reduce or eliminate the withdrawal bleeding that occurs once every 28 days in traditionally packaged COCPs
Characteristics
Physical experience
- See also: Premenstrual Syndrome
In many women, various intense sensations brought about by the involved hormones and by cramping of the uterus can precede or accompany menstruation. Premenstrual syndrome ( PMS) (sometimes referred to as PMT or Premenstrual Tension) is a collection of physical psychological and emotional symptoms Cramps, sometimes called Charley horses are unpleasant often painful sensations caused by contraction or over shortening of Muscles Cramps can be caused by cold Stronger sensations may include significant menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea), abdominal pain, migraine headaches, depression, emotional sensitivity, feeling bloated, and changes in sex drive. Dysmenorrhea (or dysmenorrhoea) is a medical condition characterized by severe Uterine Pain during Menstruation. Migraine is a neurological Syndrome characterized by altered bodily experiences painful headaches and nausea In the fields of Psychology and Psychiatry, the terms depression or depressed refer to both expected and pathologically chronic or severe Breast discomfort caused by premenstrual water retention or hormone fluctuation is very common. The breast is the upper Ventral region of an animal’s Torso, particularly that of Mammals including Human beings. Premenstrual water retention is a common phenomenon associated with the Menstrual cycle. The sensations experienced vary from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle.
Emotional reactions
Some women may experience emotional side-effects. These range from the irritability popularly associated with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), to tiredness, or "weepiness" (i. Premenstrual syndrome ( PMS) (sometimes referred to as PMT or Premenstrual Tension) is a collection of physical psychological and emotional symptoms e. tears of emotional closeness). A similar range of emotional effects and mood swings is associated with pregnancy. A mood swing is an extreme or rapid change in mood. They are commonly associated with Mood disorders of which the classic example is Bipolar disorder (also
Flow
The normal menstrual flow follows a "crescendo-decrescendo" pattern; that is, it starts at a moderate level, increases somewhat, and then slowly tapers. Sudden heavy flows or amounts in excess of 80 mL (hypermenorrhea or menorrhagia) may stem from hormonal disturbance, uterine abnormalities, including uterine leiomyoma or cancer, and other causes. Menorrhagia is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular intervals A leiomyoma (plural is 'leiomyomata' is a Benign Smooth muscle Neoplasm that is not Premalignant. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled Doctors call the opposite phenomenon, of bleeding very little, hypomenorrhea.
Duration
The typical woman bleeds for two to seven days at the beginning of each menstrual cycle. Prolonged bleeding (metrorrhagia, also meno-metrorrhagia) no longer shows a clear interval pattern. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is hormonally caused bleeding abnormalities, typically anovulation. Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB is the most common cause of functional abnormal uterine bleeding which is abnormal genital tract bleeding based in the Uterus An anovulatory cycle is a cycle during which the ovaries fail to release an oocyte All these bleeding abnormalities need medical attention; they may indicate hormone imbalances, uterine fibroids, or other problems. As pregnant patients may bleed, a pregnancy test forms part of the evaluation of abnormal bleeding. A pregnancy test attempts to determine whether or not a female is pregnant.
Menstrual products
- Further information: Menstrual product
Most women use something to absorb or catch their menses. There are a number of different methods available.
Disposable items:
- Sanitary napkins (Sanitary towels) or pads — Somewhat rectangular pieces of material worn in the underwear to absorb menstrual flow, often with "wings," pieces that fold around the panties, and/or an adhesive backing to hold the pad in place. A sanitary towel, sanitary pad, sanitary napkin, Maxi pad ( U Undergarments are clothes worn under other clothes often next to the skin Disposable pads may contain wood pulp or gel products, usually with a plastic lining and bleached. Wood pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating the fibers which make up Wood. A gel (from the lat gelu &mdashfreezing cold ice or gelatus &mdashfrozen immobile is an apparently solid jelly-like material formed from a Some sanitary napkins, particularly older styles, are held in place by a belt-like apparatus, instead of adhesive or wings.
- Tampons — Disposable cylinders of treated rayon/cotton blends or all-cotton fleece, usually bleached, that are inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow. A tampon is a plug of Cotton or other absorbent material inserted into a Body cavity or Wound to absorb bodily fluid Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic Fiber. Rayon is produced from naturally occurring Polymers and therefore it is not a truly Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp
- Padettes — Disposable wads of treated rayon/cotton blend fleece that are placed within the inner labia to absorb menstrual flow.
- Disposable menstrual cups — A firm, flexible cup-shaped device worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual flow. A menstrual cup is a type of cup or barrier worn inside the Vagina during Menstruation to collect menstrual Disposable cups are made of soft plastic.
Reusable items:
- Reusable cloth pads are made of cotton (often organic), terrycloth, or flannel, and may be handsewn (from material or reused old clothes and towels) or storebought. Cloth menstrual pads are a reusable alternative to disposable Sanitary napkins They receive praise for being environmentally friendly as well as cost-cutting Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on Crop rotation, Green manure, Compost, Biological pest control, and mechanical Cultivation Terrycloth, terry cloth, terry towelling, terry, or simply towelling is a fabric with loops that can absorb large amounts of Flannel is a soft woven Fabric, of various fineness It usually doesn't have a nap, and instead gains its softness through the loosely spun yarn it
- Menstrual cups — A firm, flexible bell-shaped device worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual flow. A menstrual cup is a type of cup or barrier worn inside the Vagina during Menstruation to collect menstrual Reusable versions include rubber or silicone cups.
- Sea sponges — Natural sponges, worn internally like a tampon to absorb menstrual flow. The sponges or poriferans (from Latin porus "pore" and ferre "to bear" are Animals
- Padded panties — Reusable cloth (usually cotton) underwear with extra absorbent layers sewn in to absorb flow. Undergarments are clothes worn under other clothes often next to the skin
- Blanket, towel — (also known as a draw sheet) — large reusable piece of cloth, most often used at night, placed between legs to absorb menstrual flow. A blanket is a type of Bedding, generally speaking a large piece of cloth intended to keep the user warm especially while Sleeping Blankets are distinguished from A towel is a piece of absorbent fabric or Paper used for drying or wiping
In addition to products to contain the menstrual flow, pharmaceutical companies likewise provide products — commonly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — to relieve menstrual cramps. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAID s or NAID s, are drugs with Analgesic, Antipyretic and in higher Some herbs, such as dong quai, raspberry leaf and crampbark, are also claimed to relieve menstrual pain, however there is no documented scientific evidence. A(n herb (ˈhɝb or /ˈɝb/ see pronunciation differences) is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties flavor scent or the like Angelica sinensis, commonly known as " dong quai " or "female Ginseng " is a herb from the family Apiaceae, The raspberry (plural raspberries) is the edible Fruit of a multitude of plant species in the subgenus Idaeobatus of the genus Rubus [9]
Further reading
Footnotes
- ^ a b c Strassmann BI (1996). "The evolution of endometrial cycles and menstruation". Q Rev Biol 71 (2): 181–220. doi:. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document. PMID 8693059.
- ^ The National Women's Health Information Center (April 2007). What is a typical menstrual period like?. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved on 2005-06-11. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes.
- ^ David L Healy (2004-11-24). Menorrhagia Heavy Periods - Current Issues. Monash University.
- ^ a b Kathleen O'Grady (2000). "Is Menstruation Obsolete?". . The Canadian Women's Health Network Retrieved on 2007-01-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade.
- ^ Profet M (1993). "Menstruation as a defense against pathogens transported by sperm". Q Rev Biol 68 (3): 335-86. doi:. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document. PMID 8210311.
- ^ Desmond Morris (1997). "The Human Sexes". . Cambridge University Press
- ^ Chris Knight (1991). Blood relations: menstruation and the origins of culture. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-06308-3.
- ^ Adams, Cecil (2002-12-20). Cecil Adams is a name possibly a Pseudonym, which designates the Author of The Straight Dope, a popular question and answer column published See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Does menstrual synchrony really exist?. The Straight Dope. The Chicago Reader. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war.
- ^ Herbs For Premenstrual Syndrome. HerbalRemedies. com (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-08. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula.
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