Menstrual health tips

Menstrual health does not have as many "iron rules" that must be followed as posted on the Internet. The core principle is just one - take your own actual feelings as the core, do basic health care, and avoid clear medical contraindications. There is no need to be subject to all kinds of taboos.

Last week, I received a private message from a little girl who just entered high school. She said that her aunt couldn't help but steal a popsicle on her first day. She was so scared that she hid in bed and cried for half an hour, fearing that she would suffer from gynecological diseases. Nothing happened.； On the contrary, her best friend in the same dormitory only drank half a glass of room-temperature iced Americano, and the pain was so severe that she asked for leave and went to the school doctor's office. This is actually the most typical individual difference. There is no unified standard that can be applied to everyone.

Take for example the most controversial question "Can you eat ice during menstruation?" In clinical studies of Western medicine, there is actually no clear evidence that low-temperature foods will directly aggravate dysmenorrhea or cause gynecological diseases. Unless your gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to cold stimulation, you will have diarrhea after eating, and pulling the abdominal muscles may aggravate the pain.； The view of traditional Chinese medicine is that Qi and blood are deficient during menstruation, and cold and cold foods can easily cause Qi and blood stasis, aggravating uterine cold and dysmenorrhea. Both statements have their own clinical basis. You can choose according to your body's reaction. If you don't feel uncomfortable after eating, feel free to eat. If you feel pain after eating, avoid it next time. You don't have to compete with yourself for a popsicle, and you don't have to torture yourself by being greedy.

Many people ask how often they should change sanitary napkins. There really is no need to stick to the dead standard of two hours. In the summer, when the amount is heavy, it may become soaked in just an hour, so of course you have to change it. Not only is it easy to leak if it is left stuffy, but it is also particularly easy to breed bacteria in a hot and humid environment. ； When the amount is low in winter, don't be so lazy that you only change it twice a day, no more than 4 hours at most. Girls who are prone to vaginitis should pay more attention. There is also the rumor that "using tampons will damage the hymen" that has been circulated for many years is really a rumor. The hymen itself is porous, and regular-sized tampons will not cause damage at all. Of course, if you really mind it, there is no need to force it. It is okay to use sanitary napkins or menstrual cups. Your own comfort is always the first priority.

I once had a friend who loves fitness. He was able to run 5 kilometers in the first two days of his menstrual period. He said that he felt no pain at all. On the contrary, the soreness in his waist was relieved a lot after running. On the other hand, when the pain was so severe that I couldn’t even straighten my waist, I would be too tired to even get out of bed to get a glass of water, let alone exercise. You really don’t need to hold on after hearing someone say “exercise during menstruation helps with blood drainage”. If you don’t feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to take a walk or do some gentle yoga stretches. If the pain is uncomfortable, just lie down and drink warm water and eat whatever you like. No one will say you are lazy.

There is also the most talked about "you cannot wash your hair or take a shower during menstruation", which is not so absolute. According to Western medicine, it is absolutely fine. As long as you dry your hair in time after washing and don’t catch a cold, you should pay more attention to cleanliness during menstruation, otherwise bacteria will breed and cause problems. ； Traditional Chinese medicine generally recommends that you try to avoid the first two days when the volume is the highest, don't blow cold wind after washing, and especially don't sleep with your hair wet in winter. I am used to not washing it for the first two days, and then washing it when the amount is less on the third day. I have not had any problems with drying it, so you can do whatever you feel comfortable with.

But there are a few things that you should avoid regardless of your body type, as they can really harm your body: For example, you should never have sex during menstruation, whether you wear a condom or not. This is a taboo recognized by both Chinese and Western medicine. The cervix is ​​open during menstruation, and sex can easily bring bacteria in, causing pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis. In severe cases, it will also affect future pregnancies. Don't gamble on your body just for the sake of impulse. Also, if the dysmenorrhea is so painful that it cannot be relieved by taking ibuprofen according to the dosage, or the menstrual cycle is suddenly disordered and is advanced/postponed for more than 10 days, and the amount is suddenly so heavy that it soaks a sanitary napkin in an hour, or the amount is so light that you can only use a pad for several months, don’t just drink brown sugar water and ginger tea, and go to the hospital for a check-up quickly. Many gynecological problems are manifested in the early stage of abnormal menstruation, so don’t delay.

Oh, by the way, many people are afraid that taking ibuprofen during menstruation will lead to addiction, but it is really not the case. I only take one or two pills a month. Taking the dosage according to the instructions has no side effects at all. It is much more comfortable than having to endure the pain until you vomit and sweat all over your body. You really don’t have to worry about it.

In fact, I have met many girls. When they first came to Auntie, they were all bound by various taboos. They did not dare to eat this or touch that, for fear that if they made a mistake, they would fall into trouble. In fact, it is really unnecessary. Your body is more honest than all the online guides and the experience of the older generation. If you feel comfortable, continue, and if you feel uncomfortable, stop. If you are really unsure, ask a doctor at a regular hospital. It is much more useful than searching online for half a day and worrying.