6 weird things that happen to your body during your period

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that every woman is different, and that includes our body’s reactions to menstruation. While some of us go through this period quietly, barely realizing we’re menstruating, many women suffer from severe pain, bloating, and mood swings.

While these are the most famous “side effects” of menstruation, they are not unique. In addition to them, there are other somewhat curious things that can happen to our body during this period.

Just like the more famous effects, these other effects also vary from woman to woman, so you may never have experienced any of them. Anyway, it is worth knowing other changes that our body can go through during menstruation:

1. Your voice is different

If you don’t use hormonal contraception, be aware that your voice can change during your period, according to research carried out in Croatia and published this year.

According to the scientist, the voice of women can be a little deeper due to the changes in sex hormones that happen at this time of the month, but you don’t have to worry. In addition to being transitory, this change is almost imperceptible and probably only makes a difference to professional singers.

2. It’s not just cramping: the mouth and jaw can hurt too

You already know that, along with menstruation, we can experience cramping and pain in the breasts. What you may not know is that hormonal changes during this period can also cause gum inflammation and tooth sensitivity.

As a result, you may experience pain in your mouth and even jaws – and go years without knowing that this is because of your period. In this case, those who suffer the most are women who take the pill, as this method reduces estrogen levels, a factor that is related to temporomandibular disorder.

3. Your pain tolerance decreases

As if it wasn’t enough to feel pain even in the jaw, our pain tolerance decreases during menstruation, which makes the cramps even worse and makes the migraine even worse.

Again, the triggering factor for this effect is the drop in estrogen levels. The use of oral contraceptives can either help, relieving the pain, or make it even worse – it depends on each woman’s body.

4. You become the queen of the throne

Unsurprisingly, we are more prone to having to run to the bathroom to do number 2 during our period. This is because the same substances that cause contractions in the uterus to expel blood are capable of causing this effect in the intestine.

In addition, during this period there is also a decrease in progesterone, a hormone that causes constipation. As a result, the bowel becomes looser.

5. You can get more clumsy

If you don’t feel at your best hand-eye coordination during your period days, don’t worry. This is a normal and transient effect that happens due to feeling tired.

Another factor that can make us more disturbed is fluid retention: in addition to accumulating in the abdomen and breasts, excess fluids can affect the brain, causing us to lose some balance.

6. Your sleep becomes more unstable

There are days when it’s really not easy: in addition to the pain, bleeding and loose bowels, we can still lose the quality of sleep when we are menstruating. The reasons for this are numerous and include the cramping, nausea, and mood swings that accompany this period.

The problem is so relevant that, according to the US National Sleep Foundation, 23% of women say they have trouble sleeping in the week before their period, while 30% have these difficulties during their period.

While these effects are common and temporary, some women actually suffer a lot in the days leading up to and during menstruation as well. Often, they feel so bad that they can’t handle their daily tasks, jeopardizing their personal and professional lives.

If this is your case, it is highly recommended that you look for a trusted gynecologist to evaluate your complaints and propose the best treatment. Menstruation is not illness, but suffering is real.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.