Below-the-Belt Health: It’s Time to Change the Cycle of Silence

Is my cycle normal?

The first period can be met with either celebration, fear or concern. For every girl, this signifies an important transition to womanhood – a time when they would benefit from the support of family and friends.
– UNICEF

I remember envisioning getting my cycle for the first time. It was after watching Lucy on 7th Heaven get her period. My mom, sister, and I would jump up and down in the living room. My dad would embrace me with a hug and gaze in my eyes with pride. We would go get ice cream and celebrate my becoming a woman. I just knew I was going to have the same experience as Lucy!

Oh, but when that day came, I was greeted with stomach pain that made me feel like I needed to get on the toilet quick! My dad and I were on the way home from the mall. I made him pull over at the nearest restroom, which happened to be a gas station because I felt like I couldn’t hold it.

I remember rushing to drape the toilet seat with tissue paper to ease the germaphobe in me, only to be greeted by the sudden urge to vomit. I was a mess, and lo and behold, it was my first period hitting me like a ton of bricks. All I kept thinking was, “This didn’t happen to Lucy!” From that moment on, I saw myself differently. I felt like something was wrong with me, and in hindsight, I wish there had been another storyline on mainstream television that shared what many girls actually experience during their first period, and through adulthood.

Knowledge is power! And it is time to change the cycle of silence around all things below the belt health, especially periods.

LET’S CHANGE THE CYCLE

Change the Cycle is an online community where women who suffer from uterine and pelvic health conditions can find resources that promote a better understanding of their condition and potential solutions. There is a wide spectrum of issues that women deal with in silence as a result of stigma or lack of awareness of treatment options. These issues can start at a young age, or they can develop over time as women get older. For me, I thought after finding out I had endometriosis I would only need to focus on getting to a better place with my pain. Fast forward to age 32, and I am now dealing with fibroids, causing piercing back pain and (even) heavier cycles.

The lesson in all of this? Talk to your doctor about abnormalities “down there.” I could’ve just as easily written my symptoms off as new and different endometriosis pain. However, after a few candid conversations with my doctor, we realized something else was going on.

KNOWING WHAT’S NORMAL

Advocating for your health starts with knowing your body, and learning what is considered normal vs. abnormal is key when it comes to your menstrual health in particular. There are a number of conditions that can affect a woman’s uterine health, like abnormal bleeding (AUB) or uterine fibroids, that can cause pain, heavy bleeding, and fertility issues. While common, these conditions are often not discussed. Women spend years dealing with the symptoms before seeking medical attention – or even
mentioning it to their girlfriends! So let’s talk about it…

WHAT IS A HEAVY PERIOD?

1 in 5 women deal with abnormally heavy periods (1), and many don’t even realize that what they are experiencing is not normal. Despite how common they are, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is under-recognized and rarely discussed because we view periods, no matter how severe, as “a part of being a woman.” Failing to speak up about heavy period symptoms can become debilitating and limit us from living our lives.

Women with abnormal uterine bleeding miss 1.5 days of work/school every cycle = that’s 18 days a year on average. (2)

If your symptoms keep you from living life, ask yourself these questions:

What symptoms are you experiencing when your cycle starts?
How many days does your period last?
How often are you changing your pad/tampon?
Does your period prevent you from doing daily activities?
How often are you going to the bathroom to relieve your bladder and bowel?

Heavy periods are not normal. These questions are a great way to help lead the conversation with your doctor to determine what your symptoms may be telling you, and how you can find relief. You can also find more resources for abnormal uterine bleeding, here.

WHAT ARE FIBROIDS?

Up to 80% of women will experience fibroids by the age of 50. (3)

Many women with heavy periods will learn the bleeding is caused by fibroids. Fibroids are typically noncancerous tissue that grows in the uterus, causing symptoms like:

heavy bleeding
periods lasting more than a week
frequent urination
pelvic pressure
difficulty emptying bladder
constipation
backaches or leg pains

Researchers don’t know the exact cause of fibroids, but genetics and race can play a role. African American women are three times more likely to get fibroids than women of other races. (3) It’s important to be in the know about your risk and seek treatment if necessary.

DON’T SUFFER SILENTLY

Moral of the story: don’t let anyone trivialize your health issues, especially heavy bleeding or pain. You have to be your biggest advocate, and if you feel like something isn’t right, bring it up! Proactively talking to your doctor about your heavy periods can help you identify the root cause of the bleeding like fibroids or AUB, and empower you to finally find a treatment option that works for you. For a full list of treatment options, visit www.changethecycle.com.

And don’t wait to start the conversation with your doctor. If you’re hesitant about bringing your symptoms up at your next appointment, use this guide to help you kickstart the discussion!

Compensation was provided by Hologic. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hologic.

References
1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heavy menstrual bleeding. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/
women/menorrhagia.html. Accessed April 07, 2017
2) Hologic, Inc. Data on File; AUB Patient Journey Research, conducted January 2017. Survey of 1,003 women who self- identified as currently or recently experiencing heavy bleeding with a need to change feminine hygiene product every hour or more.
3) Uterine Fibroid Fact Sheet. Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/uterine-fibroids. Accessed April 27, 2017.