12 Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Period

If you're prone to irritation down there, organic tampons might be a better choice, says Monica Svets, an ob-gyn in Cleveland, Ohio, because they're free of fragrances and dyes. But otherwise, you don't need to splurge on the organic kind. According to the FDA, tampons have been tested and found to contain only trace amounts of chemicals (if any), and the risk of adverse health effects from such tiny amounts is negligible.

It’s very unlikely you’ll get pregnant while on your period, but it is possible. Though women typically ovulate about 14 days after the start of their period, some can ovulate unpredictably, says Felice Gersh, MD, ob-gyn and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Practice of Irvine, California.

Sperm can live inside your reproductive tract for up to seven days, Dr. Gersh explains. So if you have sex on the last day of a seven-day period, and your partner’s sperm is hardy enough to stay alive inside of you for another seven days, suddenly it’s been 14 days since the start of your period—and you could ovulate and then conceive.

Bottom line: If you don't want a baby, always use birth control...no matter what time of the month it is.

It only feels like you’re gushing a torrent of blood each month. The truth is, the average woman only loses only about three to six tablespoons.

If you think your flow is a lot heavier than that, Dr. Gersh suggests keeping track of how often you have to change your tampon or pad. If you have to change it more than once every few hours, "that’s probably excessive,” she says, and is something to discuss with your ob-gyn. Losing too much blood puts you at risk of anemia, which can in turn cause fatigue, dizziness, and cold hands and feet, among other symptoms.

Many women get cramps during their period; they're caused by contractions in the uterus that help shed the uterine lining. The pain these contractions cause can range from mild discomfort to serious agony. Over the counter anti-inflammatory pain meds can help (especially if you take them before your cramps get super awful), as can old-school remedies like a heating pad and massaging your lower abdomen.

If you don’t usually get cramps or the pain is no big deal—and then suddenly it feels like someone is tying your uterus in a knot every month, that’s cause for concern, Dr. Cepin says. When cramps materialize out of the blue or intensify, it could be due to a more serious condition, such as uterine fibroids, benign growths in the uterus. It could also be a sign of endometriosis, when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus.

Seek treatment if your cramps are significantly inhibiting your life or if they’re progressively getting to the point where they might, so doctors can diagnose what’s going on and take steps to ease the aching.

If you have an irregular flow (and you probably do, since few women have periods that operate on a strict 28-day schedule), the digital age is making your life easier Apps like Clue, Eve, and Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker keep tabs on your cycle to alert you when your period is due.

These apps can be especially helpful if PMS hits you hard in the days before your period actually arrives. By tracking when your PMS symptoms hit each month, you’ll know exactly when to expect the bloating, mood swings, pre-period cramps, or other body issues—so you can take steps to minimize their impact. “If you’re trying to figure out a cause and effect, it’s certainly nice to have a record so you can track things over time and see if there does seem to be a causality,” Dr. Gersh says.

Period sex has lots of advantages; it can cut down on pain from cramping (or at least distract you from it), and the extra lubrication can make penetration feel even better. Just remember to use a condom if you aren't sure of your partner's STI status, because your odds of contracting a sexually transmitted infection are higher at this time of the month.

“The microbial population of the vagina will be different during a menstrual period than it will be during a different time in the cycle,” Dr. Gersh says. Translation: the acidity of your vagina during shark week is at a point where it’s easier for microbes to get into your system. Also, cervical mucus might be decreased, so you don’t have that layer of protection keeping bugs out.

Your partner is also at higher risk of getting an STI from you. “Blood is a vehicle that transmits infections,” Dr. Gersh says. Get it on during your period when you're carrying something, and your flow could end up giving it to your partner.

Depending where you are in your cycle, levels of estrogen and progesterone change, and sometimes that can result in spotting—aka, a small amount of bleeding, say enough to stain your underwear or a pantyliner. This between-periods bleeding might be annoying, but it’s nothing to worry about, says Dr. Gersh.

However, other causes of spotting can be a concern. Cervical cancer, uterine cancer, uterine polyps, and other serious conditions can also trigger abnormal bleeding, she adds.

So how can you tell if your spotting warrants a conversation with your doctor? If you’re spotting because of normal changes in hormone levels, the bleeding will likely happen at the same time each month, Dr. Gersh says. That's why it’s useful to keep track of your symptoms on an app or calendar. If you have that data available, your doctor can determine if the bleeding is occurring during a point in your cycle when hormones are in flux.

If you’ve never had spotting before, it happens randomly, or it goes on all month long, it’s time to tell your doctor. “It’s never normal; it doesn’t mean that it’s something terrible,” Dr. Gersh says. “It could be that a woman has a hormonal imbalance, but it always requires a comprehensive evaluation if a woman has random spotting.”