Understand women once a month… period

Some years ago, at a Health Fair in Trincity Mall, one of our members hollered out to a young man walking by with his friend “come and finally understand women!”. He promptly changed the course of their path and his friend followed.

As they giggled on approaching the booth, it was obvious that they were curious about what could help them understand the opposite sex. We promptly discussed that men and women are different and hormones can even influence how we behave. They were intrigued and wanted more information.

We explained that women have four phases to their menstrual cycle. The first phase occurs when her body prepares for pregnancy by filling the lining of the womb (endometrium) with blood, so that if a conceptus (fertilised egg or new human life) came to the womb, it would have a place to implant and allow for the continued growth of the little one.

With no pregnancy, menstruation happens – the lining of the womb sheds, which is what is commonly called the “period”. During this time, women may not be excited about going out with friends since she might feel a bit tired from the blood loss and perhaps some cramping, where her abdominal muscles are assisting with getting rid of the unused lining out of her body.

These feelings or behaviours described are not absolutes but possibles based on the events playing out in the woman’s body. Women may be more self-aware and have a bit of social anxiety for fear of any embarrassment in public since bleeding and cramping is happening.

Following this first phase is the ‘Basic Infertile Pattern’, a time where her hormones are at base level. She is not feeling as uneasy as in the first phase.

The third phase is that of the ‘Fertile Phase’, when her body is gearing up for a pregnancy. We could see the amazement of this possibility of a woman’s body carrying a child in the eyes of the young man before us.

Beyond the physical observances of a changing, developing pattern of mucus that she experiences, she may be feeling very attracted to the opposite sex around that time. She might even dress in ways that attracts men more.

Humans are more than animals, however just like other animals, there is a “mating season”. This fertile phase prepares her entire being for a pregnancy.

As a human being with intellect, freedom, and will-power, the sexual attraction she feels around this time can be over-ridden by continence (self-restraint with regard to sex). The same applies to men, even though they seemingly have sexual attraction 24/7 as men do not have a fertile phase.

Many activities help with continence for example, going for a walk and exercise, anything to get the mind off you know what!

The final phase is the ‘Luteal Phase’. While her hormones are rising and falling, she may not feel particularly uneasy or eager, but toward the end of her cycle sometimes women can be unbearable.

When a particular hormone drops quickly, she might experience Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). Unlike the definition of one volunteer who defined PMS as ‘Prime Murder Suspect’ (which is himself when his wife was in this phase), PMS has a “wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression” (mayoclinic.org).

PMS can be mild or quite debilitating. It does not have to control women’s lives though, as treatments and lifestyle changes can help women reduce or manage PMS signs and symptoms.

However, one treatment recommended, hormonal contraceptives, stop women from ovulating which is not the best option.

The good doctors trained in FEMM (Fertility Education and Medical Management) and NaProTechnology (Natural Procreative Technology) have alternatives to hormonal contraceptives. Both FEMM and NaPro are based on the science behind the Billings Ovulation Method®.

BOMA-TT

Tel: 384-1659, Email: billingstt@gmail.com, Website: www.billingstt.com