Menstrual Health

Menstruation is a bodily function that happens to many people with uteruses. To gain a better understanding of your menstrual health, read research-backed and expert-vetted information that covers each stage of the cycle, from menstruation to menopause and everything in between, including menstrual conditions and the centrality of menstruation in relation to gender equality and equity.

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I Traded Tampons for Menstrual Cups for 3 Months, and I Am Sold—Here's What They're Actually Like To Use
September 23, 2023
I Traded Tampons for Menstrual Cups for 3 Months, and I Am Sold—Here's What They're Actually Like To Use
Although I've long been sick of the period tax (and the waste), I'd never really…
By Kate Hull
My Periods Were Full of Painful Nights Until I Found This Sleeping Position That Alleviated My Cramps and Clots
September 14, 2023
My Periods Were Full of Painful Nights Until I Found This Sleeping Position That Alleviated My Cramps and Clots
When I was a child, I remember watching my older sister sleep in a chaise…
By Tiffany Eve Lawrence
Feel Itchy ‘Down There’ Before or During Your Period? Doctors Explain Why It Happens
September 02, 2023
Feel Itchy ‘Down There’ Before or During Your Period? Doctors Explain Why It Happens
Between cramps, mood swings, and sore boobs, periods come with enough side effects, amirite? While…
By Ashley Broadwater
A Dermatologist and a Gynecologist Explain Why Heavy Periods Impact Hair Health—And How To Cope
August 27, 2023
A Dermatologist and a Gynecologist Explain Why Heavy Periods Impact Hair Health—And How To Cope
Last year, I was chatting with a new stylist about my goals to revive my…
By Kara Jillian Brown
Does Eating Pineapple Actually Make You, Um, Taste Better? Here’s What Sexologists and OB/GYNs Say
June 06, 2023
Does Eating Pineapple Actually Make You, Um, Taste Better? Here’s What Sexologists and OB/GYNs Say
Considering how asparagus can infuse your pee with a new level of pungency or how…
By Natalie Arroyo Camacho
These 4 Yoga Poses Can Ease Period Cramps and Other PMS Symptoms
April 30, 2023
These 4 Yoga Poses Can Ease Period Cramps and Other PMS Symptoms
There are many fantastic physical and mental health benefits of yoga. A consistent yoga practice…
By Amber Sayer
Despite What TikTok Says, Hip Thrusts Won't Impact Your Fertility, According to a Reproductive Endocrinologist
April 18, 2023
Despite What TikTok Says, Hip Thrusts Won't Impact Your Fertility, According to a Reproductive Endocrinologist
TikTokers say the darndest things. Sometimes, the science backs up their eyebrow-raising trends, like that…
By Jessica Giles
Hear Us Out: It’s Time for Companies To Offer Paid Menstrual Leave
April 17, 2023
Hear Us Out: It’s Time for Companies To Offer Paid Menstrual Leave
Menstruating can be debilitating. Probably much more than we talk about, since, even in 2023,…
By Sandra Salathe
Menstrual-Cycle-Syncing Workouts Are Breaking Taboos—And Raising Questions
March 22, 2023
Menstrual-Cycle-Syncing Workouts Are Breaking Taboos—And Raising Questions
From sending women to the Red Tent to sequester our “uncleanliness” to keeping us out of the…
By Rachel Kraus
This CBD Balm Instantly Melts Away My Period Pain, and Smells Amazing As It Soothes
March 17, 2023
This CBD Balm Instantly Melts Away My Period Pain, and Smells Amazing As It Soothes
If, like me, you start feeling like a rabid raccoon is clawing at your insides…
By Han Schneider
Here’s When To Get Back on Birth Control After Having a Baby, if You’re Definitely Not Trying To Get Pregnant
March 08, 2023
Here’s When To Get Back on Birth Control After Having a Baby, if You’re Definitely Not Trying To Get Pregnant
Having a baby is a monumental task for your body. No matter how fit you…
By Alyssa Sparacino
How To Break Up With Disposable Tampons—And 5 More Environmentally Conscious Options
January 14, 2023
How To Break Up With Disposable Tampons—And 5 More Environmentally Conscious Options
Conventional period products are giving Mother Earth cramps (or causing bloating, moodiness, exhaustion… you get…
By Calin Van Paris
The Evvy Vaginal Microbiome Test Helps You Understand Your Bacteria *Down There*—So I Tried It
January 02, 2023
The Evvy Vaginal Microbiome Test Helps You Understand Your Bacteria *Down There*—So I Tried It
If recent buzz around the lack of understanding of the clitoris is any example of how surprisingly little…
By Mercey Livingston
Whether Our Hair is Relaxed or Not, Beauty Products Put Black Women at Risk
December 02, 2022
Whether Our Hair is Relaxed or Not, Beauty Products Put Black Women at Risk
Ask any Black woman about that study that dropped last month and she'll likely know…
By Kara Jillian Brown
Can That Raw Carrot Salad Really Help With Hormones? We Asked a Nutritionist, Hormone Specialist, and Doctor to Weigh In
November 26, 2022
Can That Raw Carrot Salad Really Help With Hormones? We Asked a Nutritionist, Hormone Specialist, and Doctor to Weigh In
Every now and then, a viral recipe takes off on TikTok. There was Emily Mariko’s…
By Annita Katee
What It Means To Get Your Period Around the New Moon, AKA Having a White Moon Cycle
October 24, 2022
What It Means To Get Your Period Around the New Moon, AKA Having a White Moon Cycle
From the new moon to the waning crescent moon, each lunar phase brings a different…
By Jessica Estrada
Your Eczema May Be Worse the Week Before Your Period—A Derm Explains Why
October 14, 2022
Your Eczema May Be Worse the Week Before Your Period—A Derm Explains Why
If you have a pretty regular menstrual cycle, you know exactly when your body is…
By Kara Jillian Brown
What It Means To Get Your Period Around the Full Moon, AKA a Red Moon Cycle
October 07, 2022
What It Means To Get Your Period Around the Full Moon, AKA a Red Moon Cycle
It's common for people who menstruate have some kind of method for remembering when their…
By Kells McPhillips
What You Need To Know About Titanium Dioxide in Pads and Tampons
August 06, 2022
What You Need To Know About Titanium Dioxide in Pads and Tampons
If you've spent any time on the internet in the last, oh, 72 hours, you've…
By Kells McPhillips
What You Need To Know About the Seriousness of Period Poverty and How You Can Help
July 10, 2022
What You Need To Know About the Seriousness of Period Poverty and How You Can Help
Not having the money to afford menstrual products, aka experiencing period poverty, is a difficult…
By Ashley Broadwater
What You Need To Know About Access to Contraception in a Post-Roe America
June 29, 2022
What You Need To Know About Access to Contraception in a Post-Roe America
With its recent 6-3 ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's…
By Erica Sloan
5 Menopause Cooling Sprays That Will Give You *Instant* Relief From Hot Flashes
June 21, 2022
5 Menopause Cooling Sprays That Will Give You *Instant* Relief From Hot Flashes
Of all the uncomfortable symptoms that come along with menopause, hot flashes are the most…
By Kara Jillian Brown
9 Period-Care Brands That Have Plenty of Tampons in Stock and Are Committed To Keeping It That Way
June 17, 2022
9 Period-Care Brands That Have Plenty of Tampons in Stock and Are Committed To Keeping It That Way
As of late, there seems to be a new reason every day that simply existing…
By Erica Sloan
To Stacy London, Menopause Care Isn’t Just the Latest Trend—It’s a Permanent Necessity
June 13, 2022
To Stacy London, Menopause Care Isn’t Just the Latest Trend—It’s a Permanent Necessity
Consider the fact that every year, about 1.3 million people in the U.S. enter menopause—which…
By Erica Sloan
From Increased Jaw Pain to Dry Eyes, These 5 Menopause Symptoms May Come as a Surprise
June 05, 2022
From Increased Jaw Pain to Dry Eyes, These 5 Menopause Symptoms May Come as a Surprise
For the most part, menopause, the natural decline of sex hormones that happens to women…
By Isadora Baum
'I'm an OB/GYN—Here's the First Thing I Do When Cramps Are About To Hit'
May 28, 2022
'I'm an OB/GYN—Here's the First Thing I Do When Cramps Are About To Hit'
Period cramps are The Worst. They can pop up in so many places—your stomach, your labia,…
By Ashley Broadwater
Why You Might Have an Urge To Pee More on Your Period
May 02, 2022
Why You Might Have an Urge To Pee More on Your Period
Do you feel like you need to pee more during your period? Even though you…
By Ashley Broadwater
Your Period Impacts ADHD Symptoms—Here’s How
January 24, 2022
Your Period Impacts ADHD Symptoms—Here’s How
Have you ever driven away with a coffee cup on your car roof or locked…
By Han Schneider
Your Pelvic Floor Muscles Don't Always Benefit From Kegels, According to a Pelvic Floor Therapist
January 10, 2022
Your Pelvic Floor Muscles Don't Always Benefit From Kegels, According to a Pelvic Floor Therapist
If you have a vagina, you’ve probably been told to “do your Kegels” as if the exercise…
By Han Schneider
The Best Heating Pads for Your Period Cramps, According to Thousands of Relieved Reviewers
December 16, 2021
The Best Heating Pads for Your Period Cramps, According to Thousands of Relieved Reviewers
During your period, there is no greater feeling than popping a Midol, brewing some tea,…
By Taylor Bell
5 Unexpected Period Symptoms (Because It Impacts Your Whole Body)
December 10, 2021
5 Unexpected Period Symptoms (Because It Impacts Your Whole Body)
I don't know about you but, when my period comes around, I am laid out…
By Han Schneider
Period Cramps Keeping You Awake At Night? Here's What You Can Do
December 09, 2021
Period Cramps Keeping You Awake At Night? Here's What You Can Do
If you’ve ever turned off the lights, climbed into bed, and felt attacked by period…
By Han Schneider
Here’s Why You’re More Likely To Get UTIs During Menopause, According to a Gynecologist
December 03, 2021
Here’s Why You’re More Likely To Get UTIs During Menopause, According to a Gynecologist
When teenagers are going through puberty, adults commonly have patience for their mood swings, acne,…
By Han Schneider
Here's Why You Should Be Using a Period Tracker App if You Aren’t Already
October 23, 2021
Here's Why You Should Be Using a Period Tracker App if You Aren’t Already
It’s likely you’ve had at least one month where your period started and you were…
By Ashley Lauretta
In Defense of Having Sex When You're on Your Period
October 06, 2021
In Defense of Having Sex When You're on Your Period
To have sex on your period or not—it’s a question that's tied to polarizing responses.…
By Erin Magner
Seeking Care for Fibroids Can Be Exhausting. Here's How To Practice Self-Advocacy
July 30, 2021
Seeking Care for Fibroids Can Be Exhausting. Here's How To Practice Self-Advocacy
When Tanika Gray Valbrun began seeking care for uterine fibroids—benign tumors that grow in and…
By Kara Jillian Brown
The Connection Between Gut Health and Hormones Everyone in Menopause Should Know
June 20, 2021
The Connection Between Gut Health and Hormones Everyone in Menopause Should Know
Most people in menopause (officially defined as the ceasing of menstruation) are familiar with the…
By Emily Laurence
Loom's Birthing Parent-Centered Online Courses Prove Health Education Is Health Care
June 17, 2021
Loom's Birthing Parent-Centered Online Courses Prove Health Education Is Health Care
It's hard to make decisions about your health when you don't have all of the…
By Kara Jillian Brown
Thinx Just Revamped and Extended Its Size Offerings To Ensure a Better, More Absorbent Fit for All
June 15, 2021
Thinx Just Revamped and Extended Its Size Offerings To Ensure a Better, More Absorbent Fit for All
When wearing period-absorbent underwear, you'd like to assume that a proper fit is guaranteed. Otherwise,…
By Kara Jillian Brown
Vaginal Dilators Can Be Used To Treat Pelvic Pain and Painful Sex—Here's What To Know
May 31, 2021
Vaginal Dilators Can Be Used To Treat Pelvic Pain and Painful Sex—Here's What To Know
Unless you have a medical kink or are role-playing nurse and patient, the doctor’s office…
By Gabrielle Kassel
Period Trauma Is Real—And It’s Harming the Health of Millions of Black Menstruators
May 27, 2021
Period Trauma Is Real—And It’s Harming the Health of Millions of Black Menstruators
If you have a uterus, you are likely aware that periods can be inconvenient and…
By Erin Bunch
Thinx Is Having the Biggest Sale of the Year *Right Now*—Here's What To Buy
May 26, 2021
Thinx Is Having the Biggest Sale of the Year *Right Now*—Here's What To Buy
The best thing about period underwear is that once you've got it, you'll never know…
By Kara Jillian Brown
Have Your Period? Science Says You May Want To Tone Down Your Exercise Intensity
May 24, 2021
Have Your Period? Science Says You May Want To Tone Down Your Exercise Intensity
If the only pose you feel like striking on your period is the fetal one,…
By Erica Sloan
These Mental Health Symptoms of Menopause Don't Get Mentioned Enough but Affect the Majority of Women
May 22, 2021
These Mental Health Symptoms of Menopause Don't Get Mentioned Enough but Affect the Majority of Women
As you may already know, menopause comes with a lot of not-so-fun symptoms, to put…
By Kara Jillian Brown
Nyssa's Self-Check Mirror Lets You—You Guessed It—Take an Easy Look At Your Bits, So I Tried It
April 09, 2021
Nyssa's Self-Check Mirror Lets You—You Guessed It—Take an Easy Look At Your Bits, So I Tried It
Every vulva-owning person remembers the first time they took a look down there with a…
By Kara Jillian Brown
6 Period Sex Products That'll Get You in the Flow for a Mess-Free, Feel-Good Time
March 24, 2021
6 Period Sex Products That'll Get You in the Flow for a Mess-Free, Feel-Good Time
If the main reason you never consider having period sex is because the act can…
By Mary Grace Garis
Can You Masturbate Your Way Out of Period Cramps? A Doctor and Sexuality Expert Advise
March 15, 2021
Can You Masturbate Your Way Out of Period Cramps? A Doctor and Sexuality Expert Advise
If you're of the mind that masturbating during your period—or menstrubation—isn't likely to yield much…
By Mary Grace Garis
5 Realities of Sex Drive During Perimenopause, According to a Gynecologist Who Focuses on Midlife Sexuality
March 01, 2021
5 Realities of Sex Drive During Perimenopause, According to a Gynecologist Who Focuses on Midlife Sexuality
It's inevitable that very person with female sex organs will face signs of disappearing fertility…
By Susan Hardwick-Smith, MD
How Flo Code's Lamanda Ballard Is Fighting for Menstrual Equity in Texas
February 18, 2021
How Flo Code's Lamanda Ballard Is Fighting for Menstrual Equity in Texas
Period poverty—defined as inadequate or inconsistent access to menstrual hygiene products and education—has long been…
By Kayla Hui
4 Menstrual Cup Benefits That May Make You Ditch Pads and Tampons for Good
February 18, 2021
4 Menstrual Cup Benefits That May Make You Ditch Pads and Tampons for Good
Menstrual cups aren't a new addition to the period-product market; in fact, the first usable…
By Jessica Estrada
3 Stretches for When Menstrual Cramps Leave Your Uterus in Knots
February 17, 2021
3 Stretches for When Menstrual Cramps Leave Your Uterus in Knots
For some people, menstrual hell goes beyond having a personal River Styx to include myriad…
By Mary Grace Garis
I Tried Using Menstrual Discs During My Period, and Here's How It Went
February 06, 2021
I Tried Using Menstrual Discs During My Period, and Here's How It Went
My periods have become far more tolerable since I started using menstrual cups as my…
By Morgan Mandriota
The 4 Most Comfortable Menstrual Products for Heavy Flow Periods
December 20, 2020
The 4 Most Comfortable Menstrual Products for Heavy Flow Periods
Navigating the aftermath of a period leak can be a stressful time (as in, time…
By Kayla Hui
Artemis's Tabitha Holbért Is Using Tech To Help People Find Language for Their Menstrual Pain
December 14, 2020
Artemis's Tabitha Holbért Is Using Tech To Help People Find Language for Their Menstrual Pain
The global femtech industry—aka technology focused on supporting and improving female health—is expected to be…
By Erin Bunch
5 Trans-Affirming Period Brands That Make Pads, Tampons, Cups, and Underwear for Many Bodies
December 01, 2020
5 Trans-Affirming Period Brands That Make Pads, Tampons, Cups, and Underwear for Many Bodies
Shopping for period products can be a nightmare scenario for some transgender people. Between the…
By Mel Van De Graaff
OB/GYNs Share, Once and for All, Whether Having Sex Can Make Your Period Start Early
November 10, 2020
OB/GYNs Share, Once and for All, Whether Having Sex Can Make Your Period Start Early
If you've never had a sex session that ended in blood-stained Egyptian cotton bedsheets and a…
By Rachel Kraus
Knix Leakproof Period Underwear Is *Always* Worth It
November 10, 2020
Knix Leakproof Period Underwear Is *Always* Worth It
The most off-putting thing about period underwear is the cost. It makes sense—creating underwear with…
By Kara Jillian Brown
Got the 'Period Flu?' Here's an OB/GYN's Quick Guide to PMS
October 11, 2020
Got the 'Period Flu?' Here's an OB/GYN's Quick Guide to PMS
Every month, an estimated 75 percent of people with uteruses experience premenstrual syndrome (better known…
By Kells McPhillips
This New Tool Makes Finding Abortion Care Much Easier
September 17, 2020
This New Tool Makes Finding Abortion Care Much Easier
Depending on where you live, finding out where to get an abortion can be extremely…
By Kara Jillian Brown
What Doctors Want You To Know About Antibiotics and the Pill
September 10, 2020
What Doctors Want You To Know About Antibiotics and the Pill
When you take a pill every day of your life—like an oral contraceptive—it can be…
By Erin Bunch
Up to 51% of People Forget To Take the Pill Every Day—This Innovative Smart Case Is Hoping To Change That
September 09, 2020
Up to 51% of People Forget To Take the Pill Every Day—This Innovative Smart Case Is Hoping To Change That
When used perfectly every time, oral contraceptives have a 99 percent efficacy rate. Emphasis on…
By Kells McPhillips
California Is About To Become the Second State Requiring Ingredient Transparency in Period Products
September 08, 2020
California Is About To Become the Second State Requiring Ingredient Transparency in Period Products
It's long been known that some additives used in pads and tampons—like chlorine and rayon—are…
By Erin Bunch
School Closures Make It Harder for Menstruating People To Access Period Products—Here's Where To Find Them for Free
September 02, 2020
School Closures Make It Harder for Menstruating People To Access Period Products—Here's Where To Find Them for Free
Period poverty—meaning the lack of regular, reliable access to menstrual products and care—is a long-standing…
By Emily Laurence
This New XL Overnight Pad Will Ensure You Never Have Period Sheets Again
August 24, 2020
This New XL Overnight Pad Will Ensure You Never Have Period Sheets Again
There can be a lot of aggravating things about having ovaries, but at the top…
By Mary Grace Garis
This Is How Often You Should Be Going to the Gynecologist
August 17, 2020
This Is How Often You Should Be Going to the Gynecologist
With women's wellness guidelines changing so frequently, it can be difficult to figure out a…
By Tehrene Firman
New Bills Introduced in Congress Today Aim To Finally Fund Uterine Fibroids Research
July 30, 2020
New Bills Introduced in Congress Today Aim To Finally Fund Uterine Fibroids Research
Uterine fibroids, aka tumors that grow in the uterus, are often considered "benign" by members…
By Erin Bunch
This At-Home Test for HPV Is Easy, Painless, and Affordable
July 07, 2020
This At-Home Test for HPV Is Easy, Painless, and Affordable
The pandemic has meant that many scheduled visits to your gynecologist for regular checkups may…
By Kara Jillian Brown
9 out of 10 Black Women Will Get Fibroids Before They’re 50, So Why Are Treatment Options Still So Limited?
July 02, 2020
9 out of 10 Black Women Will Get Fibroids Before They’re 50, So Why Are Treatment Options Still So Limited?
My mom was 13 when she first learned about fibroids, benign tumors that can randomly…
By Kara Jillian Brown
The Contraception Gap Is Getting Bigger—These Telehealth Companies Are Trying To Bridge It
June 25, 2020
The Contraception Gap Is Getting Bigger—These Telehealth Companies Are Trying To Bridge It
Gaps in birth control knowledge and access have riddled American history since "the pill" became…
By Kells McPhillips
We’re About to Give You a Very Good Reason to Hop in the Shower Today
June 24, 2020
We’re About to Give You a Very Good Reason to Hop in the Shower Today
If your quarantine habits have turned your daily shower into a weekly one, well, same.…
By Zoe Weiner
OK TMI: Can You Get a Yeast Infection From a Wet Bathing Suit?
June 18, 2020
OK TMI: Can You Get a Yeast Infection From a Wet Bathing Suit?
Considering that, oh, everything else is cancelled, you might be yearning to spend extra time…
By Mary Grace Garis
The FDA approves the first oral treatment for fibroids symptoms, offering a new non-surgical option
June 09, 2020
The FDA approves the first oral treatment for fibroids symptoms, offering a new non-surgical option
Uterine fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomies in the United States. The tumors themselves…
By Kara Jillian Brown
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