Benefits of Getting Your Period – How Menstruation is Good for You!

There are several benefits to getting your period; in fact, menstruation can actually be good for your physical, mental, and emotional health. Good old “Aunt Flo” is actually a helpful monthly visitor.

“I’d always considered my period a nuisance,” says Trina Read, author of Till Sex Do Us Part: Make Your Married Sex Irresistible. “When I was pregnant and later breastfeeding, it was a relief not to get it. But after I had Andrew, I began missing it! It felt like a part of me went missing…and I was shocked by how happy I was to get my period back.”

For more info menstruating, regulating your period, and finding the power of your period, click on The Venus Week:  Discover the Powerful Secret of your Cycle…at Any Age by Rebecca Booth, M.D. And, read on for several benefits of getting your period…

Benefits of Getting Your Period – How Menstruation is Good for You!

Your period can slow the aging process. According to Dr. Thomas Perls, a leading U.S. longevity expert, women age more slowly than men because menstruation causes iron loss. Iron feeds free radicals, which increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s. Losing iron via blood can lengthen lifespan – which may be one of the reasons women live longer than men.

Menstruation can offer hints that prevent disease. “When women menstruate, the color, odor, and texture of the menstrual blood can provide invaluable information as to the well-being of the woman,” says Dr Lauri Grossman, Chair of the Department of Medicine and Humanistic Studies at the American Medical College of Homeopathy. Menstrual blood can offer early signs of developing illness and allow for the prevention of disease.

Your period can lead to more satisfaction in the bedroom. During menstruation, testosterone increases and enhances libido, which makes sex better for some women (and can be a benefit of getting your period!). “There is no reason not to have sex while on your period,” says Dr Booth. “But, contrary to popular belief, pregnancy can happen if there is no contraception, because sperm can live for several days and fertilize the developing egg.” 

Regular periods offer information about your hormones. Regular periods are the best sign of hormone balance – as long as you’re not pregnant, nursing or in menopause. A regular menstrual cycle shows that your body is working the way Mother Nature intended. “While most women associate premenstrual syndrome or PMS with their hormones, it’s actually the absence of hormones during this period (a few days before menstruation) that leaves them feeling less than ideal,” says Dr Booth.

Your menstrual period improves your mood and appearance. “The hormonal recipe that kicks in on or about day three or four triggers a significant improvement in how women feel and look,” says Dr Booth.  However, premenstrual syndrome or PMS doesn’t offer the same benefits of getting your period.

Your period reduces bloating. “The period follows a drop in progesterone, a hormone that encourages water retention and slows metabolism,” says Dr Booth. “Usually a day or two after the period starts progesterone is low and most women lose water weight and metabolize carbs better.” Bring on the pasta!

Menstruation is a natural cleanser. The menstrual period is a natural cleansing process, which releases bacteria from inside the reproductive system and helps the body to discharge excess iron, which can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The suppression of menstruation (through birth control pills) may thwart breast and bone development as well as fertility.

Your period can release frustration and anger. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver plays a pivotal role in both menstruation and whole-body health. When liver qi (energy) is stagnant, women experience irritability, tightness in the chest, and feelings of frustration and anger. In women, premenstrual symptoms or PMS are related to blocked liver qi. Menstrual flow releases the liver qi – which builds up every month. For more info about Chinese Medicine and fertility, read How Acupuncture Affects Infertility.

If you have any questions or thoughts on these benefits of getting your period, please comment below!